84 replies to this topic

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

I'm starting to worry that as I'm doing a decent amount of trackdays and having 250bhp, Stiff Nitrons, sticky tyres etc.. that I am well in the danger zone for rear toe link failure.

How realistic is this worry, and what are my options to beef this area of the car up??

Hofmanns have shown me their Nitron toe link kit which looks AWESOME, but is tipping the scales at the wrong side of £600 with VAT....

Spitfire's setup was the next to spring to mind, but that is over £500 for the whole setup (including the brace bar).

Elise-shop do a kit for about £330 which looks very much like the Spitfire kit (without the brace bar though).

So are these the only available options....? Is there not any beefed up Lotus parts that will do the job?

Obviously I'm after an improvement in handling, but primarily it's a safety mod.

Would I still see handling improvements with say... The Spitfire kit without brace bar? Or just the plain Elise-Shop kit...?

Answers on a postcard pleaqse folks

Edited by JimmyJamJerusalem, 05 February 2010 - 11:54 AM.

[Muncher]

We should have some solid data on the brace bar performance in the next few weeks with the Spitfire Kit.

[markiii]

Jimmy I strongly suggest the brace bar as part of whatever solution you go with it made a HUGE difference to mine

[VIX]

Jimmy I strongly suggest the brace bar as part of whatever solution you go with

it made a HUGE difference to mine

I can't say I noticed any difference with just the Spitfire toe links but the subsequent addition of the brace-bar really tightened the back end up.
I'll be interested in what others say about the safety aspects as I also have 250 bhp & Nitrons (but usually the less sticky A039s).

[hogman]

Interesting to hear peoples opinions on how the brace/toe link change affects the car. JJJ Eliseparts do a kit too, cheapest out there and feedback is good. I am looking into this too so keep asking questions lol Cheers Kevin

[Exmantaa]

I dont's see a brace bar in the Nitron kit?

[Duncan VXR]

Jimmy got the elise kit on mine and other than looking really nice I cannot say it makes any difference other than the safety aspect after snapping a std one With 650 rear spring / 525 fronts and stiffer ARB with poly bush kit all round it does not really move much not sure how much extra a brace bar would give but found low front with decent spitter and rear wing make a big difference. Need more supportive seats Due a full corner weight / geo again but feels good on the road for how stiff it is DG

[Duncan VXR]

I dont's see a brace bar in the Nitron kit?

Suspect it uses the larger brackets to give the same effect by the look of the pics

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Interesting to hear peoples opinions on how the brace/toe link change affects the car.

JJJ Eliseparts do a kit too, cheapest out there and feedback is good.

I am looking into this too so keep asking questions lol

Cheers
Kevin

Kit looks ok, but I cannot find any optional brace upgrade...? For £20 more you can get the Spitfire kit, and possibly upgrade later....

I've seen a pic of a lotus Brace bar somewhere which must have been part of a kit....


Also Sizetenboots.... Which kit is this, as I like it!!!!!!!

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

I dont's see a brace bar in the Nitron kit?

Suspect it uses the larger brackets to give the same effect by the look of the pics

Yeah the guy at Hofmanns was telling me they do away with the brace as it has uber strong brackets. Also mentioned that alot of the kits use rivet on brackets!!?!?! Not sure it that was creative salesmanship, but if not which kit's do that!!!??!??!

[Duncan VXR]

Not sure which kit uses that Jimmy but the one on mine is the oe position with stronger bolts for hub end and subframe / wishbone connection. Did not use the breackets that come for the S2 4k with most of that on alpine passes and not broke yet said it now lol The threaded section that bolts through the out hub snapped on mine - no warning and could only think that removing it prior to break would have seen stresses?

[techieboy]

Don't the S2 Toyota subframes have a big feck off chunk of metal between the two legs of the rear subframe, doing the bracing anyway? Maybe only on the Exiges or welded on by somebody else but, I'm sure I've seen lots of pics on various sites.

[siztenboots]

Also Sizetenboots.... Which kit is this, as I like it!!!!!!!

http://www.lotustalk...se-exige-69560/

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Also Sizetenboots.... Which kit is this, as I like it!!!!!!!

http://www.lotustalk...se-exige-69560/

http://www.simplyspo...?...rt&Itemid=1

£500 + shipping from Oz

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Also Sizetenboots.... Which kit is this, as I like it!!!!!!!

http://www.lotustalk...se-exige-69560/

http://www.simplyspo...?...rt&Itemid=1

£500 + shipping from Oz

I have rellies in Oz...

[The Batman]

is there any reason you cant just get a strip of metal and bolt it on the subframe therefore making your own brace bar for like.... say.... £5 whats stopping people from doing this?

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Also Sizetenboots.... Which kit is this, as I like it!!!!!!!

http://www.lotustalk...se-exige-69560/

http://www.simplyspo...?...rt&Itemid=1

£500 + shipping from Oz

I have rellies in Oz...

Always handy to have rellies!!

[Mike (Cliffie)]

is there any reason you cant just get a strip of metal and bolt it on the subframe therefore making your own brace bar for like.... say.... £5

whats stopping people from doing this?

Nothing but you would need to beef up the bolts from standard, the bolts neet to pass through the brace then the tie bar then into the subframe so would not work on standard Tie bars.

This would need sperical bearings fitting which brings us back to the uprated kits already discussed.

[The Batman]

im on about just bolted into higher, so it doesnt touch the toe link

or wouldthat also need to be spring bearing?!

[Mike (Cliffie)]

I have some araldite and meccano if you want to have a bash Joe... Need to look at clearances regarding exhaust befor I can answer that.