UremaW Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Having had my Supersport R for 2 years now, I'm finally getting round to sorting out the suspension. The car came direct from caterham with 'Supersport' (adjustible bilstein) suspension, but as with all Supersports, it sits too low at the front and too high at the back for my liking.At the front, even though it has widetrack front wishbones, the spring/damper units do not have the usual extentions, so i have had to adjust the platforms to their absolute highest setting to protect the sump from catseyes!At the back (with 13" wheels fitted) i've set the platforms to their lowest possible setting but there is still a large fist-sized gap between the wing and the tyre.Is it possible to retrofit widetrack extentions to the front damper units to allow me to lift the front slightly? And can i fit shorter springs to the rear dampers to allow the rear to sit a bit lower? Not 'slammed' - just to make it look the same as pretty much every other seven.I'd rather not replace the entire suspension as the car is used 95% on the road so i wouldnt want anything too harsh. I'd also prefer to keep 13" wheels if at all possible too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 16, 2015 Member Share Posted June 16, 2015 What's your sump clearance (and what would you like it to be?) and can you add a side photo?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UremaW Posted June 16, 2015 Author Share Posted June 16, 2015 Can't remember the exact clearance when i last measured but I remember that it was classed as being at the lower end of acceptible. I'd like it to be an inch higher for safety, but my main aim is to be able to get the car flat-floored. As it is, it would be pointless at both shocks are set to their highest level. Any adjustment would therefore bring it lower, which would mean i'd struggle to get out my drive!I'm not sure how to post a photo of my actual car, but if you look at the main photo in this article, the rear wing gap is same as mine.http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/driven-caterham-supersport-r/26813Whereas in the article below, the same wheels sit more squarely (!) in the rear arches on the red R300 (see smaller side photo part way down the page)http://www.pistonheads.com/road-tests/road-tests/a-caterham-for-all-seasons-r300-vs-roadsport-175/20424 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 There are 'widetrack' dampers which are longer than standard, so negating the extension pieces. If the widetrack is standard in your car, I'd be surprised if CC extended the dampers with the extension piece which are for the narrow to widetrack conversion kit. The height of the adjustable platforms can be adjusted using the circlips on the damper body, it could be that they are positions too high on the damoer body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UremaW Posted June 16, 2015 Author Share Posted June 16, 2015 Re: circlips on damper - interesting, I wasn't aware of that. Will check them out tonight and see what I can find. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damo V Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 As above drop the circlip on rear. Caterham did mine under warranty, build fault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Tom are you sure they do a widetrack spec front damper? I'm not aware of these, just the ones with a 1" spacer. You can leave the spacer out (as CC seem to do) but on a low profile tyre it does mean they need to be wound right up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Ive just looked on CC Parts, and learnt they dont do widetrack dampers! Im sure they used to, now they just seem to sell them with the damper extension. Every day is a learning day.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 You can also get an extra groove machined into the damper body if needed, by someone with a metalworking lathe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gulf07 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 I had a look at my Supersport and its too high at the back aswell. Theres also about 0.5cm difference between the sides. Is it easy enough to adjust the rear platforms? Edit: Just read the how to guide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Yes ... if the nearside is not seized as my original was, after years of wet and road dirt. Plenty of lube on the threads now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 But don't forget to set all corners with the equivalent of your weight in the driver's seat. This may explain the difference you are seeing. I remove seat base and use concrete blocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil G Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 That’s a lotta concrete Ian. I recall a coke can clearance under the sump was a good gauge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Thanks Phil ..... but you are right .... it is scary. Will be less now than when I last did it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomwood Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 UremaW, I've got a supersport R the same as yours as you know. When I built mine I didn't get given the damper extensions either. I told Caterham to fit them when the car went back for the PBC. Yours should definitely have them, the car just looks plain wrong without them fitted and sits dangerously low at the front. Only a matter of time before you hit the sump on something.I think with the extensions fitted at the front you wouldn't notice the back being quite so high although I do agree, even with the extensions it is still raised a bit more than is ideal.Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomwood Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Best pic I could find to give you an idea of how it would sit with the extensions added.https://carousel.dropbox.com/photos/cc/dHSdjTZx45k3327tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Willoughby Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 The Supersport comes with "Supersport" rather than standard dampers doesn't it? I think that Supersport dampers are the same (or at least very similar to) the M1 spec race damper that was for wide track only and came without the extension piece. See the following link to Catherham's website: http://caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=682 There is no extnesion piece on this damper and it specifically states that it wide track fitment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UremaW Posted June 25, 2015 Author Share Posted June 25, 2015 That's really helpful Tom, thanks. Definitely looks a lot better without it's chin scraping along the floor and it's bum in the air!Waiting to hear back from Caterham parts about the extension pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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