Rear suspension

[talon]

Wow - As those of you that were on the last drive are aware, I had a rear shock that was going bad and finally gave up the ghost completely during the drive. I just crawled under the car and I think I found the problem...

The rear shock is visibly bent inside the spring. 

I'm wondering if that is also what contributed to the weird and extreme tire wear patterns I have on that tire. Either way, the car is parked until I can get a new set of coilovers here. I'm going to go ahead and upgrade the rear to the SPAX units that are already on the front. From what I've read, the rears are quite a bit simpler than the fronts, so I am just going to do the work myself.

[Kjakk]

Let me know if you want any help.

[talon]

I may take you up on that. Doesn't look like too big a job though - pretty much like any other car.


The fronts on the other hand, would SUCK to do.

[Burple_X]

Just don't try removing that spring from the shock!    I know there is no reason to do so, but sometimes people get curious.  This would be the time to do so!

I have not looked at your set up, but it will probably be in your best interest to have two jacks.  Lift the body until the tire is off the floor, remove the wheel, then use the second jack to lift the axel until your have all the pressure off the shock.  It should slide on and off without any problem then.  If not, you can jack the axel up or down as needed.  ~Note~ Never trust just the jack. Always put a jack stand under there just in case!

[JnC]

Russ, I'd strongly recommend Velocity Auto Couture for this if you have to transfer the springs. I had some issues with my aftermarket shocks on the Elise, and they transferred the spring on the replacement damper and properly adjusted the ride height. They were thorough and careful, and the cost was very fair.

[Burple_X]

With a bent shock, I wouldn't keep the old springs.  New coil overs should have springs already installed.  It should be a 2 bolts per shock install.

[S4 Esprit]

You could always pop the spring off and let it fly into a brick or concrete wall.  That's always fun to watch.  Make sure you youtube it if you try. 

[Y2K SILVER BULLET]

I'm wondering if that is also what contributed to the weird and extreme tire wear patterns I have on that tire.

I'm gonna say yes.   

[talon]

#1 - done plenty of non coil over swaps in the past - they are the dangerous ones. I've seen spring punch through body panels before. I am now at the point I normally chain the unit to the frame 'just in case'

#2 - This is a coilover unit - no need to remove the spring unless I was going to go with stock replacement units (and even then, I'd buy a new spring just because this shock was so badly bent inside the spring)

#3 - Part of the enjoyable part about the SPAX units is that they come with the spring / damper already assembled. Although I hesitate to say it is a SIMPLE two bolt job, that is what it boils down to. The only tricky part is getting the spring compressed enough to allow the damper to drop out of the upper pocket.

#4 - Rule of thumb on the Esprit is to set adjustable height shocks to the next to lowest setting when you put them on. The car will sit really high for several hundred miles until everything seats. I ended up with stock ride height on the front after doing so. I've since dropped it about 1/4 inch more. Most people find they don't need to mess with anything after everything settles, but since I am running non standard tire sizes on the rear, I may have to. I'd love to end up with the rear end about an 3/4 inch lower than it is now.

The really, really, REALLY nice thing I've found with the units I have on the front is the ability to adjust both height and compression/rebound. I had finally got the front how I liked it just before the rears let go. I assume I will have to start all over again once I replace the rear units.



And then then is the B!@#$ of having to replace two very expensive rear tires with less than 2K miles on them Once I get everything taken care of, it's going in for a very extensive alignment. I had the car setup when the last tires were mounted, but I believe its safe to say the bent damper has probably thrown that all to hell.

[talon]

Oh, and burple, I never have a car off the ground without at least three points supporting it - even if it's just one corner. Best trick with the Esprit, at least at the rear, is to get the floor jack under the tube frame that runs under the trans and then lift the car. You can then slide jack stands under the suspension pickup points. I would usually use another floor jack to compress the suspension and free the coilover, but in this case I will feel a bit better using a spring compressor in conjunction.

I learned all about lifting the Esprit when I attempted to replace the alternator. What a !@#$ing nightmare  I've never tried the front, but I assum it to be a real PITA

[talon]

Russ, I'd strongly recommend Velocity Auto Couture for this if you have to transfer the springs. I had some issues with my aftermarket shocks on the Elise, and they transferred the spring on the replacement damper and properly adjusted the ride height. They were thorough and careful, and the cost was very fair.

Those guys are great - I was just down there the other day to pick the car up from a photo shoot. Can't say enough about them.