Difference between revisions of "Damper Settings"

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The regular question "I have adjustable dampers in my Elise, what settings should I use ?" comes up and here is the answer;
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The regular question "I have adjustable dampers in my Elise, what settings should I use ?" comes up, and here is the answer;
  
  
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Yes really there is no magic answer as it changes with principle stuff like Damper type, valving, Spring Rates, Tyre types, Downforce, Wet/Dry conditions, weight of the car, your driving style ....
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Yes really there is no magic answer as it changes with principle stuff like Damper type, valving, Spring Rates, Tyre types, those Tyre pressures, ARB, Downforce, Wet/Dry conditions, weight of the car, your driving style .... so your on a personal voyage of discovery, and since most one way adjustable dampers have 24 settings, why not plan 4 sessions and start on full soft (usual for road) and stiffen by 6 steps each outing and compare results. If you CBA just set them in the middle (-12) and be done with it, and if you dont notice any difference your just not cornering hard enough !
 
 
 
 
Your on a personal voyage of discovery, and since most one way adjustable dampers have 24 settings, plan 4 sessions and start on full soft (usual for road) and stiffen by 6 steps each outing and compare results. If you CBA just set them in the middle (-12) and be done with it, and if you dont notice a difference your just not cornering hard enough !
 
  
  
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Front damper harder (than optimum) = more understeer (cure oversteer)
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Front damper harder (than optimum) = more understeer (address oversteer)
Rear damper harder (than optimum) = more oversteer (cure understeer)
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Rear damper harder (than optimum) = more oversteer (address understeer)
  
  
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A road & track Elise with standard Nitron 1 way adjustables on 400/475 springs A048/R888 tyres and dry track I have seen great driving from -6 to -18 and I'm sure some people run full hard or full soft. Whatever.
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I have see great track driving on Elises with standard Nitron 1 way adjustables on 400/475 springs A048/R888 tyres and dry track from -6 to -18, and I'm sure some people run full hard or full soft. Whatever.
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===See Also===
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[http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Ohlins_settings Ohlins Settings]
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[[Category:Suspension]]
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[[Category:Lotus Elise]]
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[[Category:S1]]
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[[Category:S2]]
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[[Category:DIY]]

Latest revision as of 18:51, 16 May 2008

The regular question "I have adjustable dampers in my Elise, what settings should I use ?" comes up, and here is the answer;


IT DEPENDS


Yes really there is no magic answer as it changes with principle stuff like Damper type, valving, Spring Rates, Tyre types, those Tyre pressures, ARB, Downforce, Wet/Dry conditions, weight of the car, your driving style .... so your on a personal voyage of discovery, and since most one way adjustable dampers have 24 settings, why not plan 4 sessions and start on full soft (usual for road) and stiffen by 6 steps each outing and compare results. If you CBA just set them in the middle (-12) and be done with it, and if you dont notice any difference your just not cornering hard enough !


Once you have found your natural position you can start tuning front to back, generally in steps of 2 clicks e.g.


Front damper harder (than optimum) = more understeer (address oversteer)

Rear damper harder (than optimum) = more oversteer (address understeer)


For Wet settings you generally need to soften dry settings (many run full soft) to allow the body to roll rather than breaking tyre traction.


For Damper settings we usually start at full hard (+) with valves closed and back off a number of steps (-) so settings are giving as "steps from full hard".


I have see great track driving on Elises with standard Nitron 1 way adjustables on 400/475 springs A048/R888 tyres and dry track from -6 to -18, and I'm sure some people run full hard or full soft. Whatever.


See Also

Ohlins Settings