Still Not Handling Right...

[Dom]

Morning, All.

I recently replaced the front shocks and springs, which has firmed things up a little. However, when I lift off after accelerating hard the car feels very floaty and unstable, even before I’ve touched the brakes. I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on this. I feel I can’t use the car fully as the stability I’m told is inherent in the design of the car is not present.

Kind regards,

Dom

[HJ2]

Tyres / tyre pressure ?

This is not normal and cetrainly not inherent with the design!
Are your new shocks adjustable?

[Bern]

I know exactly what you mean. Mine will do that sometimes. And through corners it can be fine 95% of the time but for the other 5% it feels like it changes course part way through. Which gives me little confidence that I know where it's going to end up when I go into a corner!

So far I have:

Had the geometry and steering alignment checked 3 times
Changed all suspension bushes
Changed raft bushes
Adjusted the steering rack
Changed shocks for adjustable
Changed springs
Changed driveshafts
Changed driveshaft intermediate bearing
Changed tyres
Tried different tyre pressures from 26-32 psi
Tried different settings on the shocks

Each change has made a difference, and it's definitely better than when I got it, but it's still not right. I was expecting it to be great, maybe that's part of the problem, my expectations are too high?

It's not so bad that it's undriveable, but it's enough to take the enjoyment out of it.

It's been through 2 MOTs since I got it, so it's not anything that's showing up as a failure or even a warning.

Last week I did 300 miles in 2 days in it and then drove my van - the van felt great to drive!

I've not driven another Elan, so have no idea what it should be like.

I have considered selling it, but I've put a lot of effort into it and don't want to give up just yet. Neither do I want to sell a bad car to somebody else!

The previous owner barely drove it, sometime just to the MOT station and back in a year. I wonder if he felt the same about it.

Maybe there are good ones and bad ones?

I also considered taking it to someone who knows them to let them have a look, maybe SJ Sportscars as they are reasonably local to me.

I was going to look at the steering rack, to see how it is joined to the car, maybe there are some bushes there that have gone a bit soft?

Anyway, long reply there! Do let me know if you get it sorted, and I'll let you know how I get on.

[HJ2]

It should corner with pin point precision even at high cornering speeds, so to me it sounds like there is definitely something wrong if yours doesn't.
Alignment was according Lotus spec's? Or did the guy who did it throw in some of his experience to 'improve' things?

[Bern]

It should corner with pin point precision even at high cornering speeds, so to me it sounds like there is definitely something wrong if yours doesn't.
Alignment was according Lotus spec's? Or did the guy who did it throw in some of his experience to 'improve' things?

I suspect that it's more likely they couldn't really be bothered to adjust it, so it's probably Lotus tolerances plus their own tolerances, "It's so close he won't notice it" type of thing.

I've since bought my own little camber/caster measurement thing and been making my own adjustments to see what happens.

Each time it's been done professionally, it's been by "standard" tyre centre. I had my MX-5 set up by a guy in a small back street in Bristol, but he seemed to know exactly what he was talking about - perhaps I should let him have a look.

Dom - just remembered, changing the intermediate bearing on the driveshaft made quite a difference to the stability when coming off the accelerator.

[Saltire]

I was always told that the best alignment equipment for the Elan was the Hunter Hawkeye kit, because that has M100 settings built into the memory. Looking at their website, your nearest Hawkeye centre appears to be in Somerton. Several in the Yeovil area, and lots in Bristol as well.

[Dom]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. Mine was done by Hunter, the tyres are new and set to 28psi and the front shocks are new and OEM, as are the springs. It felt floaty before the shocks and still does! Also, the brakes, which are Hispecs, don’t feel brilliant. I’d love a fellow Elan owner to drive my car and see how it compares to theirs. Mine certainly does not inspire the sort of confidence to drive it as a sports car. It’s ok for pottering around in, but pushed harder, it becomes too unpredictable and I don’t feel hugely safe! This is a shame as I’m sure it could be a very capable car.

[dapinky]

..... I’d love a fellow Elan owner to drive my car and see how it compares to theirs. .....

It's not for me to lumber anyone else, but Muley is probably the man you would be best bending the ear of. Firstly, he is local (unless he's off to NZ), and he has owned more elans than I've had hot dinners. Some OE spec, others with various modifications, and as such, would have a much better idea of what your particular 'changes' should/could feel like.

[HJ2]

You are welcome to have a go in my red Elan, but hey, i'm not exactly around the corner

[Bern]

I was always told that the best alignment equipment for the Elan was the Hunter Hawkeye kit, because that has M100 settings built into the memory. Looking at their website, your nearest Hawkeye centre appears to be in Somerton. Several in the Yeovil area, and lots in Bristol as well.

It has been done on a Hunter Hawkeye at least once.

It’s ok for pottering around in, but pushed harder, it becomes too unpredictable and I don’t feel hugely safe! This is a shame as I’m sure it could be a very capable car.

That's exactly how I feel about mine. I've got lots of outstanding jobs on the house that I'm getting into trouble for not doing, so I'm just going to leave the Elan in the garage until I get a chance to look at it again. Perhaps I should drive it occasionally just to remind me how much fun my old Mini is!

[Rambo]

Dom - has your car ever been involved in a serious collision ?

[Dom]

Dom - has your car ever been involved in a serious collision ?

Not that I know of. The guy I bought it from last summer had owned it for 17 years and done very little mileage in that time. It was garaged and brought out on sunny days. Obviously, he never mentioned anything, but neither has my garage (Lakeside Engineering) or any MOT tester. You’ve got me worried, now!

[Rambo]

It should corner with pin point precision even at high cornering speeds, so to me it sounds like there is definitely something wrong if yours doesn't

Totally agree HJ. Sounds like something is seriously amiss with both cars

Driving an M100 hard and fast should be an enjoyable pleasure and not one where you have to carry a spare pair of pants No way should it duck and dive through corners or suddenly change direction (unless you have braked and have a poorly maintained calipers/braking system)

[Dom]

Hmm. Sounds like it needs an expert eye casting over it...

[muley]

I’d love a fellow Elan owner to drive my car and see how it compares to theirs

Anytime, buddy.You could always get it checked at ALS in Molly Millars Lane Wokingham Costs GBP40 but they use all the right gear.

Jim

[Dom]

Much appreciated, Jim. Friday any good?

[muley]

Much appreciated, Jim. Friday any good?

Flying in to UK tomorrow. I'll check and get back to you.

Jim

p.s. you should have bought mine

[Rambo]

Which one though

[Dom]

Much appreciated, Jim. Friday any good?

Flying in to UK tomorrow. I'll check and get back to you.

Jim

p.s. you should have bought mine

That had crossed my mind a couple of times...

[Rambo]

I have always maintained that it is better to buy of a known, well established LEC owner who has lots of experience of M100's than a completely unknown quantity on Autotrader, Gumtree, EBay etc....

Unless, of course, you are experienced with the model

If you weren't so far away, I'd offer you a drive in my two so you could compare how they handle with yours. I'm fairly sure Jim will be able to help you narrow down your problems though