front lower wishbone (TCA)

[inkitin]

Hi,
I am really pleased to hear you are going with the steel and galvanizing, you can definitely count me in.

Ade

Me too.

[Denny]

I am still in for a pair + bushes and lower ball joint.

[dapinky]

Pinky is still on the bus.

[saska]

The galvanised S515/EN14 looks an excellent solution Bob. Think the price is also very good.
I'm still in -- definitely for one pair and mebbe 2.

[niall]

Please include me in this excellent project. Thanks Bob for your efforts.

1. bobbrown
2. Andy_J
3. pinky
4. saska (probably 2 sets - depending on price)
5. paulw
6. Jim B (Muley) possibly 2 sets if the price is right.
7. Kenich
8. MattDon (provisionaly if i can afford them, mine got the thumbs down today)
9.Woody.
10. Dico
11. Specky (possibly 2 sets if the price is right.)
12. Candles. (stainless if at all possible, with poly bushes and ball-joint)
13. John_W (with bushes & ball joint)
14. Denny
15. ashm (£ dep)
16. Richard K(inc ball joint and bushes pls)
17. inkitin
18. markv
19.Yasuo incl. ball-joint/bushes
20. stevieg8571 (cost dependant)
21. maz_r (also £ dependant)
22. Alan C (cutlea01) inc ball joints & bushes, black
23. mvf906 ( £ dependant )
24. BFG in the BRG inc ball joints & bushes
25. Nige (possibly 2 sets, depending on price) Ball Joints and bushes as well please.
26. theelanman (£ dependant..inc ball joint and bushes)
27. rip
28. Ade
29. Niall (inc. ball joint and bushes)

[Nige]

Pleased we have reached a conclusion on materials, I'm happy to be guided by those who know more than me. I'm still in.

1. bobbrown
2. Andy_J
3. pinky
4. saska (probably 2 sets - depending on price)
5. paulw
6. Jim B (Muley) possibly 2 sets if the price is right.
7. Kenich
8. MattDon (provisionaly if i can afford them, mine got the thumbs down today)
9.Woody.
10. Dico
11. Specky (possibly 2 sets if the price is right.)
12. Candles. (stainless if at all possible, with poly bushes and ball-joint)
13. John_W (with bushes & ball joint)
14. Denny
15. ashm (£ dep)
16. Richard K(inc ball joint and bushes pls)
17. inkitin
18. markv
19.Yasuo incl. ball-joint/bushes
20. stevieg8571 (cost dependant)
21. maz_r (also £ dependant)
22. Alan C (cutlea01) inc ball joints & bushes, black
23. mvf906 ( £ dependant )
24. BFG in the BRG inc ball joints & bushes
25. Nige (possibly 2 sets, depending on price) Ball Joints and bushes as well please.
26. theelanman (£ dependant..inc ball joint and bushes)
27. rip
28. Ade
29. Niall (inc. ball joint and bushes)

[bobbrown]

I have managed to find a source for the rubber bushes and they should work out cheaper than they are currently available for and of the same specification as the originals
I have refrained from even considering polyurethane as it is not a suitable material as it does not have the correct elastic properties, I could go into detail but will leave that debate alone
The two small bushes that fit into the inboard end of the arm where it mounts to the chassis I can get made for around £6.00 each half the price of SJ's
The larger yoke to tca bush is around £17.00 each saving about a £5.00
These costs could come down numbers dependant as I have amortized in the tooling cost and a run of enough parts for 100 lower wishbones both parts.
Tooling costs are in the region of £750.00 each and the parts once this is done are relatively cheap to produce like the inboard bush is around £2.50
As the Elan has lots of bushes in the suspension I am wondering if there is enough demand to get some of the others made at the same time but it would need a run of at least 100 to make it economical.

Just thinking that there may be a opportunity to offer just the bushes as this will have the effect of bring the price down even further again dependant on numbers.
Not to sure what to do if there is a second run as there will be no tooling cost, may be the profits could go to LEC?

Now on to the ball joint.

Bob

[bobbrown]

I may have found and alternate lower ball joint, it is not identical but in terms of taper it is the same and the fitment to the tca is the same but it sits about 4 to 6mm lower.

TCA ball joint.jpg

This can be compensated for in the new TCA but I feel the change will present very little change to the suspension geometry as it is only moving the lower wishbone down a small amount.
It will require a small plastic bush to allow the boot to seal correctly but that is a small price as it is under a third the price of the original and it is a Lotus part all be it from an Elise.
If I have my figures correct I think a new lower wishbone (both halves) with the bushes and lower ball joint can be put together for less than £210.00 a side not including any nuts and bolts.
Just the box section part which is the bit that ends up full of rust would probably come in at £125.00 ish.

Bob

[Candles]

I'm in for both pieces on both sides plus bushes.

