24 replies to this topic

[Graeme Lambert]

Right,

Thanks to Lee I'm (he's) in the middle of a suspension refresh on my VXT.

Tomorrow the Nitrons come back from refurb/service (lets hope they have enough droop!) and the wishbones are away being powdercoated - hopefully back with me towards the end of next week. I've also got a full set of Superpro bushes from Cliffie that did a season on his TA car.

HCBS were replaced within last year or two.

 

So that leaves me needing to get some other bits to complete the rebuild.

 

In my head that means I need

 

8 ball joints

set of front drop links

Pair of track rod ends

shock bolts (8 of them?)

 

So ball joints I assume are much of a muchness.

Elise Parts and Elise Shop £18.31 each , 6 or more are £17.94 each from seriously lotus. Anywhere else do them cheaper?

 

Track Rod ends.

Seriously Lotus £16.62 , £33.51 from Elise Shop and £54,95 for a pair from Elise Parts. Seriously Lotus ones are aftermarket, I'm assuming the others are OEM given the price increase. Worth stumping up for OEM or not? Scratch that, Elise Shop also do non OEM for approx £18 each. So, OEM or aftermarket?

 

Bolts

Elise parts http://www.elisepart...r-nut-bolt-set/ £10.75 for dampers only or wishbone bolt set £23.75

Elise Shop http://www.elise-sho...dels-p-783.html £27.54

 

 

And then Elise Parts has this page http://www.elisepart...-refresh-parts/

 

Which seems to have a good deal on the ball joints etc.

 

In the end I'm still a bit confused as to exactly what I need and where to get it from. So, any helpers greatly appreciated.

It's payday so time to get ordering...

 

G

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Lee will need to reuse a number of your castor washes as I think there were only 6 out of 16 in the box you collected. I can always try to track down the balance if you want.

[Nelly Vx]

I got all my refresh parts from Dave at S.L. The bolts I got as a kit from JG / Mango Motorsport :-)

[Graeme Lambert]

Lee will need to reuse a number of your castor washes as I think there were only 6 out of 16 in the box you collected. I can always try to track down the balance if you want.

 

Hi Mike,

Either that or point me in the right direction for where to get them please? Might be easier I guess

 

 

I got all my refresh parts from Dave at S.L. The bolts I got as a kit from JG / Mango Motorsport :-)

 

Thanks Nelly,

I might just give Seriously Lotus, Elise Parts and Elise Shop a call (shock horror) and see what they can provide and at what cost...

 

Good news is the Wishbones are ready to pick up Monday. Bad news is I'm in Germany so they'll have to wait til Tues.

No sign of the Nitrons at work yet.

 

And Mike, you got a cracking deal on the blasting and powdercoating. Won't come close to matching your price now...

 

G

[fezzasus]

http://www.seriously...efresh-kit.html

 

[Graeme Lambert]

http://www.seriously...efresh-kit.html

 

 

Out of stock and includes bushes, which I already have.

 

G

[fezzasus]

But you can at least use it as a guide to know what you need to get:

 

[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]1x full set of Seriously Lotus wishbone bushes[/color]
[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]or 1 x set of Superpro suspension bushes[/color]
[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]8x Suspension Ball Joints[/color]
[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]2x Track Rod Ends[/color]
[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]2x Our own Antiroll bar drop links[/color]
[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]1x Suspension bolt kit including damper bolts.[/color]

 

[fezzasus]

As for the track rod ends, i'm running aftermarket ones and see no problem with them. they've been on for about 12 months.

 

EDIT: same with the drop links.

 

EDIT 2:

 

I might as well think about this a bit more, consider changing the toe links too - if they are original they will certainly need doing. You should also look at changing the hub carrier bolts, firstly because (I assume) the ball joints have been separated from the hub carriers and secondly because the original 8.8 strength are too weak and should be changed to 10.9 strength.

 

Other consideration is tools;

 

1. ball joint tool,

2. bush press

 

materials:

 

duralac for between shims and hub carriers, and for ball joint. Moly grease if reusing poly bushes.

Edited by fezzasus, 28 June 2013 - 10:25 AM.

[Darcini]

G, I've a set of 8 balljoints I got from Chris Neil's, by the time I get round to fitting them they will have been superceded by something manufactured from a composite material made out of nettles or similar, as metal will no longer exist. £100 plus a fiver courier?

