Lotus Elan Central

by **chris.t** » Wed 26.04.2023, 10:05

Cars going in for a full check over next week. One of the items on the agenda is the rack. It's got play (not the UJ which has been replaced). Can these racks be refurbished and if they can't has anyone got any details on how to get a replacement. I dare say there will be other things that will need attention as the suspension, apart from the dampers, is all original. It's always passed the MOT though so it can't be that bad.

I know Lotus were selling off racks really cheap a while back and so if anyone has one they would consider parting with let me know.

TIA Chris

by **Tuga2112** » Wed 26.04.2023, 10:07

i was told mine had play as well. cant say i noticed from driving, and i need to double check my ujoint before worrying, but its also in my todo list to find someplace that can refurbish them

by **chris.t** » Wed 26.04.2023, 10:21

Tuga2112 wrote:i was told mine had play as well. cant say i noticed from driving, and i need to double check my ujoint before worrying, but its also in my todo list to find someplace that can refurbish them

Mines quite noticable on turn in, I have to sort of allow for it. The UJ is a land rover part btw.

by **Dave Eds** » Wed 26.04.2023, 11:31

I've got a new spare .. :wink:

.

by **roy666** » Wed 26.04.2023, 12:16

Interesting... I have the same problem, v slight though. Come on spud... where did you get the spare from??

by **dapinky** » Wed 26.04.2023, 12:34

roy666 wrote:Interesting... I have the same problem, v slight though. Come on spud... where did you get the spare from??

...... Pinky rushes down to garage to make sure that Spud hasn't robbed him overnight ......

(I dare say that he got it from the same place I did - the Lotus aftersales event many years ago....... Without wishing to sound like "I'm alright Jack, pull the ladder up" I will not consider letting mine go as I am aware that the one in my green car would benefit from being replaced at some stage - but I keep putting it off as it hasn't been mentioned at an MOT for a while.)

It is my long-term plan to swap mine over, then get the old one rebuilt, swap over the one in the other car, and then have a good, used spare - but it won't be happening for a long time yet.

by **chris.t** » Wed 26.04.2023, 16:09

dapinky wrote:
roy666 wrote:Interesting... I have the same problem, v slight though. Come on spud... where did you get the spare from??

...... Pinky rushes down to garage to make sure that Spud hasn't robbed him overnight ......

(I dare say that he got it from the same place I did - the Lotus aftersales event many years ago....... Without wishing to sound like "I'm alright Jack, pull the ladder up" I will not consider letting mine go as I am aware that the one in my green car would benefit from being replaced at some stage - but I keep putting it off as it hasn't been mentioned at an MOT for a while.)

It is my long-term plan to swap mine over, then get the old one rebuilt, swap over the one in the other car, and then have a good, used spare - but it won't be happening for a long time yet.

Do you happen to have any reference no.s on your new one Dave. The garage have said they need that info to give to their refurb guys so they can see whether they can do it. Photos would be handy :-D

by **TorqueHorse** » Wed 26.04.2023, 17:20

Hey Chris,
I'm actually in the middle of refurbing my steering rack right now and have been looking up stuff, so I'll share what I know.

Given that it isn't the UJ, then I think the play could be in one (or more) of these 3 places: The tie-rod ends; the inner tie-rod ball joints (integral to the tie-rods); the intermesh of the pinion to the rack teeth. (Loose steering wheel is another possibility, but you can probably diagnose/rule that out that easily enough).

Tie-rod ends are easy to find; PNM and SJ have some.
Tie-rods with the inner ball joint aren't listed anywhere that I could find, but I'm guessing/hoping an equivalent could be sourced from something else (would love info, if folks know).
Worn down intermesh between pinion and rack teeth is non-refurbishable and means replacement (per the manual at least).

For starters, it looks like SWLC has replacement Series 1 racks and S2 racks
(FYI, SJ has a seal refurb kit, but it is just for the seals, and I don't see how that would affect play in the rack)

Hope that helps

by **dapinky** » Wed 26.04.2023, 18:40

I don't know what the new rack says on it - I haven't seen it close up for 5 years! (I'll try and get to it asap and see what i can see) - I know it is an S2 rack, not an SE one (but it is only a slight difference in the valve sizes apparently to give it more 'feel').

They are generally good enough to be rebuilt, and that seal kit is quite a lot more than when Lotus were selling them off for £15 (but because I bought a rack, I didn't bother with a seal set - now I wish I had!).

I wouldn't expect the internals of the rack to be specific to the elan, and I would expect all the seals and wearable parts to be sourcable by a good recon place.

