Damper value?

[djmhall]

 

I had an opportunity to put the car on a friends corner scales a while ago and it is a long way from where it should be. Still on the original 35,000 mile 15 year old standard Billis, so I have no way of adjusting the car. The Caterham online store shows an adjustable platform kit for c £150, which assuming I can get the existing units apart, would let me adjust the corner weights as I want.

 

Seems a bit silly to spend money on 15 year old dampers, so the inevitable question is why not buy replacement units which are already adjustable.

 

What sort of money is it reasonable to ask for the original set? Sort of helps in the equation of what I might be able to afford.

 

I'm no great hero in the driving department so perhaps I would be better off with new Caterham Billi adjustable platform stock items or will even lesser mortals notice the difference with AVOs or Nitros?

 

 

 

1400 SS 6spd LSD back on the road at last!

[Jason Plato]

The second hand value will be low or nil if your 30,000 mile 15 yr old dampers are knackered. Tip top conditiopn

 

I found billie M1's quiker on lap times than std billies M0's (but harsher on the road) and AVO's quite inconsistent but quite cheap at £400 (If I recall ??)direct from AVO and Nitrons quicker over a lap and well damped on the road ( although the nitrons plus 48R's was horrid , but with R888's and softer sidewalls trhe dampers and ride are great) but the Nitrons are £1100 a set.....

 

 

 

Taffia rear gunner

 

 

Edited by - Dave J on 26 Nov 2007 08:16:16

[Sheds Moderator]

I recently sold 4 standard springs and 4 standard Bilstein dampers in working order, used for 6 years/13k miles, for £40. The buyer wanted to try the springs out. They weren't exactly the easiest things in the world to get rid of.

 

[Irrelevant]

IMO, for any chance of a nice handling car, the basic static setup has to be correct. As far as I'm concerned, this is distribution between weight front/rear and the spread of weight between the front two wheels. The front/rear spread is important for under/oversteer and the balanced fronts important for straight line braking(yep, I know weight moves forward, but balanced fronts are a good start).

Even with the sh1ttiest dampers, you can get ta decent basic setup with just adjustable platforms.

Decent dampers will add the ability to accurately control the dynamics of the handling - i.e. what happens when you go round corners or what happpens when the weight of your car moves about.

The manner in which the weight movement effects the car's handling is determined by many things, including anything that changes the way the wheels point, the arc they move and the tyre footprint e.g. the anti roll bars, tyre pressure, toe, camber, caster.

Adjustable dampers only give you fine tuning of the speed the wheels move up and down. This is merely fine tuning of the basic setup and as long as you have dampers that work and suit the car (e.g. stock Caterham dampers) you do not need Nitrons, Konis, Ohlins, etc. etc.

 

So, first thing is to get adjustable platforms to get your static setup about right.

If your dampers are shot, get some recent M1s, which is all the R400 race cars have (IIRC) and they handle pretty well. Then try this, see how you get on. If handling is not up to your expectations, get someone to check the standard setup, e.g. camber, caster, toe, etc.

 

*redface*I've waffled on a bit again . .. . but my point is, using decent dampers on a car with a poor basic setup is pointless and a waste of (a lot of) money.

[djmhall]

Thanks Dave.

 

I don't think my current dampers are knackered - just looking a bit 15 years old and with non adjustable seats. Might just offer them for say £80 the set and see if anyone is temped for spares.

 

Car park bragging definitely not me, so perhaps I should stick to the billies; I just want to get the car flat floored and the geometry set up where it should be. Thereafter, I would rather invest in driver training

 

What does M1 and M0 refer to and how do they differ? Presumably there are differences in damping rating and also spring ratings. Are my old units likely to be M0?

 

 

 

1400 SS 6spd LSD back on the road at last!

[djmhall]

 

Ooops posts crossed. Thanks also BOSS and Adam.

 

Adam, this is exactly what I want to acheive - get the basics right. (I am also buying a camber/castor guage and trak-right to make sure it is where its supposed to be).

 

So, sounds like either recent / new adjustable M1s or buy the adjustable platform kit from CC so get the car flat floored with existing units (if I can get them apart).

 

Also, sounds like £80 is overly ambitious should I want to get rid of the existing ones.

 

 

1400 SS 6spd LSD back on the road at last!

[Manxseven]

Dominic,

 

Quick grap these here

 

Simon

[djmhall]

Thanks Simon - just the job!!!

 

 

1400 SS 6spd LSD back on the road at last!

[djmhall]

 

Expressed my "interest"

 

BUT - will these fit on a '92 standard track car? I know the top pick up points and bushes were changed on later cars.

 

1400 SS 6spd LSD back on the road at last!

[Richard Price]

will these fit on a '92 standard track car?

 

No. They'll be too long for a pre 96 car.

 

 

[djmhall]

 

CC have just confirmed this ☹️

 

Worse, new adjustable Bilsteins are £150 plus VAT per corner for 250lb front, 215lb rears (I have no idea if they are M0 or M1).

 

Perhaps I should look at buying the adjustable platform kit for £150 and assume the original dampers still have life in them. I assume this will be a nasty job?? Have many people done this?

 

Otherwise, if the stock Bilsteins are £705 inc VAT, suddenly makes the freestyle AVOs or Nitrons more sensible. Help?

 

 

 

 

1400 SS 6spd LSD back on the road at last!

[Ash.Bailey]

the AVO's are cheaper direct from AVO and they have knobs on

 

the Nitrons have knobs on and they alos have gold bits

 

its got to be the Nitrons

 

If ^It aint ^yellow, wonky ^and wobbly................ 😬