Tazio Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 Does anyone know what the original spring rates BDRs and presumably Xflows were fitted with?, both the 'standard', and the 'uprated' sets?The reason I'm asking is Caterham don't know, and the data Chris has at Redline is info he gathered from Mick when he was at Redline, which is that the uprated fronts were 250lb, and uprated rears, 105 lbs, this instinctively seems a weird set up, seeing as I use 250lbs fronts on my widetrack VX. Anyone have the old info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangepeel61 Posted November 29, 2018 Share Posted November 29, 2018 When I got my car the back end was very spongy and grounded on the slightest bump.I spoke to someone at Redline who told me the early de Dion cars had springs rated at around 80lbs (or something like that?) Which is indeed too soft.From memory he said that the soft springs were blue, on checking mine under the grime and rust I found traces of blue paint! He suggested the correct springs for a standard car of that age should be 104lbsI took his advice and bought the 104lbs springs with Spax adjustable shocks and the car is now fine.Don't know who it was at Redline that I spoke to but he seemed to know his stuff, it was around 3 years ago.My car is an 1987 Supersprint, I only use it on the road and have it set up for couping with pot holes rather than racing.The part I ordered was: 79602 SPRING - REAR DEDION 09/88>07/91Hope this is some helpNeil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted November 29, 2018 Author Share Posted November 29, 2018 Neil,Many thanks for responding.They are the same rear springs that Chris at Redline has sent me too, and as you say 104/5 lbs, my concern centres around the fronts, part numbers 79601, these are rated at 250lbs, which seems instinctively too high for a narrow track, light engined 7 which is used solely on the road, I maybe wrong of course lol. I don't know the origin of these spring rates, other than Chris obtained the details from Mick when Mick retired. For comparison for the early cars ie.post 1991, the front springs Caterham sell are rated at 170 lbs. So are the 250lbs the 'uprated' ones and the 170s, 'standard'?s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangepeel61 Posted November 29, 2018 Share Posted November 29, 2018 Sorry can't help you there, my fronts aren't broken so I haven't "fixed" them!Good luck, I'm sure someone out there will respond soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 My 1989 1600 sprint, narrow front, has an uprated suspension with no more trunions, Leda dampers and spring .The Caterham kit is 250 Spring front and 170 Spring for the rear . ( with Bilstein dampers )The Leda system come with 300 lbs front and 170 lbs rear and I have that, working fine with a big front anti roll bar, if it can help . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mirylees Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 I have pretty much the same problem and am scratching everything trying to ensure I buy the correct springs. My chassis is a 1988 with everything bog-standard (eg. small anti-roll bar and cruciform top link) I need to replace the springs front and rear due to high mileage and wear but can't find the info on the rates anywhere (except maybe here!!) My car is a live axled (Ford) short cockpit and is a crossflow.Any further info to the above would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted January 21, 2019 Area Representative Share Posted January 21, 2019 David and AlanI suggest you ask Jim Whiting, surely he must have had the originals through his workshop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mirylees Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Stephen - Good idea, sometimes the obvious is easily overlooked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john g Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 My 1995 xflow front springs are stamped (Eibach13/02 Caterham Cars 75511). I think they are 170 lb (but I only think that). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mirylees Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 I have heard from Derek Howlett (Caterham Tech)"When we built these cars the standard spring rates were 105 Ibs front and 75 Ibs rear, we did do an upgrade which I have been informed was a better set up and that is 240 Ibs front 96 Ibs rear"That makes sense to me as Mick at Redline sold me the (probably!) upgraded fronts in 1993 which would explain my running an 8 coil front spring!It also makes sense that Redline are supplying 104 lbs rears which look pretty close.Cheers,David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schnitzel Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 My is a 1988 live axle Marina these a my springsFaulkner springs front 1.9" diameter 8" length 225 lbs spring rateFaulkner springs rear 1.9" diameter 11" length 140 lbs spring rate (recommend dedion) maybe 170lbs spring are more for live axle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auyt Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 From Davids comment I have heard from Derek Howlett (Caterham Tech)"When we built these cars the standard spring rates were 105 Ibs front and 75 Ibs rear, we did do an upgrade which I have been informed was a better set up and that is 240 Ibs front 96 Ibs rear"That makes sense to me as Mick at Redline sold me the (probably!) upgraded fronts in 1993 which would explain my running an 8 coil front spring!It also makes sense that Redline are supplying 104 lbs rears which look pretty close.Cheers,DavidGiven there is significant rate increase, how have others found the ride? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auyt Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 OK after much research and head scratching, I’ve decided to go for the Caterham developed live axle Bilstien and duel rate spring upgrade. I’m also considering the adjustable platforms. I can see there is a number of height rings for what I think are Circlips. Are the adjustable platforms worth the expense for a road car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 It gives you the opportunity to set clearance under the sump, and then to set the rear height to give the required amount of rake ... all heights set with your weight in the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auyt Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Is there a Caterham dimension for the rake angle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 On a deDion chassis, the rear is 15mm higher than the front. Measure front under chassis at the rear of the cycle wing, and measure rear at the front edge of the rear wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auyt Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Interesting I will compare that with my effectively standard 1985, 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 It's interesting that in the 1990 build manual the points to measure are under the front of the rear wing, but the measuring point at the front is just at the end of the cockpit floor section which from memory should be 140mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted July 11, 2019 Area Representative Share Posted July 11, 2019 Are the adjustable platforms worth the expense for a road car?Yes, unquestionably. OTOH: dual rate springs (if you mean a double spring set-up) I think not. My opinion only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 If you do mostly touring then the progressive rear springs are the one for you. chassis set up for LX & DDedit to say that on a LX with progressive springs at the rear you should follow the DD rear set up for progressive springs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auyt Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Guys, great insight thank you I recently found on EBay a hard copy of the Caterham assembly guide for the car. It makes no reference to rake in the mid 80’s. As I only plan to use the on road for touring the info is very helpful.i have asked Caterham if these will suit even where the note says a replacement for the original SPAX’s , seems like a silly question but I need to make sure due, to of all thing the freight cost to Australiahttps://caterhamparts.co.uk/live-axle/262-bilstein-springdamper-conversion-kit-live-axle-1999-onwards.htmlfrom others suggestions I will also get a set of these. https://caterhamparts.co.uk/dampers/41-adjustable-platform-kit.html?search_query=DSSU01&results=2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auyt Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 Plug for Chris at Redline he’s sorted me with the Bilstein and spring setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auyt Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 I've now fitted the new springs and shocks and what a difference. Mainly on rough roads at 100ks big improvement.Besides being Bilstien shocks the springs are made by Eibach ( as most are probably aware ) and Marked Caterham.The fronts I roughly worked at are 140lb but the rears have two different rates due to way there wound and that did my head trying to work it out.There is a course height adjustment via a circlip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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