Editing Suspension upgrades (section)

===S1 Elise Suspension Enhancement Kit===
[[Image:S1upgrade.jpg|thumb|right|S1 Upgrade Kit]] 

NOTE: Although the kit is an official Lotus upgrade, it is still classed as a modification for insurance purposes and should be disclosed. This was confirmed by Lotus Cars Technical Publications and Archives Department, 11/01/2011.

In order that owners of S1 Elise might enjoy the benefits of suspension development on 
the S2 model, a retrofit kit has been introduced which comprises Bilstein dampers and 
Eibach springs to provide enhanced ride comfort and refinement. 


Parts Required                      Part Number                   Qty 

Suspension Enhancement Kit                     A111C0148S          1 


comprising: 

Spring/damper assembly                   front A117C0052F          2
 
Spring/damper assembly                    rear C117D0038F          2 

Bracket, rear damper to chassis                A117D0077F          2 

Spreader Plate, rear damper mount              A111D0125F          2 

Fitting Instructions                           LSL459              1 



Changes

The front spring rate has been increased to 42.5 N/mm from 27.5 ('Mk.1') and 35 ('Mk.2'). 

The rear spring rate has been increased to 50 N/mm from 40 (as 'Mk.2'). 

The front spring abutment uses the lowermost groove in the damper body. 

The rear spring abutment uses the uppermost groove in the damper body. 

The mid-laden (2 x 75kg passengers plus half tank of fuel) ride height is lowered to 
130/130mm from 140/140 front/rear. 

The brackets securing the rear damper to the chassis are unique to this application to 
provide the correct mid-laden ride height (with other bracket variants, rear height would 
be too low). 

The spreader plates were fitted as standard to S1 cars with barrel shaped springs, but 
not to parallel spring cars. The springs were changed from parallel to barrel at approx VIN W 3580 (June '98).

Apart from the mid-laden ride height, suspension geometry settings and steering rack 
shim plates are unchanged.

Individual Lotus Part Numbers are 

  Front Dampers: E117.C.007H
  Rears Dampers: E117.D.009H 


Each damper is stamped with three codes, e.g.

  5000 BE3 6268T0

In this case indicating manufacture in the 3rd week of 2000,
and it is a Rear damper (so says Bilstein tech support).

Front dampers end with 6269T0.