CHRIS CLARK Posted September 20, 2001 Share Posted September 20, 2001 Those who know me also know that I've been complaining about the poor handling of late of my dear (expensive?)'93 Caterham, & its propensity to bump its sump with the 13" wheel set up. (The 'Rumble'-----Tom's Lane?) Well, finally got around to removing a front damper for checking. Standard set up ie. no adjustable platforms, 150Lb spring etc. Well, when I got the spring off (having built a home-made rig to do so as proprietery ones all seemed too large for the tight coils) & compared the operation with a newish damper (longer body one, but still the same 52mm stroke to the bump stop) it proved interesting. Hardly a scientific test, but after compressing both dampers to the bump stops my existing damper(?) got to its fully extended state (ooh err!) 10 seconds faster than its 'rival'. Anyone want an oil filled tube?thumbsdown.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philwaters Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 Are you sure that both were adjusted the same - if they are adjustable (i.e. Spax). Or, indeed, that they are both valved the same? How did the compression of the two compare - might just be bad rebound etc? Is it a live or a De-Dion car? Phil Waters The car in front must be less in control teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philwaters Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 Oh and yes, I clouted my Sump - BIG TIME - on the Rumble - had a good look at S' Mimms and it wasn't leaking having told the better half not to look away from the gauge smile.gif. Thats with 13" wheels and 310lb front springs so I have decided to need to jack the whole car up to avoid this - but then I know my car sufferes from Bump steer then. Must be a way of spending loads of money to fix it - Caterham.....? Phil Waters The car in front must be less in control teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Riches Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 Phil have you thought of replacing the sump with a shallow pan, I seem to remember a thread on this site about them, although I think it was only applicable to the x-flow motor, if you have this engine it could be the way to go, don't have any experience of the later engines. Regards Nigel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philwaters Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 Hi Nigel, Yeah, I have seen the low sump and it looks really good but I am planning a Zetec this winter so mine will do for the last few nice days we get this year. Also I think I have clouted mine so often that it is about as high now smile.gif Phil Waters The car in front must be less in control teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 Phil, Were you going anticlockwise on the Rumble - and did you clout the sump about halfway between the first pub at Great Warley and South Mimms??? (Toms lane was the other side of South Mimms) It was such a huge jolt I saw the bonnet lift about an inch from the nosecone as we hit it! I did the same. Sheared an engine mount, but the engine mount restraint held it together. Proves they work, although I do hae a dent in the bonnet where the exhaust hit it! Fat Arn The NOW PROVEN R500 Eaterid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Edited by - fat arnie on 21 Sep 2001 12:12:02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberts Wallet Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 Chris, Were the "Newer" dampers my old one by any chance? Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philwaters Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 Arnie, Yes I was going Anti-ways and the position sounds about right. It was on a downhill section with trees linning the road on the left hand side and a field (I think on the right). The road seemed to be 'puckered' up in several places and I just didn't see the biggest one smile.gif I checked the engine mounts when I got home and they seem to be fine - being a light X/flow I think the front just bounced as 'one' wink.gif Phil Waters The car in front must be less in control teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 Yes Phil, sounds like the same bump. Biggest I've ever launched off! Fat Arn The NOW PROVEN R500 Eaterid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philwaters Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 And I'd probably already flattened it a bit by then too wink.gif Phil Waters The car in front must be less in control teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Riches Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 Phil, sounds like the car in front needs launch control!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millsn Posted September 22, 2001 Share Posted September 22, 2001 Chris: My 92 spec car has a different damper valving to that of a 96 car (assume that yours has the same as mine had). The longer damper body indicates that you're looking at the newer valving with that damper so you'll get what you got. The latest dampers to replace yours from Caterham have the new valving too so just replace them with newer items but understand why they'll be better. The car will be transformed. Nigel Mills - 2.0 Zetec carbs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhague Posted September 22, 2001 Share Posted September 22, 2001 Arnie & Phil, Any chance you could look up the name of the road on your Rumble maps? I'll make sure we aviod it next year, if it's not been repaired. Cheers, Darren. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FH Posted September 22, 2001 Share Posted September 22, 2001 Hello Fellow Rumbleurs cool.gif From memory, we think it was the bit after all the roundabouts near Waltham Abbey, where we went north (as a clocker) on the B181 towards Broadley Common. It was just as bumpy on our side of the road and great quantities of forward velocity were chucked overboard in an effort to avoid sumptuous catastrophes wink.gif BTW, I have had a couple of thoughts for '02, but will start another thread to be concise and within the guidelines of good rumbling practice. FH teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted September 22, 2001 Author Share Posted September 22, 2001 Yes Gareth. the 'newer' ones were yours. Bl%dy sight better than mine! Phil W. Both dampers are 'Bilsteins' ie. no user serviceable parts or adjustment!!! Avo's on order with 250Lb front springs (thumbsup.gif I hope). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhague Posted September 23, 2001 Share Posted September 23, 2001 Thanks FH smile.gif - Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelspeed Posted September 24, 2001 Share Posted September 24, 2001 A couple of years ago I was chatting to Reg Price (name dropper) re the spec of my bilsteins and he said that a company called Pilot could rebuild them to any spec I wanted for approx 50 quid a corner. Pilot were on 01455 285850, talk to Julian or Richard. Never did it though so can't comment on how well it worked. Ended up paying just over twice as much per corner for Ledas and getting something that is adjustable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted September 24, 2001 Author Share Posted September 24, 2001 Thanks for the info. Avo's (for the front anyway) cost 55ukp (+ vat) each and they have adjustable damping and adjustable platforms built in !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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