[Graeme Lambert]

But you can at least use it as a guide to know what you need to get:

 

[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]1x full set of Seriously Lotus wishbone bushes[/color]
[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]or 1 x set of Superpro suspension bushes[/color]
[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]8x Suspension Ball Joints[/color]
[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]2x Track Rod Ends[/color]
[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]2x Our own Antiroll bar drop links[/color]
[color=rgb(47,47,47);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;]1x Suspension bolt kit including damper bolts.[/color]

 

 

Agreed - I linked to it in my original post.

 

As for the track rod ends, i'm running aftermarket ones and see no problem with them. they've been on for about 12 months.

 

EDIT: same with the drop links.

 

EDIT 2:

 

I might as well think about this a bit more, consider changing the toe links too - if they are original they will certainly need doing. You should also look at changing the hub carrier bolts, firstly because (I assume) the ball joints have been separated from the hub carriers and secondly because the original 8.8 strength are too weak and should be changed to 10.9 strength.

 

Other consideration is tools;

 

1. ball joint tool,

2. bush press

 

materials:

 

duralac for between shims and hub carriers, and for ball joint. Moly grease if reusing poly bushes.

 Toe links changed circa 1,200 miles and one track day ago (getting as bad as JG) and HCB replaced within last 2 years max also.

 

Good point about the grease and duralac though. And Lee's the man with the tools, not me.

 

G, I've a set of 8 balljoints I got from Chris Neil's, by the time I get round to fitting them they will have been superceded by something manufactured from a composite material made out of nettles or similar, as metal will no longer exist.
£100 plus a fiver courier?

 

Are you sure Nige? If you don't think you're about to use them I'll gladly take them off your hands for that. PM ME you bank details and I'l transfer cash today.

 

G

[JamesC]

I used the Seriously Lotus kit its seemed a good deal but being as the bushes are not required might be worth a phone call, see if they can do you a deal on the remaining?

[TazN]

Nothing more to worry about on the front - hubs if you want everything done at same time but I personally didn't bother as the fronts are a piece of cake to sort.

 

Rears - again looks like you got everything covered. Just hubs but again I didn't replace though bit more faff as you have driveshaft. Also toe links but no idea if you have already done them...

 

New nuts and bolts from JG is worth the extra pennies. Castor shimms can be reused just give them a clean up or buy new for few £. Then your various grease and threadlocks.

[Graeme Lambert]

Nothing more to worry about on the front - hubs if you want everything done at same time but I personally didn't bother as the fronts are a piece of cake to sort.

 

Rears - again looks like you got everything covered. Just hubs but again I didn't replace though bit more faff as you have driveshaft. Also toe links but no idea if you have already done them...

 

New nuts and bolts from JG is worth the extra pennies. Castor shimms can be reused just give them a clean up or buy new for few £. Then your various grease and threadlocks.

 

JG is out of nuts and bolts, toe links replaced within last 1,000-1,500 miles.

 

I guess Lee isn't particularly up for changing the hubs...

 

However, in case he is - where's best to get them?

 

G

[TazN]

There are a few other places to get the nuts and bolts if you want. Think there was a seller on her a4boltman or something? that has an ebay shop.

 

Hubs aren't strictly needed imo if they work then they are fine, one of the few things I don't care for being shiny.

 

If you want to swap them then you have oem which iirc are ~90 each through EP or ebay, or you have the cheapo ebay ones that are around ~30 (i think)

I had one hub with a broken wire causing an abs light on the dash. Reaplced it for a cheap ebay jobbie - there is a thread somewhere which says number to look out for to make sure it fits. So far has been spot on and at a fraction of the price.

[leevx2.2]

I can change hubs mate not a big job everything is apart already ;-)

[Graeme Lambert]

Are we not running out of time big man? (null)

[leevx2.2]

No just hurry and get me the wishbones and bits to put you car back together lol

[rob999]

Doors *cough*

[Graeme Lambert]

Doors? Wishbones ready lee - will be able to get them to you tues night, in between continent hopping. Anyone got link for hub carriers? G (null)

[Graeme Lambert]

Okay,

Looks like I'll be ordering this stuff tomorrow when back in UK.

Can't seem to find any hub carriers anywhere. Plenty of 'hubs' listed but no carriers. So unless anyone knows where these can be found, looks like they'll be staying rusty!

 

G