Elldawg

Yes I have one but the front suspension setups depicted in it are only for the “classic” single top link and “DiDion” double wishbone. The manual is from August 1995 :/ as you pointed out this car is the single top link + a second link that completes the top wishbone. “Uprated Live Axle” front end. in my manual the front upper bushing is not listed by name but the bolt for it is on the DiDion spec as a 3/8” x 2” bolt, a 5/16” bolt is what’s on this car. I suppose I could just buy new forward upper linkages with bushings in them too.

Thank you @IamScotticus this is exactly the info i needed. I don't know if all the bushes need replaced but the smaller upper front wishbone bushes, i think this: A arm top inner front 2030 seem very worn, the metal of the bracket and the linkage are touching and the angle is askew. Maybe this is normal, seems not proper idk. From a previous list you posted a while back its either one of these E2030 Radius Arm Small Length: 31mm Centre hole diameter: 9mm Outer diameter: 19mm ******************************* E2030 Short (S2030A) Length: 26mm Centre hole diameter: 10mm Outer diameter: 19mm I think short to fit into the arm thats 28mm, but there is a gap between the bush / washer and the bracket, 31mm could fit... bolt threads are 5/16 diameter. The coil overs need replaced so while I'm at it I was thinking about refreshing the bushings too. Waiting for my Tony Weale book

Yup, 185/70 r13. No complaints but I don't have anything to compare them to. Running at 20 psi. I think for an old LA car this is good fit for road use they seem to absorb quite a bit of the harshness out of what I would have expected to be a much bumpier ride, even with worn dampers. They also look classy @MV8 hoping not to tear it all apart before ordering, but I went to lift it and started investigating, the configuration is not what my build manual said it should be and discovered.... @IamScotticus YES TY! The lower wishbone mounts on the front and rear with 1/2 bolts, the front bolt has no nut its in the chassis. The top "wishbone" is a combo of the old classic upper link and a front A-Arm that bolts to a bracket the sticks out through the skin and is mounted to the back of the ARB bushing mounts on the inside of the frame and to where the ARB mounts to the upright. On it! I have a similar book for my Lambretta "Stickys Book" and the "how to keep your Volkswagen alive", sorts through all this type of stuff for ppl 50-60 years later. So this is not represented in the build manual I have. All these wishbone parts seem available from Caterham but with bushings pre installed, does that mean I need a fancy press (more than a hand screw type) to replace them? More pics of the configuration for future folks. Separate part for the forward part of the upper links the small front bushings are very worn and the arm is starting to rub on the chassis mount. Front lower wishbone 1/2" bolt screwed directly into the chassis rear lower wishbone bolt also 1/2 in bolt. The bushings when calipered from the outside are the same size. ~1.25" long, ~1" OD with a 1/2" ID bolt:

Hi all, I'm looking for information to replace all my suspension bushings along with the coilovers on a yr 2000 live axel car. Imperial chassis UNF threading (Arch Motors 00). This car has a narrow track front, Triumph uprights with brass trunnions not spherical bearings but with the double front wishbone suspension, my build manual labels this as a DiDion front suspension, the LA "classic" one has only a single upper arm. Here are the images from the build manual and I circled each of the bushings in different colors, hoping someone can list the part numbers for each color: Front, assuming the 2 lower wishbone bushes are the same. Rear, I deduced the center A frame are Y16 tapered, green might just be a spacer..? Photo of car: many thanks!

Figure I’d post an update. So the more I dig into this the only options for live axel caterhams are looking to be the budget friendly stuff spax, gaz, standard Oem Bilsteins or Jack Webb Quantum’s. Meteor thinks they might be able to make a set but have never done it before and I get the impression they don’t really want to, fair enough as these are old aging cars that are a niche within a niche that will never be made this way again. The Nitrons while advertised as a product for LA cars are more of an R&D project from what I’ve gathered with my conversations with Jack Webb. He develops products with Nitron and raced a Live Axle car in hill climbs for years, so has experience with them, and he continues to support the LA cars today. After inquiring on my behalf with Nitron, in his words, “It turns out that whilst they list a Live Axle set on their website they haven't actually got any drawings for them - they originally made a damper for a Ford axle car that had a nasty metal bracket to make it fit” So since they don’t have any CAD or drawings of this setup it would take some development time to design the proper mounting solution. I inquired if there are pics of this Nitron setup. I’d be very curious to hear from anyone who has actually installed them in an LA car. So for high end, looks like quantum’s or maybe Nitrons but you would need to order a set to know what you end up getting if anything at all, sounds like it’s more of a line item in the catalog vs an actual product idk. I’ll update with what I eventually go with.

Thanks, as I’ve been learning the hard way SB100 is basically useless once the car is removed from state, especially if the car was re-registered as the actual caterham model year. SB100 allows for replica model year reg that exempts the car from smog. Kit cars coming back into CA are subject to CHP vin verification and smog check or re application for the exemption. FYI if someone from CA is thinking the reg will be a cakewalk it probably won’t be but the car will be able to come back home.