[Denny]

As the Elan has lots of bushes in the suspension I am wondering if there is enough demand to get some of the others made at the same time but it would need a run of at least 100 to make it economical.
Bob

Bob, I am interested, particularly in the rear bushes.

[Alan_C]

My order now has to be a proviosional order, redundancy at work, so I may not be able to afford them

1. bobbrown
2. Andy_J
3. pinky
4. saska (probably 2 sets - depending on price)
5. paulw
6. Jim B (Muley) possibly 2 sets if the price is right.
7. Kenich
8. MattDon (provisionaly if i can afford them, mine got the thumbs down today)
9.Woody.
10. Dico
11. Specky (possibly 2 sets if the price is right.)
12. Candles. (stainless if at all possible, with poly bushes and ball-joint)
13. John_W (with bushes & ball joint)
14. Denny
15. ashm (£ dep)
16. Richard K(inc ball joint and bushes pls)
17. inkitin
18. markv
19.Yasuo incl. ball-joint/bushes
20. stevieg8571 (cost dependant)
21. maz_r (also £ dependant)
22. Alan C (cutlea01) inc ball joints & bushes, black - Provisional enquiry
23. mvf906 ( £ dependant )
24. BFG in the BRG inc ball joints & bushes
25. Nige (possibly 2 sets, depending on price) Ball Joints and bushes as well please.
26. theelanman (£ dependant..inc ball joint and bushes)
27. rip
28. Ade
29. Niall (inc. ball joint and bushes)

[Xen 11]

Id be very interest in a pair of wishbones + bushes + joints!

[baldyash]

My order now has to be a proviosional order, redundancy at work, so I may not be able to afford them

1. bobbrown
2. Andy_J
3. pinky
4. saska (probably 2 sets - depending on price)
5. paulw
6. Jim B (Muley) possibly 2 sets if the price is right.
7. Kenich
8. MattDon (provisionaly if i can afford them, mine got the thumbs down today)
9.Woody.
10. Dico
11. Specky (possibly 2 sets if the price is right.)
12. Candles. (stainless if at all possible, with poly bushes and ball-joint)
13. John_W (with bushes & ball joint)
14. Denny
15. ashm (£ dep)
16. Richard K(inc ball joint and bushes pls)
17. inkitin
18. markv
19.Yasuo incl. ball-joint/bushes
20. stevieg8571 (cost dependant)
21. maz_r (also £ dependant)
22. Alan C (cutlea01) inc ball joints & bushes, black - Provisional enquiry
23. mvf906 ( £ dependant )
24. BFG in the BRG inc ball joints & bushes
25. Nige (possibly 2 sets, depending on price) Ball Joints and bushes as well please.
26. theelanman (£ dependant..inc ball joint and bushes)
27. rip
28. Ade
29. Niall (inc. ball joint and bushes)

30 baldyash bushes & b/joints inc.

[bobbrown]

I purchased a couple of ball joints from here and they seem to be the same as the ones on our Elans with only some very small dimensional differences none of which effect the fit.
e.g. the taper is the same and the outside diameter for the arm is the same as is the height.
The first one I got was off a Vauxhall Chevette and was a pattern part which may account for the 6mm differance but these are a lot closer.

This will keep the cost of the TCA down as these are one of the more expensive parts if you go by SJ's prices at £58.00 each these came out at £57.00 delivered for a pair.
I will see if they can do something with the price if I order a large batch like 60 would expect to at least make a saving on the delivery.


Bob

[bobbrown]

result! should be able to get the ball joints for £17.00 each delivered

If my costs are correct then the main half of the wishbone will be £125.00 each and the rear half £45.00 or £170.00 for both complete with bushes and ball joint + delivery £8.00
Time to move this to a group buy as I am just about in a position to start making them please add your name but please do not copy the list from here.

Bob

[RayD]

Bob,

Has the possibility of them being handed been ruled out ... with them having different Lotus part numbers? (Not sure if this has already been discussed)

Ray

[bobbrown]

Amended
They are handed all be it the only differance is the inner bolted link between the two.

[dapinky]

Bob,

referring to 'front bit' and 'back bit', can you confirm that we are talking about #55 and #57 in the picture?

I thought it best to ask here, not on the group buy page.

I only ask as i have a pair of the triangulation arms which I picked up at Donny a few years ago, so only need the TCA itself.

front suspension.jpg

Also, are you in a position to supply the bushes needed for the top wishbone arms, as I got a set from Aftersales, but they don't have bushes fitted.

[bobbrown]

dapinky

correct, track control arm assembly 55 and strut assembly 57

I could get the bushes for the upper link made but it would depend on the numbers as there needs to be enough to make it economical due to tooling costs

Bob

[Monty]

Bob,

Just out of interest, (as i fitted new TCA 5 years ago) how much would it cost for just the bushes per side? ie for one TCA and triangulation link?


cheers
Jay