alcal Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 I have a new one of these (S3, 13inch wheels) on order and have noticed a couple of negative posts on here about the ground clearance. Before I look into switching to 15 inch wheels is there an owner who could give me an actual measurement to compare with my current Sigma car?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 It shouldn't run any higher on 15" wheels than it does on 13". The ground clearance would be pretty much the same. I run a Duratec car on 13" wheels and ground clearance has never been an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 Aim for 75 to 80mm under the lowest point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark420r Posted May 14, 2022 Share Posted May 14, 2022 I don't know whether changing the wheels on a 360s will help, but there is definitely an issue with the ground clearance - it may depend where you live and the roads you drive on but I have just taken the corner off the sump on an undulating but smooth road in the Peak District. I wasn't pushing it that hard but have previously had a few 'clatters' elsewhere. Be interested in any other views/experiences/solutions on this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted May 14, 2022 Member Share Posted May 14, 2022 "I don't know whether changing the wheels on a 360s will help, but there is definitely an issue with the ground clearance - it may depend where you live and the roads you drive on but I have just taken the corner off the sump on an undulating but smooth road in the Peak District. I wasn't pushing it that hard but have previously had a few 'clatters' elsewhere. Be interested in any other views/experiences/solutions on this"What's the clearance, please?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark420r Posted May 14, 2022 Share Posted May 14, 2022 Unfortunately I can't measure it as the car is now in for repair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted May 14, 2022 Share Posted May 14, 2022 Wet or dry sump? Is the wet sump significantly lower than the dry? If so and the wet sump is the issue then at least there's an easy fix! If not cheap! The thing about the wheels is that the tyres should be of different sizes to make the whole assembly have the same rolling diameter whether the wheels are 13/14/15". Then the car should be set up according to the recommendation of CC or one of the other respected dealers/service places. Many people will vary slightly from the standard ride height I'm sure, but not too much. My car is dry sumped and there's a metal tubular 'sump guard' at the back of the sump(!) which has clearly been nudged a few times over the years but nothing serious and I'm not aware of it touching anything out on the highway or track.Where we meet for our region's Club meets we go through an arch with a step of 2-3" under it. You need to go v slowly as you go down the step or you'll get a touch and that's where I think my 'guard' has been hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted May 14, 2022 Share Posted May 14, 2022 As previously mentioned the Raceline DS affords you 32mm more ground clearence on the critical form edge, the alternate nylon wedge that CC offer (it replaced the steel bar) reduces the chance of damaging the lower edge of the bellhousing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 #8 thanks Neil, that makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark420r Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 Thanks for the info on dry sump. I think I'll look into the cost of that if it has a higher clearance. It may not be more expensive than having to replace a wet sump 2 or 3 times!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 It may not be more expensive than having to replace a wet sump 2 or 3 times!!Once was enough for me. As I didn't want the expense of a dry sump, I opted for a sump guard instead. See this thread (#34 onwards).JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianC Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 I have done 32000+ miles in a 360s SV with 13inch wheels and ZZS all over UK and Ireland plus yearly trips to France and Spain. Sump clearance set at 75-80mm and I can honestly say other than hitting a stone on the road I have never had any issues with ride height and clearance. You do need adjustable shocks to get the set up right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 It just takes one kiss with a piece of road debris, crowned road or cats eye and like many other Duratec owners you'll be left in a pool of oil needing recovery and looking at a fair repair bill too.At best a new sump and associated fitting, several members have torn the engine mounts and dinged the bonnet too, and a couple ripped the oil pump from the block - scrapping the block.A sump guarded wet sump has less clearance, due to the guard and merely spreads the impact or transfers it to the chassis depending how its mounted DS needs to be high on the spec sheet or upgrade list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alcal Posted May 15, 2022 Author Share Posted May 15, 2022 Hmm, some mixed messages. Thanks all. I'd be grateful if someone could provide an actual measurement though as I could compare it with my current car which has 80mm clearance and has never grounded. The new car is a standard S so won't have adjustable spring platforms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 See post #8this dimenson is the net gain in clearence on the same car wet sump v dry sump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 Why not simply get adjustable platforms fitted to achieve the desired the ride height/sump clearance? That way you can have the car setup with the correct rake etc too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 #16 But riding too high for best handling, possibly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 I agree but maybe offset by the benefit of having the corner weights and rake correct, which they aren't without adjustable platforms. For a road car I doubt a bit of extra ride height is noticeable. I have always had my cars on the high side ie 80mm for my K and 85mm for my Sigma with me in the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 Start jacking things up and you move the suspension of of its designed range which impacts on bump steer - not that most cars are correctly set anyway, but thats anther story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative DerekH Posted May 16, 2022 Area Representative Share Posted May 16, 2022 Hi Al,I have a 270S SC that came on 15" rims, I have changed to 13" with 185/60 ZZS front and 215/55 on the rear.Although the rear tyres are near the same size as the 195/55 15's the fronts are smaller and dropped the front ride height by 30mm. They are also 2.5Kg lighterI don't have adjustable platforms being an S model but they are on the shopping list.The 15" rims and low profile tyres make the car nervous and twitchy unless your on a billiard table smooth surface. I'd suggest you try a car on 15 inch rims first.I have lowered floors too and have spent the weekend on the F&C run reducing the seat bolts.Personally I'd choose 13" and adjustable platforms but that might not get you enough.DerekH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark420r Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Thanks all - some other things to investigate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Re #13:A sump guarded wet sump has less clearance, due to the guard...In my own case, the top of the guard ramp aligns pretty well exactly with the bottom of the sump, so there's no loss of clearance:JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark420r Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 I found this and seems this guy had the same issues - his approach was to fit adjustable platform and I see from other, later posts of his, he regarded it as a great successhttps://caterham360build.co.uk/2018/03/06/fitting-adjustable-suspension/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 https://caterham360build.co.uk/2018/03/06/fitting-adjustable-suspension/Chatting to people who see a lot of Caterhams (Boyd of Highland Caterham Hire and the fine folks of Dreadnought garage) they see a lot of sump damage. Boyd has just fitted protective plates to his cars,...I'd love to know what Boyd did!JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 #23 I think the 'sport suspension pack' option would give you the adjustable platform suspension and judging by the price wide track too. Might be worth asking Caterham if they can just fit the adjustable platforms which should be much less - assuming you aren't bothered about wide track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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