Yeah you're probably be right. Meteor asked for pics of the mounting points at the rear. I'm sure some gurus know what different years / configurations did what with those mounts. maybe indicative of the "1973-2002" years for the Nitron LA option.

Update after speaking with Ben at Meteor and doing a bit more internet sleuthing, he is looking into whether or not they can produce their in house Core brand (tractive technology) with digressive damper system for a LA narrow track car. This + new better bushes would be probably one of the best slap in systems an old car like this would ever need. Its certainly not the inexpensive option at over ~$2500, £1850 per set. Meteor and others, some in the states can supply Nitron brand live axle coilover kits. I've found many sources that carry the LA kits for narrow track cars a few linked below. Meteor however states they offer 3 valving solutions based on the driving needs and much nicer looking springs in a soothing dark blue color vs the stock racer boy teal the Nitrons come with. There are various included spring options too from many sources. Nitron Caterham Live Axle Kit 1973-2002 - Part No: NTCCA-015R1 ~$2000 per set Evassive Motorsports Driftworks BBGem This is ~2x the price of new non adjustable OEM Bilsteins + adjustable collars and 3x GAZ... and I'm sure lots of folks would consider such expenses on an old LA car unjustifiable, but idk seeing what ppl spend on lifted trucks There is also the Quantum Kit for LA narrow track cars, that Meteor can probably source (they carry Quantum) but it's advertised available at Jack Webb Suspension. Starting to really break the bank now Caterham Quantum One.Zero by JWM - Road/Track Live Axle Calibration £2249.17 per set + options Anything can be made for the $ i suppose. Other than the Jack Webb system none of the sites ask about what type of axle the car is running, I assume the Nitrons are all for the Marina / Ital and not Ford.

Thanks for the additional info. I'm still actively researching and reaching out to various manufacturers and shops. As far as direct replacements this is what I've found so far as of June 2025, just dampers not springs, but easier to get the springs. Merlin motorsports: SPAX fronts a rear adjustable height and non adjustable height - product codes, G775, G776 ~$202 ea AVO front and rears adjustable height - product codes, PC565, PB148 ~$161 ea Direct from GAZ GAZ front and rears adjustable + springs - product codes, GP4-2032, GP5-2037 ~GBP 116 ea Caterham Bilstein replacements, non adjustable- reference # 75526, 75524 ~GBP 200 ea Bilstein height adjustable kit for the non adjustable shocks - reference # DSSU01K Caterham says these will retrofit my old yr 2000 Bilsteins and also fit on their non height adjustable Bilsteins, my local Caterham mechanic Rich Kamp has some experience with them and says they may need an additional ring machined to locate properly but its a way to get the Bilsteins height adjustable. ~GBP 245 set Meteor - started a dialog with Ben, there. Have not gotten confirmation that they would be able to build a set for my live axle car with the threaded top rear mount. Leda - I have an inquiry with them, they seem active in the UK and could build a set for the car. I'm looking into possibly updating the entire front end to wide track but to do that the uprights would also need to be replaced with the more modern spherical bearing ones, the later model live axle cars have the brass trunnion steering swivel thats not compatible. This would at least get the front to be the same as the more modern cars and open up lots of possible front coilovers and basically make the front like a new car. Juice might not be worth the squeeze as this option still leaves the rear live axle issue of finding LA mountable rear coilovers to pair with whatever fronts I use. I'll inspect the trunnions and front uprights for damage per Rich's advice, if the uprights need replacing, may just go for it. Will update as I sort it out. I've also found out that my oil sump is actually from an Elan so its not the slightly flatter bottom one Caterham made. Could hack and weld... would prefer to just raise the car slightly.

Thanks MV8, I’ll look into possible shimming too, although I’m thinking the suspension is a bit tired being how old it is, maybe not? I don’t really have any other comparable car to reference. I had not heard GAZ as an option before, will investigate. I’ll probably also end up contacting Meteor for some advice and my local Caterham shop. Will let yall know what I find. For now gonna enjoy low and cautious. They made the handling so good so you could dodge sump mines right?!

Hi all, I recently acquired a yr 2000 live axle xflow Caterham S3. It's on its original 25+ year old Bilstien suspension and I'm thinking these things are probably a bit long in the tooth. I'm not planning to track the car much if at all, it's primarily a road car. Whats a good replacement that also gives some adjustability too? Would be nice to dial in the ride height and rake at least. I've seen Meteor Motorsport in the UK thrown out there as a goto solution. Any good options this side of the pond too? the sump also seems really low :/

Nice! Zetec conversion is on my radar too when I get the itch to go full out project car. Plans are to cruise around all summer and enjoy

Craigslist with a huge distance radius. This one was in Washington.

y2k, 1700 xflow Super Sprint, live axle, clamshell classic ..... very Yellow

got one

Hello All I’m looking for a used Caterham. Im located in the SF Bay Area so CA cars are preferred (DMV ease) but Im willing to jump hoops for the right out of state car. Cheers!