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Post by lancer360 on Jan 17, 2007 9:16:23 GMT -5
Anybody have some recommendations on where to get a good alignment in the Charlotte area. I don't mind driving up to an 1 hour away if they come highly recommended.
I have a Lotus Elise and I am installing a rear toe link brace and will need the alignment checked out afterwards.
Thanks
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Post by lagunamiata on Jan 17, 2007 10:01:32 GMT -5
A friend manages the shop at the Goodyear location at Piper Station, across from Stonecrest. Roadboy used to work there...
Anyway, my friend, Sam, says they will do an alignment to whatever specs you want. I've not had anything done there, so no first hand experience.
I know a few people that went to Carrol Alignment (on South Tryon) and were not happy. So, avoid them.
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Post by bogner47 on Jan 17, 2007 10:22:33 GMT -5
I just had mine done in Mooresville at Taylor's Sport n Import. The owner's a pretty avid SCCA racer, I believe he used to win his solo events back in the day with regularity. It was NOT cheap, but he does have discounts if you bring your SCCA membership, and I trust it was done correctly. Car feels good now, can't wait to do some test-n-tune.
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Post by lancer360 on Jan 17, 2007 11:11:21 GMT -5
Will either of these shops be able to corner weight the car? I'm thinking about upgrading to the adjustable coil-overs. I've heard they do wonders for the this car.
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Post by pistonwheels on Jan 17, 2007 12:01:29 GMT -5
Will either of these shops be able to corner weight the car? I'm thinking about upgrading to the adjustable coil-overs. I've heard they do wonders for the this car. I don't know what club activities you're planning on doing, but consider them before making the decision about Coil-overs. They are great and work brilliantly and I never recommend them for autocrossers. That's because you'll spend the whole time trying to work out what the optimum set-up is for a particular course and by the time you get close to what's best, you'll have used all your runs. A simple adjustable shock, like Koni or Spax offer, will provide enough modulation for most use. Now if you want coil-overs for other reaosns - like your neighbor's kid has got them on their old Civic Si and you like that color, then great - go for 'em. Otherwise, spend that money on driver training or bribing people in timing van for a better time. |
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Post by lancer360 on Jan 17, 2007 12:24:13 GMT -5
That is interesting. Most people on the Elise Talk website swear by them for both autocross and track use. Most people that are even somewhat serious with autocrossing the Elise upgrade to the SS class compliant ohlin double adjustable coil overs. Most of them say that they only change settings when on the street versus track/autocross once they dial in the settings that they prefer. The two upgrades that come highly recommended on Elise Talk are the Ohlin coil overs and the stiffer front sway bar. I wonder if they are mainly upgrading to the coil overs since they have adjustable ride height allowing you to corner weight the car to get more uniform handling?
Thoughts?
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Post by markt on Jan 17, 2007 17:18:41 GMT -5
Keith Taylor is most definitely an SCCA racer, he once again won FP SEDiv. Time Trials, way ta' go, Keith! I plan for him to do some work for me next week. He also has a dyno...and sponsors on our front page.
As far as coil-overs, I am not an expert but, the larger the driver the more benefit, especially in small light cars. At my annual weigh-in this past Jan. 1 I tipped the scales at 253#, up some over the past few by about 10-15. I used to use my '91 Miata as a daily driver, 60 miles round trip. Northbound on I-85 over the South Fork River the transition from the roadway to the bridge is perfectly angled and space so as to slam down the rear end of a Miata as it makes the transition. I did this about 450 times over a 2+ year period. I now have terminal driver side sag of about 1". It would seem that adjustable coil-overs, in a case like this, are about the only option to even come close to having a properly balanced car. Looking to next year for that....along with a Torsen LSD...along with an engine rebuild...along with a...
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Post by soloracer on Jan 17, 2007 19:59:12 GMT -5
Again a great post, Mark. Exalt
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Post by C4Shane on Jan 17, 2007 21:12:15 GMT -5
"I now have terminal driver side sag of about 1". "
I have that problem too!...Oh, you mean the car...Sorry!
