Henk-Jan
I did mine recently and had no big problems....
...I'm not sure how much I put on the forum, and how much I put into PM's with other members who were having similar issues, but I'll try and state what I did, and how I did it for you.....
As far as the big hub nut goes, it is simply a case of bending the peened bit out of the driveshaft using a chisel and undoing the nut (it's quite tight, but once it is cracked off it should undo with your fingers. I did it by putting a bolt through one of the wheel stud holes on the hub, protruding through the back of the hub and into the area with the blue arrow - as you turn the hub nut, the bolt will catch on the upright and hold it in place to allow the big nut to undo.
front suspension.jpg
You are not meant to reuse the nuts, but they are not elan specific (which is good because Lotus charge a lot for them) and are common to millions of other cars - I bought some for an elise for a couple of quid and they are identical. (and the same as a Citroen/Peugeot).
The Prongeron should be quite easy - the rear inner bolts are captive (into the chassis), the rear outer bolts go through the raft and the rest have nuts on them.
Here are a couple of messages I sent to Jamie (Jeemy) and Blair (Elanlover) to help them with theirs. The only main difference we encountered was with the Federal car which has an extra bracket on the Prongeron, so it shouldn't be an issue for you.....
Jamie,
You are starting from a slightly different place to me - I had already taken the driveshaft apart at the joint which gets in the way of the front lower raft bolt, so there was a bit more wriggle room.
My decision was to remove the whole thing as it was the bushes which were my main 'job' on the raft.
To get the front bolt out it was a simple case of removing the steel band on the thick end of the driveshaft gaiter and slipping the boot off the joint (oil/grease will come out and go everywhere - i'm not sure if it's oily grease or greasy oil that Lotus used - but 'standard' CV grease can be used on reassembly.
The 'unavailable' bushes for the raft can be done using the bushes designated for the top raft mounting - but they need to be shortened.
Have a look at my posts hereand herefor details of how I did mine, and where i got the new boots/hub nuts from.
I still think that if all else fails, then brute force is the only way forward. I can't see plusgas etc helping too much on this job as there is a chemical 'seal' with the threadlock compound.
If it is access to the altenator that you are after, and you decide to take the driveshaft apart, then dropping the prongeron off isn't much more work as most of the bolts will already be out - then you can get to the altenator and will have more room to get to the back of the 3 bolts which are being a bugger.
Personally, I would definately get the raft off (having gone this far) and at least have a good look at the rubber bushes - it is those 3 (each side) bits of rubber which dictate the whole handling characteristics of the Elan and WILL exhibit signs of cracking/wear.
Having done a few now, I wouldn't bother with the top mounting bush (between the plates and into the chassis) as I have never seen one that is damaged - unless your's is the exception!
If all else fails, and you end up damaging your rafts, I have a pair here which came of Nick Walkers' car - they still have knackered bushes fitted, and one of the 6 bolts is seized into the top of the raft (can't remember which side of the car is the seized one). You are welcome to them - at least you'll only have to worry about retrieving your old plates and drilling one stud out. (and fitting new bushes!)Hi Blair,
The prongeron isn't actually that heavy, and it's shape is such that the balance point is pretty central on the centre of the cross.
Having put it in and out a few times now, i have found that the best way is to undo the 3 small bolts holding it to the radiator frame, and remove them. Then undo the gearbox shock absorber (otherwise it may get forgotten!).
Two of the holding bolts (at the front of the raft) are positioned from the top, so the prongeron is held by a nut at that point, not a bolt - undo those nuts, and then put them back onto the bolts by hand - just a couple of turns.
Then undo the 2 remaining bolts at the front of the raft each side (nuts are on the top and need holding with a spanner).
Finally undo the 2 captive bolts which are at the rear of the raft/prongeron - one goes through the raft, the other (inner) bolt just holds the prongeron to the chasis.
At this point the prongeron will just be held up by the 2 loosely replaced nuts.
You can hold the prongeron up with one hand quite easily and remove the 2 loose nuts from the bolts, and then lower the prongeron away.
To replace it, just hold it up in place, put the 2 nuts on loosely, and reverse the procedure.
As I said, it isn't actually that heavy, but i wouldn't want to be holding it one-handed for a week!If you can't make sence of my (not always eloquent) ramblings, feel free to ask more, and I'll try and help - I am aware that one member had an issue with a captive bolt needing to be drilled out of the chassis, but other than that, it should be a straightforward procedure. (it just needs you to know where all the bolts are, and which way they go).
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My challenge was: Are these the nuts that i have to undo?
Also i lubricated the part where the clutch fork touches the clutch bearing housing. Everything woorks super smooth now.
