What Driveshafts do I have?

[Rcampbell5]

Hello all.

New to Elan ownership and am struggling to find what type of driveshafts I have installed. The boots have perished so need to replace.
I have attached a photo.

Thanks everyone

[Andy8421]

It was a common conversion to throw away the rubber rotoflex couplings and replace with 2 UJs and a sliding spline. Many of the usual Lotus suspects still carry them:

https://kelvedonlotus.co.uk/product/drive-shafts-sliding-spline-track-day-33-bolt/

Personally, I am not a big fan as the splines lock up under load which can lead to issues. Having said that, Tony Thompson Racing managed to get them accepted for historic racing, and all the racing Elans I have seen use them. My preferred choice is to replace with CVs (although my racing Elan does have TTR UJs) - but as you already have them, I wouldn't bother changing.

The trick will be finding a supplier who uses the same rubber, the Kelvedon ones I linked to don't seem to, but I am sure someone will know where to get them.

Good luck.

[miked]

Look to me like performance unlimited type or copy thereof due to the small coupling and adapter plates. No longer in business.
You can obtain motorcycle fork leg boots or gaiters of a generic nature and cut them to suit. Think i have even used steering rack bellows/ gaiters to protect.

[Rcampbell5]

Hey thanks for your quick help/replies.
I will have a measure up of the existing boot and have a hunt around.

[l10tus]

I'm trying to use a similar set-up on my Elan, but having test fitted, found there really isn't quite enough clearance In the uj to give me confidence to use them on the road without some form of droop reducing system, either shorter shock absorber travel or "axle straps" to limit droop.
Anybody on here got pictures of their droop limiting device design please?

Are yours limited?

[Rcampbell5]

Being a complete newbie to Elan ownership, this is the first time I have heard of the droop issue. It doesn't look like I have anything extra added to the suspension. I'm unfamiliar with the rear shocks that are fitted as well. I will add a photo.

[elansprint]

We had these types of driveshafts made in batches for Triumph Stags if you speak to dave Mac propshaft at Coventry I am sure he will be able to supply some boots
Ian

[gjz30075]

Interesting. My 'new to me' S3 45/7286 has U joints installed by the first owner, probably some time in the
70s, do not lock up at full droop. The wheels turn freely. My other Elans with CV joints, are fully locked
up at full droop. I suspect the restorer of my S3 (previous owner) put in limiting droop Koni's. Now
I'll have to measure the droop for both cars.

[miked]

It is usual to have a small amount of grinding of the uj on both the shaft and plate side to prevent contact on full droop. If anybody has a photo of some Performance Unlimited shafts you can see the places to grind. This allows rotation at full droop.
Having had numerous sets of the new and old type made up in the past I have ground these areas.
There are plenty of Elans and Plus 2's driving about without short stroke rear shocks and without droop limiting straps. I did thousands of miles with my last Plus 2 with standard shocks. Long trips and vigourus driving. I don't think anybody under normal driving conditions is going to get airborne.

[ericbushby]

R Campbell and Philip,
Sorry, no photos but I have done this job twice.
Our shock absorbers were in good condition. On a friends Elan the shafts were soft steel so we shortened them by 25mm and recut the thread etc.
On my car the shafts were hardened so we could not have cut a new thread. Using a tipped tool, the top shoulder was cut back 25 mm and a tubular spacer made to fit under the nut to do the same thing.
Kelvedon sells a short version of the shocks for this purpose. This modification is not usually necessary on the Plus 2 which has a wider track.
Hope this helps
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC

[l10tus]

Anybody have pictures of the grinding /areas on the Performance Unlimited uj's, for reference please?

[trw99]

If it helps, I wrote an article on Doughnuts for the HLR magazine a few years ago, with descriptions of what was available. It is below.

Tim

[john.p.clegg]

Anybody have pictures of the grinding /areas on the Performance Unlimited uj's, for reference please?

Philip

No sorry, but have done the job on a few Plus2 U/Js , ( one always has to carry a spare ) , just rotate one and let it "flop" and you'll see where they catch...

John

[l10tus]

Thanks John

[ncm]

That boot looks remarkably similar to that fitted to early minis here :- https://www.minispares.com/product/Clas ... 0to%20shop
Worth asking them for dimensions??

Brian.