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Post by C4Shane on Jan 17, 2007 21:17:01 GMT -5
And, not that it is in any way related to a Lotus Elise - the Fiestada has coilovers and this is a common setup for this car when prepped for prepared or modified classes. I would agree with PW that getting the set up dead on isn't easy. But, for this car it is simply set up hard as a rock in the back (with two sway bars) and softer in the nose. Ride height is a low as you can go and get it on the trailer. Never measured the corner weights (would love too though), but have set ride heights with driver on board. The previous owner had the corners set up using scales, but I would be interested in if this is available at Taylor's.
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Post by jbyrd on Jan 17, 2007 21:48:48 GMT -5
Most people that are even somewhat serious with autocrossing the Elise upgrade to the SS class compliant ohlin double adjustable coil overs. Just curious. Why would coilovers be legal in a stock class. Typically that involves changing springs from the originals which wouldn't be legal in stock classes. Am I missing something? (of course, it wouldn't be the first time) |
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Post by MattP on Jan 17, 2007 22:00:36 GMT -5
Most people that are even somewhat serious with autocrossing the Elise upgrade to the SS class compliant ohlin double adjustable coil overs. Just curious. Why would coilovers be legal in a stock class. Typically that involves changing springs from the originals which wouldn't be legal in stock classes. Am I missing something? (of course, it wouldn't be the first time) Adjustable coilovers are available from the factory on the Elise, I believe. I know this is true for some Porsches as well. |
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Post by damnyankee on Jan 17, 2007 22:12:10 GMT -5
[quote author=pistonwheels board=tech thread=1169043383 post=1169053289 Otherwise, spend that money on driver training or bribing people in timing van for a better time.
[/quote]
Timing people will not be bribed this season. But, the Timing Chief might be able to be influenced with greenery!!!
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Post by lancer360 on Jan 26, 2007 9:07:29 GMT -5
If you ordered the track pack with the Elise, the car came with Ohlin coilovers which makes it legal in SS. My car will no longer be SS compliant though as the options for a harness with the stock seat did not meet my personnel level of comfort/safety for track events. I have upgraded to seats with more support and a 6 point harness, SS brake lines, and a few others planned.
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Post by Imprezivblue on Jan 26, 2007 10:14:55 GMT -5
Just curious. Why would coilovers be legal in a stock class. Typically that involves changing springs from the originals which wouldn't be legal in stock classes. Am I missing something? (of course, it wouldn't be the first time) Adjustable coilovers are available from the factory on the Elise, I believe. I know this is true for some Porsches as well. yep. 944 turbo s comes to mind. I'm not sure about the elise though. |
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Post by drum3 on Jan 26, 2007 13:19:47 GMT -5
Borderline Racing just north of Greensboro,(276-226-0841)can help with your Corner Balancing(shameless plug), Havent done alignments on the Elise yet so I'm not sure about that.Coilovers are definitely the way to go, but ,Pistonwheels, I'm not sure about you but most people set the corner weights and leave the coilovers alone ,only adjusting the shock settings at events.Heck even with single adjustable Koni's on my coilovers I still seldom get them exactly where I want them before running out of runs.
As a former Lotus "test pilot" I can tell you these cars just get better and better with every mod !!! Congrats on a super choice!
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Post by lancer360 on Jan 28, 2007 11:01:47 GMT -5
I'm debating on whether to go with the single adjustable Nitrons or the dual adjustable Ohlins. The single's make it much simpler (only 8 settings) but there is only a 10% difference in cost. I realize I'm a novice and probably would not be playing with the settings much at all initially. I just don't want to spend the money on the single adjustable and find out in a year or two that I have outgrown them.
Thoughts?
I understood that coilovers do make a big difference on these cars in the quality of the ride (over the sport suspension) and allow you to drop the ride height and corner weight. After getting the ride height and corner weight set, I would probably just follow a recommended setting for track/autocross and one for street until I get some more seat time. Is there any logic in learning on the coilovers rather than learning on the stock suspension and then switching and having to learn on the coilovers?
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