Poly Bushes

[don6962]

Hi do Powerflex or any other manufacturer supply a poly bush kit to replace all the bushes on the Elan?

[Fredjohn]

Hi do Powerflex or any other manufacturer supply a poly bush kit to replace all the bushes on the Elan?

Don't know the maker, but SJs sell poly bushes for the Elan.

See here

[dapinky]

South West Lotus also do poly bushes.....

..... sometimes they are cheaper from SJ's, sometimes from SWL (but never much in it) - overall, a complete set will be the same price from either supplier.

(they are all made by the same supplier to both of these retailers)

[don6962]

Cheers does anyone know the part numbers for a full set?
Thanks

[Fredjohn]

Cheers does anyone know the part numbers for a full set?
Thanks

I suspect there isn't such a number.

You'll have to either compile the various items on SJ's or SW Lotus website to create an order, or speak to either of them on the phone.

[Saltire]

I did mine eighteen months ago. There isn’t a “set” as such; you need to compile a list from DeRoure and/or the parts lists.

For what it’s worth, I would counsel against using poly bushes all round. When I researched the situation, some OEM bushes were no longer available and I had to have polyurethane. I was strongly advised by a number of Lotus cognoscenti not to use poly on the raft, because it works in a different way from what Lotus intended and changes the handling of the car.

In the end, I bought OEM where I could from either SJs or Kelvedon, including all the raft bushes, and polyurethane for the remainder.

[rip]

I was strongly advised by a number of Lotus cognoscenti not to use poly on the raft, because it works in a different way from what Lotus intended and changes the handling of the car.

That makes sense. The rafts are supposed to move a little & are a major design feature of the M100, not just another component. Lotus engineers will have used the correct size/material combination to provide the optimum movement.
Poly bushes will be less flexible, so the rafts won't move as much as they are designed to.

[Rusty Wishbone]

In the end, I bought OEM where I could from either SJs or Kelvedon, including all the raft bushes, and polyurethane for the remainder.

This is what I would do too. I take the view that, if polybushes are the best type of bushes to use, Lotus would have fitted them in the first place.

[Simon_P]

because it works in a different way from what Lotus intended and changes the handling of the car.

As do the wishbone bushes which are interleaved rubber (Metal/Rubber/Metal/Rubber/Metal) to change their properties, they use the resistance of the rubber whereas poly are designed to rotate.

A few years ago I investigated getting the bushes remade, I found a company that could do the job, but then found enough bushes to get the job done. Then again last year I needed another set and contacted the supplier, It got put on the backburner (car in pieces) until last weekend when I started work on the rear suspension and find myself in need again. So now I need 3 sets.

I have re-made the contact with the manufacturer and it would be useful to know if anyone else needs some so I have numbers when discussing the quote - expressions of interest here please viewtopic.php?f=85&t=28114