Steering rack: How to tell SE and S2 apart?

[HJ2]

I am on track of a (new) OEM steering rack for replacement of my worn S2 one.
However I do not know if the replacement rack is SE or S2!
Since the differences are in the internal valves... does anyone please know if you can tell if it is an SE or a S2 rack from just looking at the outside?
All help appreciated as usual.

[steve matthews]

HJ2 Could it be as simple as Left drive Right drive.

[HJ2]

Well... Both the SE and the S2 come in LHD.
Mine obviously is. But when I have an LHD steering rack in my hands... How can I tell the SE and the S2 apart?

[steve matthews]

Thinking and looking at my spare. We need BCN to chime in.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Sorry, but I don't know of any physical differences between the 3 different LHD racks. I have a new FED rack that I could take pictures of if that would help.

SW Lotus has a NEW S2 version (G100H0003F) on eBay for £359.99 (with pictures) (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOTUS-ELAN-M1 ... 0389400483) but you can get that one from Lotus directly for £212.46

The S1/SE LHD version is F100H0003F and sells for £162.81 and the SIR (FED) rack is E100H0042F which is selling for £291.67 NOW (7/7/17) £320.84

All prices are BEFORE VAT and other taxes.

As I understand it, the SE and S2 racks are interchangeable with the SE having a little less power assist than the S2 which has a "lighter" steering feel.

I also believe the S2 rack is the one most people liked the best.

[HJ2]

It's a pity that you can't determine from the outside what you have.
It would have saved me a lot of money. To be on the safe side i now ordered a new S2 one...

[par]

To be honest I think it will be a good investment in the long run. I wish I had that option for a RHD rack, I think I paid around £140 for a second hand rack for mine.

[theelanman]

they were in the aftersales list at little or no money complete with the track rod ends etc etc......
IIRC there were a few bought the whole rack when all they needed was the track rod ends....as the track rod end separately were more expensive than buying the whole thing.........

[theelanman]

according to this thread there is a difference......

viewtopic.php?f=108&t=14190&p=194174&hilit=rack+difference#p194174

all be it just in the pressure valves.....
so visually you'll not tell the difference

[HJ2]

That's sums it up then. LHD Se and S2 rack's cannot be visually recognised from one another.
With getting the cheap one, I'll take a risk I don't want So ordering the S2 from the aftersales list would be the sane thing to do.

[lotusflasherman]

other thread says
"the later models had a different valve rating
earlier models had a valve rating of 23.31 lbf in /deg
later models had a valve rating of 26.83 lbf in /deg
what this in fact means is that the steering "feel" on earlier models is 15% lighter".

If you are changing the whole rack I'd ask 'does it really matter? ' SE feels great whether on 6.5" rims or 7" and certainly isn't too light. S2 probably got the closest equivalent they could find 800 of at the time.
I've been looking through the Parts Manual and looks like PS pump is common, they only list 1 seal kit for both, so I reckon if a rack works on an SE it should work on an S2, or vice versa.

[HJ2]

Yes, fully agreed, but I want the rack according to S2 spec's as i grew very fond of the heavier steering.

[Simon_P]

Service bulletin S/B 1994/05 gives details of the differences between S1 ans S2

[HJ2]

Thnx Simon!
I obtained a new S2 rack from the after sales list to be on the safe side.

I just completed the swap. Oh my holy goodness, what a terrible job to do! I'd prefer a head gasket job any time over THIS. I can't move my arms and neck anymore and everything is sore I just primed the rack with PAS fluid and everything appears to be working flawless again. A lot less free play in the steering wheel now. I can't really test everything until alignment has been done. The car drives sideways now without everything aligned, and breaking at motorway speed is scary like hell

If you think that all work is now finaly finished; THINK AGAIN, It's an Elan for pete's sake! Next problem: Since firing it up again after the rack change there's suddenly an occasional misfire Exhaust smells a tad rich so what the heck can go wrong with the ignition whilst changing the steering rack
(insert smiley with lots of tears and arms reaching up to heaven in despair here... )

[Rambo]

I have a new S2 rack on my yellow SE and can confirm that they are fully interchangeable.

The S2 rack appears to give a stiffer feel, but that's probably because its new rather than the 25 year old one it replaced

[HJ2]

Lads,

As per my initial post: Yes they are interchangeable, and yes the S2 has different internal valves so should steer 'stiffer' but how can you tell them apart from the outside when you have an SE and S2 next to each other?
Part numbers! (yes my dear Watson...)

[Rambo]

SW Lotus has a NEW S2 version (G100H0003F) on eBay for £359.99 (with pictures) (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOTUS-ELAN-M1 ... 0389400483) but you can get that one from Lotus directly for £212.46

Amazing how those prices have leapt in a few years

My new RHD S2 rack cost the princely sum of £127.65 from Lotus aftersales Compare that to the real price of £1279.52

[HJ2]

True. Add VAT and you're off for a special price my friend.
The story gets a little different when you need to pay someone to have it fitted though...