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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: aspares on Thursday,August 01, 2019, 03:16:37 PM

Title: A little floaty
Post by: aspares on Thursday,August 01, 2019, 03:16:37 PM
Got my new tires a few days ago for the europa, the old ones were about 25 yrs old so I never took it on the highway since I purchased the car a month ago.

On the highway about 70mph the front feels a little floaty. I dont have a spare so its a bit lighter in the front, not sure thats enough to cause this? Any ideas?
Thanks,
Martin
Title: Re: A little floaty
Post by: Pfreen on Thursday,August 01, 2019, 03:26:48 PM
What type of Europa?
Title: Re: A little floaty
Post by: aspares on Thursday,August 01, 2019, 03:55:34 PM
1971 S2
Title: Re: A little floaty
Post by: Clifton on Thursday,August 01, 2019, 06:18:00 PM
Is the pressure the same as before?
Title: Re: A little floaty
Post by: jbcollier on Thursday,August 01, 2019, 09:11:36 PM
Check tire pressures and alignment first.
Title: Re: A little floaty
Post by: EuropaTC on Thursday,August 01, 2019, 10:17:58 PM
I would have expected it to be fine at 70mph so it's worth investigating to see if there's a reason - alignment & tyre pressures already mentioned but add in the dampers getting to the end of their  life.  Europas are all light cars and can be upset by poor road surface or strong side winds where a heavier modern car would just sail along, maybe something else to bear in mind.

It's perhaps worth adding that a few S2 owners over here who have added small chin spoilers similar to the TC as a way of improving higher speed stability. Even so, a properly set-up S2 in standard trim should be fine at that sort of speed.

Brian
Title: Re: A little floaty
Post by: Steve_Lindford on Friday,August 02, 2019, 12:02:34 AM
Suspension to high at the front??
Title: Re: A little floaty
Post by: aspares on Sunday,August 04, 2019, 03:10:21 AM
Thanks for all tips. I checked tire pressure it was way off. I got it to 18lbs front and 26 rear great improvement. Now off to get an alignment.