The actual outer tie-rods are likely to be a 'standard' part - after all, it's just a metal rod with an M14 thread at one end and a ball at the other, but I've never had one apart.

by **chris.t** » Thu 27.04.2023, 07:37

Dave Eds wrote:I've got a new spare .. .

PM Sent

by **chris.t** » Thu 27.04.2023, 08:30

TorqueHorse wrote:Hey Chris,
I'm actually in the middle of refurbing my steering rack right now and have been looking up stuff, so I'll share what I know.

Given that it isn't the UJ, then I think the play could be in one (or more) of these 3 places: The tie-rod ends; the inner tie-rod ball joints (integral to the tie-rods); the intermesh of the pinion to the rack teeth. (Loose steering wheel is another possibility, but you can probably diagnose/rule that out that easily enough).

Tie-rod ends are easy to find; PNM and SJ have some.
Tie-rods with the inner ball joint aren't listed anywhere that I could find, but I'm guessing/hoping an equivalent could be sourced from something else (would love info, if folks know).
Worn down intermesh between pinion and rack teeth is non-refurbishable and means replacement (per the manual at least).

For starters, it looks like SWLC has replacement Series 1 racks and S2 racks
(FYI, SJ has a seal refurb kit, but it is just for the seals, and I don't see how that would affect play in the rack)

Hope that helps

Thx for that info Torque Horse! I'll get the mechanics to check the tie rod/ball joint out. It's a shame some of the parts can be sourced and others can't, I'll let you know if I find anything. On the plus I suppose, a new one is available at SJ's. Thx again :cheers:

by **chris.t** » Thu 27.04.2023, 08:36

dapinky wrote:I don't know what the new rack says on it - I haven't seen it close up for 5 years! (I'll try and get to it asap and see what i can see) - I know it is an S2 rack, not an SE one (but it is only a slight difference in the valve sizes apparently to give it more 'feel').

They are generally good enough to be rebuilt, and that seal kit is quite a lot more than when Lotus were selling them off for £15 (but because I bought a rack, I didn't bother with a seal set - now I wish I had!).

I wouldn't expect the internals of the rack to be specific to the elan, and I would expect all the seals and wearable parts to be sourcable by a good recon place.

The actual outer tie-rods are likely to be a 'standard' part - after all, it's just a metal rod with an M14 thread at one end and a ball at the other, but I've never had one apart.

I do hope the parts for the rack are generic. The guys working on the car are quite resourseful so I'm hoping, with a bit of digging, there'll get round it. Car goes in next Wednesday and it's got to be ready for a continental road trip mid June.

by **baldyash** » Sun 30.04.2023, 13:37

There is an adjuster on the rack/pinion that will take up some play.. Worked for me

by **chris.t** » Sun 30.04.2023, 14:48

baldyash wrote:There is an adjuster on the rack/pinion that will take up some play.. Worked for me

That's interesting, fingers crossed you're right.

by **roy666** » Tue 02.05.2023, 14:26

Re: I may need a steering rack!!??
Unread postby baldyash » Sun 30.04.2023, 12:37

There is an adjuster on the rack/pinion that will take up some play.. Worked for me

really?...where is that please?...

by **chrism** » Tue 02.05.2023, 19:10

roy666, look up 'Chassis and steering' then the 'steering play' thread on this forum.

There's a description of how to adjust the steering at the steering box, where it is, pics of adjustment being made and what tools to use...

by **Dave Eds** » Tue 02.05.2023, 22:57

Do these help?

by **chris.t** » Mon 22.05.2023, 12:01

##Update##

Thanks Dave Eds new steering rack now installed. Only issue is that the wheel will not self centre. Going to put some miles on it to see if it frees up

..https://photos.app.goo.gl/hKpqoQF7bYwasf8y6

Link to photo of old rack id.

Eta stupidly didn't photo new rack id :roll:

by **chris.t** » Mon 22.05.2023, 14:32

Having the old rack refurbed for spare or sell on.

by **JethroGreenfinger** » Tue 08.08.2023, 11:56

Can I confirm that, if the play is at the inner end of both steering rack arms i.e. behind the inner rubber boots - it is time for a new rack? As I understand it, these are not available as an on car replacement? Is that right?

I don't want to get my leg into removing the rack, then find out my local auto factors has these on the shelf for an Astra/Nova/Viva! I've have got about 5 deg of play east to west on the front wheels, the rack is mounted tight to the car and the ball joints and hub nuts are good.

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