Tripod Racing
25 posts
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Those who have raced Elans know all too well that when the outer rear axle breaks the wheel and tire depart company with the car. This is a not too pleasant experience that has happened to me twice. Both times at Road America in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin.
Seems that this condition has been around since the Elan first ventured to the race track.
Here's the Sterling Moss Auto Racing Team (SMART) Elan on three wheels way back in 1964.....
Seems that this condition has been around since the Elan first ventured to the race track.
Here's the Sterling Moss Auto Racing Team (SMART) Elan on three wheels way back in 1964.....
- lance54
- Second Gear
- Posts: 178
- Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Is this something that also happens on the street, or only under racing conditions?
- elaninfuture
- Second Gear
- Posts: 117
- Joined: 19 Dec 2016
Never had that happen, but I did have the centre section of a rear o/s steel bolt on wheel (RHD car) fail, & the outer section with the tyre on hit the car as I spun violently - as you say ..... three wheels on my wagon!
Changed immediately to bolt on Minilites!
Changed immediately to bolt on Minilites!
- Maulden7
- Third Gear
- Posts: 271
- Joined: 10 Aug 2004
Not likely on the street. Racing loads and especially wider tires are the real threat.
On the street it's the inner real axle that is the problem. Unload or lift the inside rear wheel while cornering, allow it to spin-up with an open differential and then reloaded as the car exits the corner puts some really high load on the inner axle (in the differential)....and snap goes the axle. I've experience that too.
The inner axle was strengthen in later Elans.
Good ideal to inspect and crack test your axle shafts....outer and inner.
Modern replacement parts are much much stronger.
The 26R fix was to make the rear hub and the outer axle in one piece. The removable part was then the inner driveshaft yoke and a different brake rotor.
On the street it's the inner real axle that is the problem. Unload or lift the inside rear wheel while cornering, allow it to spin-up with an open differential and then reloaded as the car exits the corner puts some really high load on the inner axle (in the differential)....and snap goes the axle. I've experience that too.
The inner axle was strengthen in later Elans.
Good ideal to inspect and crack test your axle shafts....outer and inner.
Modern replacement parts are much much stronger.
The 26R fix was to make the rear hub and the outer axle in one piece. The removable part was then the inner driveshaft yoke and a different brake rotor.
- lance54
- Second Gear
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- Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Clark,
Only on the 26R S2, and the improved outer axle not only required the different hub/axle and inner yoke, but the yoke was then bolted to the crossed roller-Hooke jointed type half shaft and a mating differential stub axle to match.
Really sorted out all the issues. Should have been bullet proof at that point. The crossed rollers were to ally Chapman's fears of friction interfering w/ the driveshaft plunge, as he'd learned on the type 17 front suspension.
Roger
Only on the 26R S2, and the improved outer axle not only required the different hub/axle and inner yoke, but the yoke was then bolted to the crossed roller-Hooke jointed type half shaft and a mating differential stub axle to match.
Really sorted out all the issues. Should have been bullet proof at that point. The crossed rollers were to ally Chapman's fears of friction interfering w/ the driveshaft plunge, as he'd learned on the type 17 front suspension.
Roger
'67 Elan S3 SS DHC
'67 Elan FHC pre-airflow
'67 Elan S3 SE upgrade to 26R by Original owner
'58 Eleven S2 (ex-works)
'62 20/22 FJ (ex-Yamura)
'70 Elan +2S RHD
'61 20 FJ project
'76 Modus M1 F3
'67 Elan FHC pre-airflow
'67 Elan S3 SE upgrade to 26R by Original owner
'58 Eleven S2 (ex-works)
'62 20/22 FJ (ex-Yamura)
'70 Elan +2S RHD
'61 20 FJ project
'76 Modus M1 F3
- Elan45
- Coveted Fifth Gear
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- Joined: 23 Nov 2008
Thanks Russ for your comments....and the year was '63 not '64 as I stated.
I actually saw this car in action (as a teenager) at Mosport in June of 1963.
Thanks Roger for your comments....those 26R S2 axles are now being replicated. Notice the hub and axle are one piece and the detachable portion is the yoke of the outer u-joint and it requires a different brake rotor. A much stronger design for sure.
I actually saw this car in action (as a teenager) at Mosport in June of 1963.
Thanks Roger for your comments....those 26R S2 axles are now being replicated. Notice the hub and axle are one piece and the detachable portion is the yoke of the outer u-joint and it requires a different brake rotor. A much stronger design for sure.
- lance54
- Second Gear
- Posts: 178
- Joined: 09 Apr 2008
lance54 wrote:
A very sensible engineering re-design. How does this get past scrutineering (depends what they look at, I suppose.
I had not seen the Whitmore 3-wheeler photos before, thanks for posting.
Cheers,
Pete.
http://www.petetaylor.org.uk
LOTUS ELAN flickr GROUP: https://www.flickr.com/groups/2515899@N20
flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16096573@N02/sets/72157624226380576/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/16096573@N02/
Pete.
http://www.petetaylor.org.uk
LOTUS ELAN flickr GROUP: https://www.flickr.com/groups/2515899@N20
flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16096573@N02/sets/72157624226380576/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/16096573@N02/
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elansprint71 - Coveted Fifth Gear
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- Joined: 16 Sep 2003
Probably worth a fortune if it still exists? An original 1960's Lotus Elan special ...
Kindest regards
Alan Thomas
Alan Thomas
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Spyder fan - Coveted Fifth Gear
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el-saturn wrote:...........................that awful body will never win any design awards!! sandy
It's a half-Shapecraft 26R! (ducking, but does that make it a 13R?)
- denicholls2
- Fourth Gear
- Posts: 656
- Joined: 23 Jan 2006
billwill wrote:Is the brake disk in two halves to fit on that shaft?
Signed: Puzzled of North London.
Silly Billy!
Kindest regards
Alan Thomas
Alan Thomas
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Spyder fan - Coveted Fifth Gear
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