stainless steel rear wishbones

[theelanman]

stainless steel rear wishbones
who wants some???
Ive got a fabricator to make up a jig and hes gonna start producing....
price will depend on how many people want em and whether you want bushes putting in or not......should be about £250 per side incl vat etc
Im gonna see him this afternoon so should have more info on price etc

do we wanna start a list???

1) theelanman
2)

[dapinky]

Are polyurethane bushes an option?

Do you still need one to compare against? Perhaps for material /original bush specs?
If so, i have a brand new 5 degree RH one from the part sale (Part no A100D0090S ). I'm not sure what the difference is between the wishbone and the later 21/2 degree one, as i thought it was just the chasis points that moved, and the spacer on the upper link???? (unfortunately i don't have the LH one, or I'd just have fitted them with a bucket full of waxoyl, having got them galvanised first - can't be too careful with them!)

1) theelanman
2) Mrsdapinky (she can pay for this one )
3)

[theelanman]

they are on with the job......

jig made....templates cut......
anyone got a source for the polyurethane bushes (they can then be standard)??????

[dapinky]

Gareth, i assume that as these are a custom design, then the bushes do not have to be exactly the same size as original?

If this is correct, then it is only the inner sleeve size which is critical (to fit the current bolt), and the shore (hardness) rating of the material.

The outer diameter isn't so important as presumably the bush holding tube on the wishbone can be made to fit whatever we can get hold of??

Is this all correct? Are there any physical size restrictions which could make life difficult when fitting etc?

Having asked loads of questions, I will point you in the direction of Chris Wittor who is the UK main dealer of Superflex.
He is a really nice bloke to deal with, and a proper car enthusiast to boot (he has a Dolomite, so can't be all bad!!!)

In the past i have had dealings with him and found him to be extremely helpful.

I don't want to sabotage your efforts and go to him until you have answered the above points on what we need. Then if there is a bit of flexibility (no pun intended) on what we can get away with, dimension wise, he is probably the man to speak to.

EDIT:-

He lists a hell of a lot of 'universal' sizes, but can also custom make any other size you may want/need - (subject to a 100 of minimum order) if there isn't one to fit!

He is also amenable to discount pricing (As a Dolomite club member i get 15% off a £50 order, but i have also managed to negotiate substantial bulk order discounts in the past).

What the hell, whilst were at it, how about going the whole hog and seeing what else will fit an Elan - perhaps getting a 'full' kit together??
(I'm trying not to talk myself into a job here )

[theelanman]

I'm trying not to talk myself into a job here

sorry youve not done a very good job.......
you are here by elected big cheif bush by the massive majority of 1......

the wishbone that are being made are an exact copy of the originals so the bushes will need to fit that spec.....unless you know what we need to change it to to suit the bushes available????

I dont know what size the bush needs to be or what size the bolts were...but as you have a 'spare' lying around could you have a look???

Im off to germany early next week so will be away for a few days but should be able to still get on here so I'll keep an eye out for any info that needs passing back to the fabricator.....

cheers
G

[Matt RI]

*gulp*

Yeah- I suppose it would be wise to jump on this wagon while they are available and before I need them. I will voice interest in a set dependent on the bushing situation, final price and:

1) if they are the same as fed spec (obviously have not done my homework yet, but I thought it was universal).

2) if the discount for additional orders outweighs the hassle of shipping them across the pond (and what the price of that might be- could be horrendous) and you are accepting interest from those of us in the colonies...

[dapinky]

Well, it looks like I'm going down to the dark depths of Wookey with a wishbone then!

Before i get out a highly accurate tape measure, does anyone know the actual proper dimensions of the bushes?

Is the bolt an M10?

Length/diameter of bush?

[SteveB]

WOW you are a god ! You can count me as interested, but howlong till they are available ? MOT coming up soon now SW still not coming up with a pair for me and SJ expensive and would rather have stainless anyway.

