I have just picked up a set of Caterham Bilsteins and springs. Fronts are 14in 150lb springs. Rears are 18.5in, springs are progressive, rate unknown.

Any comments on fitting these to a live axle car? I guess the rears are for Indy??

Colin

Not being funny (and I may have missed the post where you explained it) but what exactly are you building as it may help us to help you a bit more? 'MK Locost MGB Race car' is a bit vague! or is there a / missing in there somewhere?

I am building an MK Locost and an MGB race car.

I should have been specific. These shocks are for the Locost. I thought this was a Locost forum?

Sorry for the confusion!!!

Whilst it is primarily a Locost forum, many other people are here to tap into the vast array of knowledge that this place has acquired. There are quite often ask us anything threads and the answer is nearly always forthcoming!

Many people also have a locost as a side project for when they're racer/drag car/bike/rocket/daft thing with a big engine is getting too much, hence the questions about the intended usage.

So can anyone tell me if these shoxs are too long for a live axle locost please. They are Caterham 96 on.

thanks

Colin

Depends where you mount the shocks!

If you mount them from the normal top mounting point then you're looking at around 14" if you mount on the axle / using a trailing arm bolt.

18" sounds very long, you'd have to find some way to mount it off the bottom of the axle, bottom of the trailing arm / trailing arm bolt.

Its usually around 13" fronts, 13" rears on the normal 'book' mounting point.

(i've got 14" hence I know about the trailing arm bolt - the disadvantage of this approach is you get a small amount of 'twist' in the bush as you go over a bump but its what westfield did so i'm not too fussed).

They sound the same as the CSR one's I've got, and they're normally used on IRS. If you can find somewhere to m ount them, then they'll fit fine, but you might struggle.

If you have a look round the Caterham Parts website, can you see them there? That should give an idea of their intended use.

Yes they are later Caterham. Will the 14in fronts be OK? 150lb springs looks a bit low??

Or maybe I just sell and find a set of something else??

CP

The fronts should be ok, although the valving might be out. No way of knowing without getting them tested, but if they're designed to be outboard mounted, they won't be too far off. The springs are easy to change so I wouldn't get too hung up over them. If they're too soft, just fit stiffer ones!

The other option is to have a word with Procomp. He can do you a matched set for your car and set them up to suit too. He's not expensive, and whilst I'm not a customer, those that are have nothing but good to say about the service.