51 replies to this topic

[thelynxeffect]

Sun was out all day yesterday, roof off, taking some lunch to the wife who was working, Halfway round a big roundabout on a duel carriageway the car suddenly spins right round rapidly followed by spinning back the other way and coming to a halt in the approach lane for traffic coming the other way.

A quick glace in the mirror confirms my first thought...







Whilst waiting four and a half hours before getting home I had in attendance:

One police Bike
One fire arms responce police car
One traffic police car
Two flatbed recovery trucks
One Flat lift Truck

Watching Laural and Hardy trying to load the car was priceless, this was the 3rd attempt to recover it.



I'll go and whip the wheel off now and get some pics of the damage.





You'd think Vauxhall would accept this problem It's starting to happen a lot.



Looks like it's pulled the drive shaft out, oil everywhere

Edited by thelynxeffect, 05 May 2008 - 07:24 AM.

[luna_s]

sorry to hear this, is that brake fluid i see in the second pic ?

[thelynxeffect]

sorry to hear this, is that brake fluid i see in the second pic ?

Yeah I think it may have pulled the brake line out too, it's mixed in with gearbox oil though that came out of the driveshaft hole

[Angelplayz]

not seen it happen to anyone with standayd Bridgestones and standard suspension yet though (although I could be completely wrong) Maybe Lotus / Vauxhall set the car up so the hub would have the toteraces to take standard setup, but not the gripier tyres and harder suspension. I seem to remember reading that if you replace the tyres to 888's on the lotus as part and parcel they also change the bolts (again, I could be wrong) The 10.9 bolts seem to be a good preventative measure for everyone. Glad it happend at relatively slow speeds and that nobody was hurt Dean

[slindborg]

not seen it happen to anyone with standayd Bridgestones and standard suspension yet though (although I could be completely wrong)

Maybe Lotus / Vauxhall set the car up so the hub would have the toteraces to take standard setup, but not the gripier tyres and harder suspension.

I seem to remember reading that if you replace the tyres to 888's on the lotus as part and parcel they also change the bolts (again, I could be wrong)

The 10.9 bolts seem to be a good preventative measure for everyone.

Glad it happend at relatively slow speeds and that nobody was hurt

Dean

so what did vauxhall do with the VXR then? I am willing to gamble that they didnt put the 10.9 bolts in with the yokos.

[VXJON]

That could have been a lot worse If it had failed at high speed it would have caused a serious accident.

I seem to remember reading that if you replace the tyres to 888's on the lotus as part and parcel they also change the bolts (again, I could be wrong)

IIRC Lotus recommend that when changing to exige wheels/suspension on a 111r that the hub carriers are replaced.

[thelynxeffect]

The 10.9 bolts seem to be a good preventative measure for everyone.

Can't find them on Ebay anymore, does anyone know where I can get some from?

[VXJON]

The 10.9 bolts seem to be a good preventative measure for everyone.

Can't find them on Ebay anymore, does anyone know where I can get some from?

Local lotus dealer

[chris_uk]

ive got some bolts in the garage, im gunna go get them changed. lol

[walkes]

Think it is time for Vauxhall to fess up and accept the fact they need a recall on this. maybe worth sending these photo's to VOSA

[Cookies220]

Think it is time for Vauxhall to fess up and accept the fact they need a recall on this. maybe worth sending these photo's to VOSA

[two4oneuk]

The dealer wil try and charge you £10 each for the bolts. i got a full set from the local bolt store for £2 all in for 8 bolts. CV boot kit from dealer is £45 ish also. Don't know if anything from other models fit...

[jaylin]

Glad it happend at relatively slow speeds and that nobody was hurt

Sorry to see this mate, glad you are ok

Edited by jaylin, 05 May 2008 - 08:14 AM.

[CheesyPuff]

so what did vauxhall do with the VXR then? I am willing to gamble that they didnt put the 10.9 bolts in with the yokos. [/quote] Does anyone know if the VXR has the uprated bolts? Think you have been fairly lucky there mate, could have been alot more serious to the car and more importantly you. Darren...

[thelynxeffect]

Just been back out with the car, looks like the track rod is also goosed, only replaced them about 4 months ago with OEM parts (cost £275) I'll go for the Splitfire ones this time!!

[mayhew]

Crikey! Thats quite scary, glad your ok mate that could of been so much worse! Hope you get it sorted

[james141]

Blimy glad you are ok!

[Marco Polo]

Remember that this pb can have some different causes.... A wrong design by Lotus, particulary with high stress chassis setup (Yoko / Toto, Nitron / Ohlin)... A poorly done maintenance : bolts must be tight to the correct torque or else the whole system (upper wishbone, hub carrier & bolts) will not work as intented... A friend of mine is racing his Speedster (with slick tires) and had no failure here (using 10.2 bolts torqued to 60+ N.m, changing the bolts very regulary)... I think a road only VX can keep the 8.8 bolts... Anyway, it could be a good idea to change these bolts regulary...

[Yellow_or_black?]

Oh my dear God Your heart must have skipped a beat when the car started spinning. As said - thank God at low speeds, and thank God there wasn't a collision.

[Sutol]

when i took my group buy (this forum) 10.9 bolts to Plans to fit when i was having the nitrons done they refused to fit them, graham got quite animated about it - they fitted the 8.8's instead. Peeved me cos the long ones are fekkin expensive. edit/ didn't see any body damage which was lucky

Edited by Sutol, 05 May 2008 - 11:12 AM.