Wheel Alignment

[Pete_Inno]

Hi All...

I took my 90 Esprit SE to get the alignment done and the guy told me his Hunter machine only goes back to 93. Does the 93 share the same alignment specs as the 90 SE?

Thanks,

Pete

90SE

Edited June 30, 2008 by Bibs

[lotus4s]

Pete,

I emailed you a pdf. file with the specs.

Jim

[juki75]

Hello Pete and Jim!

Do you still have specs on pdf files? I need the specs for alignment.

Thanks

Jukka

[chandrab]

Can I get a copy of the pdf also?

Does it make sense to put it on the Wiki for future reference?

-Chandra

91SE

[lotus4s]

The alignment specs are in the vehicle technical data section of the Service Notes. If you don't have the manual, send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you the section.

This is for MY 88-92.

[Vulcan Grey]

The Hunter laser alignment system that I saw at Big-O tires had the Esprit V8, S4s, and Sport 300 on it.

I think I had them load up the V8 settings and then we did a custom alignment with these settings.



I have the V8 wheels, and adjustable rear upper links for camber. I went with SE front camber, front caster, and rear toe. And I used V8 front toe-out and rear camber. I like it alot, it has no understeer, but it is a little twitchy in the ruts.

[juki75]

The alignment specs are in the vehicle technical data section of the Service Notes. If you don't have the manual, send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you the section.

This is for MY 88-92.

Thanks Jim!

I'm blind . Specs are indeed in service notes and same specs are in owners manual too.

Jukka

[lotus4s]

You're welcome

As Travis said, most of the alignment shops I've been to have the Lotus specs in their machines. I would still take a copy and make sure they have the correct ones for your vehicle.

[Vulcan Grey]

Biggest problem is that the Lotus specs are in "mm" while the Hunter machines measure Deg.

There is no way to calculate the deg. from the mm without a 3D computer model.

IIRC the '93 SE did have different specs than the 89-92 SE.

The 93 was set up for less understeer I think.

The normal SE toe-in is horrible, maybe safe but horrible handling.
Everything else is fine, caster, camber, and rear toe I would not change.

Here is what the S4, S4s, Sport 300, V8, GT3 manual says

[Qavion]

I have the service notes for my early series SE. The toe-in value is "+1.5mm each side +/-0.5mm. Would you have the front toe-in values for the 93 model?

 

Thanks

Ian

Edited June 26, 2014 by Qavion

[Vulcan Grey]

fixed my post above, repaired the broken link to the 93+ suspension settings from the manual.

[Qavion]

Sorry, Travis, I'm not sure I understand. The link is for the S4 onwards. Is the S4 the same as the '93 SE?

 

I really can't make any sense of the table. There are 2 unbracketed values, and four () and {}  bracketed values. i.e six toe out values, but only 5 cars listed.

[sailorbob]

The S4 is different to the SE due to the introduction of power steering. The toe settings are given in mm with the bracketed values showing the settings in degrees with decimal fractions and then in degrees and minutes.

[Vulcan Grey]

I do not have specs specific to the '93 SE.

 

I would use the standard SE settings (since your camber is not adjustable), and the standard SE caster, since you do not have power steering or the later upper wishbones that allow greater camber, and I would use the standard rear toe-in settings.

 

But I would change the front toe to TOE-OUT like the later cars.  I personally run 0.1deg toe-OUT per side, you might want a bit less.  But Toe-in on these cars is not a great feeling IMO.

[Mysterae]

What settings should I use on a '90SE with the 17" wheels from a S4 (I think that what they're from) with rear adjustable upper links?

 

I'm soon to replace all 4 tyres and it would be good to get the alignment done too.

[Vulcan Grey]

same as what I said above for a 90SE, but you can play with a little more camber in the rear, up to the V8 or S4s specs if you want.

 

I like the settings that i went with in post #6.  You may want a tiny bit less front toe-out, or you may like my toe-out.

[Mysterae]

Cheers Travis, I'll take your info with me when I get some new rubber, probably end of July.

[fjmuurling]

Copy from posting in G car forum I made.

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Geo_Setups

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Geo_Alignment_Rig_(Home_Made)

Edited following Bibs reply.

The figures given are indeed for the elises / evora.

It is not about the figures but the method of measuring / setting up of the geometry of the car. Further there is also an explanation for converting the toe "angle" in mm to degrees with a handy excel formula.

[Wysia]

Hello,

I have to do setting the Wheel Alignment in my Turbo SE'91.

I would use the standard SE settings.

Can I get also an instruction in pdf?

I do not have specific specs

Paul
'91 SE

[Vulcan Grey]

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/topic/66496-usa-dealer-alignment-specs/

[Jphoenix13]

Travis, I drive my S4 on Seattle freeways a lot, I find the toe-out causes the car to dart between the ridges, humps and cracks carefully placed in the concrete freeway surface. Do you experience the same with your settings - I know CO freeways are newer, having just driven them last weekend - much nicer than the washboards we have here. The biggest issue are the truck wheel ruts, the car really wants to climb those hills and valleys when changing lanes.

 

On the track, turn-in is perfect, nice new surface on the straights, so no issues there.

Edited August 21, 2014 by Jphoenix13

[Vulcan Grey]

Yes, front toe-out can cause the car to wander a bit on rutted roads, especially in the rain. Depends some on the type of tire too.

[Jphoenix13]

Continetal Contacts DWX or some sort, excellent tire in the rain. I don't like Continentals much, but these have worked very well. I think the tread pattern does contribute to the issue. Won't be tracking the car much anymore, so maybe I'll toe it in a bit and see what happens. Tires are relatively new, so maybe in a year or so, try a more assymetric tread pattern.

[Vulcan Grey]

Oh and Colorado roads can be super rough due to the huge temperature swings we get.  We can be -10F one day in Jan and be 50-60F the next day.  breaks the pavement up fast.

 

I just prefer toe-out.  I even have my Acura daily driver with 1mm toe-out.

 

First time I drove the Esprit in the canyons here with the original alignment was also the last....  Toe-in on a hair pin turn is no fun.