stainless steel rear wishbones

[fabricator]

im going to get the ball rolling & start to fabricate the stainless wishbones as soon as i clear my current contracts.
We have gone to far down the road to turn back. The issue on the bushes will be resolved one way or another & the bushing holding tubes can be added later once the main wishbone frame is made.
Thats my stand & commitment on this project.Countless hours & research have passed & now its time for things to move forward
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Ill do 5 sets for now until we know the actual numbers

Regards --The fabricator (mark)

[DeeAitch]

Lotus spec different bushes for the Fr & Rr inboard mountings - I can only think they are different shore hardness.
I'm no expert on handling design, so please correct me as you see fit but from what I've learnt they would have done this for a reason. Seems it might be something to do with 'passive' 4WS. Here is an extract from an article I have:

It should be noted that in recent years, designers have been using bushing compliance in street cars to their advantage. To maximize transient response, it is desirable to use a little toe-in at the rear to hasten the generation of slip angles and thus cornering forces in the rear tires. By allowing a bit of compliance in the front lateral links of an A-arm type suspension, the rear axle will toe-in when the car enters a hard corner; on a straightaway where no cornering loads are present, the bushings remain undistorted and allow the toe to be set to an angle that enhances tire wear and stability characteristics. Such a design is a type of passive four-wheel steering system.

So to repeat my earlier questions;

What I now need to understand is:

1. If these 'bones will not accept Std Lotus bushes then sorry, I'm out. Lotus designed the car with varying rate bushes to give controlled toe under braking - I want the option to use std bushes if I don't like the feel of the car with the poly ones.
2. What gauge stainless did we decide on?
3. What grade of stainless will be used?
3. What is the all up weight of the stainless v Galvanised ones?
4. What is the status of 'testing' Do we know torsional stiffness for example? ("test at Bentley" as discussed 30th June?)

I need answers to the above and confirmation that these wishbones will be exact copies of the OE's dimensionally, as stated 29th June. I committed to join this group buy on that basis and will stick with it if they are.
If they are suitable for the OE bushes - can anyone confirm the OE sleeve dia? - then I would like to go without any poly bushes, hopefully we can get the price, without bushes, under £400.

Mr Fabricator, non of the above reflects on your work in any way. From what folk have told me the first samples are of the highest order. Your commitment to this project is greatly appreciated

[theelanman]

the tubes can be made to suit the original lotus bushes...
the current plan is to copy the lotus bushes but in poly....
so yes we are at present planning to copy the bush and its carriers exactly as lotus did on the original....
the metal work without bushes are £200 each......
cheers
G

[fabricator]

Gareth
I have sourced a new company who can do the stainless bush holding tubes for £5 a corner (£20 per wishbone)so we can now obtain any internal bore to suit the bushes.Im not going to increase the price £200 per side)so to keep everyone interested.
The thickness of the wishbones will be the same as the original lotus spec(2 mm) to alter this just wouldnt be right.The grade of stainless is 304.
If anyone wants to cut the cost even more i can provide them with the parts & a tube of super glue !!!!!!!
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Regards The fabricator (mark)

[router]

G abit more than I wanted to pay atm, just got married....

Thanks anyway guys.

revised list

1 ) theelanman
2 ) Mrsdapinky (she can pay for this one )
3 ) rip
4 ) quicksilva
5 ) DeeAitch
6 ) paulwatkins
7 ) Matt RI
8 )
9) A B Munro
10) Andy_J
11) Davidjt
12) Woody - depending on final price
13)
14) Rodman
15 ) TrueBlue
16) Geoff
17) stevieshag

[Monty]

Gareth
I have sourced a new company who can do the stainless bush holding tubes for £5 a corner (£20 per wishbone)so we can now obtain any internal bore to suit the bushes.Im not going to increase the price £200 per side)so to keep everyone interested.
The thickness of the wishbones will be the same as the original lotus spec(2 mm) to alter this just wouldnt be right.The grade of stainless is 304.
If anyone wants to cut the cost even more i can provide them with the parts & a tube of super glue !!!!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regards The fabricator (mark)

Thats great news, if you keep to the stock size bushes then there should also be a market for the bushes only, my wishbones are new but i do alot of trackdays and i`m sure my bushes will need changing in a few years

Gareth,
Let me know the price of the final cost of the bushes, BTW just wonder is it worth speaking to SW Lotus to find out were they were getting there bushes from

[Rodman]

Where are we with the bits? I'm still interested.

[dapinky]

Okay chaps, here is the latest info on this highly awaited project

I've just spoken with Gareth, but his PC is down so he has asked me to keep you up to speed.


The metalwork is in hand (anyone who has seen the prototype knows what excellent quality items we can expect!)

On the bush front, there is bad news.........

.....indifferent news.......

and....


.....Good News

Bad news is that we all know how much a set of bushes from Lotus will cost

Indifferent news is that SWL have stated that they can supply the ones they sell/used in their galvanised bones for £20 each.