[theelanman]

first set should be done this coming week......(he said monday!!)
Im away from friday so I can probably send them down to you on Weds if its urgent and in the next couple of weeks or so....
if you can liase with dapinky about the bushes then we know which way to go....we could have the whole thing done and dusted by the time I get back
let me know
cheers
G

[Monty]

word of warning, these whishbones will need to be tested as SS isn`t the ideal material for stress related parts if one was to let go at speed u can vertually say by to planet Earth. The most important part will be the strength of the welding.

I had a stock rear wishbone snap on me as it was rotten and actually went on the weld. It put the rear wheel in to the bumper, luckly i was only doing 30mph, the day before i was going well lets say a hell of alot faster and if it had gone then i wouldn`t be here today

[theelanman]

monty
the loading on the weld is only in tension and not shear.......
as the suspension is desgned to rotate about its pivot points
the weld will not fail latterally...Im presuming that the failure of yours in the weld is similar to that of the mild steel it was made of....ie the weld corroded as the steel corroded.......I will endevour to check the materials used for the weld but I would assume that it is at least as good as the stock weld
I have a lotus galvainsed chassis on my early elan and the main steel is good but is still shows signs of 'discolouration' around the welds.....
a weld is only as good as the material used to create it......
I have also arranged for these to be tested at Bentley...my mate has agreed to take em in and 'check them over'.....
they have repetative machines which create the same scenario as say the LM24
I will give him the first set to test to desruction and see what he says....
cheers
g

[Monty]

It`s the material used which is in question but as long as there tested can`t ask for more than that. Just remember this is a major suspension structure, all it take is one weld to go and put the wheel in to the bumper which will more than likely roll the car.

[theelanman]

and we've all trusted lotus ungalvanised mild steel for years

[theelanman]

monty
do you know what the specs and tolerances are on the SW ones you bought??......just so that I have something to compare the result with...
I could ask lotus but they probably wont tell me anything......but the SW ones are made by their fabricator......also does any one know the spec of the surrey welding ones while Im thinking
cheers
g

[dapinky]

Here's a radical thought which might get some people screaming, but there you go!

If you are going to get these SS ones tested to destruction, is there any possible point in destroying my brand new (unfitted) Lotus one at the same time, just to get some comparison of the strength specs???

As it only cost a fiver, i could donate it to the cause if there is a chance it might at least provide some peace of mind to everyone (and one in the eye for the sceptics!!!)

I originally purchased it with the intention of (if possible) finding one for the other side, and if not, extracting the bushes for other use.

If we are looking for poly bushes, option 2 won't happen, and option one is a forlorn hope!

Therefore it's spare at the moment (but NOT for sale!) As it may be one of (if not the) only ORIGINAL unfitted spec ones in existance this may be as good a way as any of finding out where we can go for the future survival of the cars.

[Dico]

I've got new unfitted ones for every corner

Grahamec once looked into a group buy for suspension bushes, but like him it dissapeared into oblivion
Some folk at the time said it was unwise to mess with what Lotus had perfected. Yes, I know it was some 18+ years ago.

[F1 LOTUS]

These guys are local to me; but I don't have a sample part to show them...
http://www.energysuspension.com/

[dapinky]

I've spoken with Chris Wittor, and I'm going to drop my wishbone off to him on Friday evening for him to see what bushes we need. If it's a 'stock' item, no problem, if they have to be fabricated, he will need a minimum order - watch this space........

He can match to shore rating of the poly bushes to the original material, so the Lotus designed handling shouldn't be affected - that said, he may offer alternatives if people want them - after all, Lotus were sticking to rubber, Polyurothane (spelt wrong ?:roll: ) wasn't about so much 20 years ago!

[Dico]

Interesting. Now should I stick with the new stock ones I have or go for the sexy stainless ones?
Who can answer that one for me?

Gareth, will your chap consider manufacturing the front ones also? Top rear links? ......

[theelanman]

will your chap consider manufacturing the front ones also? Top rear links? ......

if youve got one thats in good knick or new then Im sure he could make a direct copy......