Gareth has gone direct and sourced the same bushes for less

They are Polyeurothane, manufactured for SWL by Polyflex, IN THE CORRECT SIZE/SHORE RATING.

There is a minimum order on the bushes, but we feel that there should be enough interest in the project to cope with this eventuallity, and i am prepared to fund a few to hold 'in stock' if required.

As such, we have a price of £249.99 per side ALL IN!

it is really £250, but I'm keeping the price down to allow you all to tell the other half that "They are less than the original estimate of £250!"

It is hoped to have them availlable well in time for a Donny distribution, but if any are needed before then, there will be a 'Postage supplement' to cover.

Please note - I have no control over any of the pricing, and I'm not making a percentage

I'm assuming that the previous list of people is still correct, but I'm sure Gareth would appreciate some confirmation.

Perhaps it will help if i say that the order will go in January, so payment will not be expected until well AFTER Christmas

[davidjt]

I'm still in, if that helps.

revised list

1) theelanman
2) Mrsdapinky (she can pay for this one )
3) rip
4) quicksilva
5) DeeAitch
6) paulwatkins
7) Matt RI
A B Munro
9) Andy_J
10) Davidjt *
11) Woody - depending on final price
12) Rodman
13) TrueBlue
14) Geoff
15) stevieshag

[Monty]

Dave/Gareth

As i`ve stated before if the bushes fit the stock wishbones i wouldn`t mine a spare set depending on price.

Come to think of it, if SW was dealing with Polyflex they should also do the bushes for the fronts Always good to have spares as next year i`m thinking of having the front top & bottom wishbones galvinized

[RayD]

A lot of the interest in these wishbones seems to have come from them being made in Stainless Steel - as opposed to them being brand new.

Now the sleeves are being made to suit the original bushes will a mild steel option be available?

Thanks
Ray

[Rodman]

I'm still game

[Matt RI]

Do you have an idea of what shipping to the colonies will cost? I was hoping that would be around/under 50 Sterling for the pair- but no idea what it will actually be...

I am still in at the price stated- but would be very happy to know what kind of shipping fee will be associated so that it is not as big of a surprise/shock when that comes due.

Also- this is a major financial undertaking, perhaps a deposit should be taken?

Thanks so much for your time and effort on this project!!!

[theelanman]

Dave/Gareth

As i've stated before if the bushes fit the stock wishbones i wouldn't mine a spare set depending on price.

Come to think of it, if SW was dealing with Polyflex they should also do the bushes for the fronts Always good to have spares as next year i'm thinking of having the front top & bottom wishbones galvinized

monty
wishbones without bushes will be £200 each
with bushes its gonna be £250 each
cheers
G

[Andy_J]

Gareth

I am still in. I would however like to stick with the Lotus bushed, so would prefer my set without bushes

Andy

[abmunro]

revised list

1. theelanman
2. Mrsdapinky (she can pay for this one )
3. rip
4. quicksilva
5. DeeAitch
6. paulwatkins
7. Matt RI ( still interested at new price )
8.A B Munro ( still interested at new price )
9. Andy_J ( still interested at new price ) but without bushes
10. Davidjt ( still interested at new price )
11. Woody - depending on final price
12. Rodman ( still interested at new price )
13. TrueBlue
14. Geoff
15. stevieshag

[surfboardfiller]

I'm interested in a couple of sets of bushes if it helps?

[esp88]

revised list

1. theelanman
2. Mrsdapinky (she can pay for this one )
3. rip
4. quicksilva
5. DeeAitch
6. paulwatkins
7. Matt RI ( still interested at new price )
8. A B Munro ( still interested at new price )
9. Andy_J ( still interested at new price ) but without bushes
10. Davidjt ( still interested at new price )
11. Woody - depending on final price
12. Rodman ( still interested at new price )
13. TrueBlue
14. Geoff
15. stevieshag
16. ESP88

[tweetdriver63]

1. theelanman
2. Mrsdapinky (she can pay for this one )
3. rip
4. quicksilva
5. DeeAitch
6. paulwatkins
7. Matt RI ( still interested at new price )
8. A B Munro ( still interested at new price )
9. Andy_J ( still interested at new price ) but without bushes
10. Davidjt ( still interested at new price )
11. Woody - depending on final price
12. Rodman ( still interested at new price )
13. TrueBlue
14. Geoff
15. stevieshag
16. ESP88
17. tweetdriver63

I took myself off the original list when the price went up significantly, but I'm back. The 250 GBP per side w/bushes works out to exactly the same as the price from DBE, so I guess I'd rather have stainless than galvanized. Like Matt RI above though, I would like to get an idea about shipping to the US.

[theelanman]

do you know anyone coming to the lotus show at Donington????
if so they could take em back with them.....if they bring a big enough suitcase