Time to decide between donuts and CV joints
55 posts
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On a further note:
The diff stub axle is a known weak part on the Elan and the current replacements are about $500ea.
I do not know of a failure on a street car of my CV inboard stub axles. The Vintage racers or slick shod autocrossers will occasionally break one.
John
The diff stub axle is a known weak part on the Elan and the current replacements are about $500ea.
I do not know of a failure on a street car of my CV inboard stub axles. The Vintage racers or slick shod autocrossers will occasionally break one.
John
- lotusjohn
- New-tral
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- Joined: 20 Jun 2015
- Location: California
I'm glad to see that the CV kits available in the US (LotusJohn) don't have the droop limiting issue. When I bought my kit from DBE I was unaware of the issue. Only heard about it after I installed my kit and it caused me some worry about whether I needed to install limiting straps. Glad these are not needed. I have not had any issues to date.
I had a long discussion ("argument") with Tony (TTR) regarding the CV kits. He felt that the kits were made with sub-standard Far Eastern CV's and were vastly inferior to the TTR sliding spline U-joints. Based upon this input, I verified that the kits were made with genuine GKN Lobro parts prior to my purchase. I figured a road car would be better off with the CV's rather than the TTR sliding spline u-joint units given the range of road conditions (not a smooth track) that would be encountered.
Not sure of the difference between the Lotus John and Col Croucher kits but both seem to be great quality. The included uprated diff output shafts on Lotus John's are a plus and help explain the price differential. I suppose these can be uprated on the Elan Trikbits kit as well.
I had a long discussion ("argument") with Tony (TTR) regarding the CV kits. He felt that the kits were made with sub-standard Far Eastern CV's and were vastly inferior to the TTR sliding spline U-joints. Based upon this input, I verified that the kits were made with genuine GKN Lobro parts prior to my purchase. I figured a road car would be better off with the CV's rather than the TTR sliding spline u-joint units given the range of road conditions (not a smooth track) that would be encountered.
Not sure of the difference between the Lotus John and Col Croucher kits but both seem to be great quality. The included uprated diff output shafts on Lotus John's are a plus and help explain the price differential. I suppose these can be uprated on the Elan Trikbits kit as well.
'69 Elan S4 SE
Street 181 BHP
Original owner
Street 181 BHP
Original owner
- 1owner69Elan
- Fourth Gear
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- Joined: 16 Jun 2015
- Location: Napa, California
I verified with Ken at DBE. No bottoming issues with the CV joints. He was a bit more technical than that in his explanation, but the conclusion is the same.
BTW, he also said one could reasonably expect 10-15 years of life with Rotoflex Couplings. I thought it worth mentioning, given the bad rap they generally receive.
BTW, he also said one could reasonably expect 10-15 years of life with Rotoflex Couplings. I thought it worth mentioning, given the bad rap they generally receive.
Tony
1967 Elan S3 SE
Northeast US
1967 Elan S3 SE
Northeast US
- Tmac897
- Second Gear
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- Joined: 01 Aug 2019
- Location: New Jersey, USA
I believe John uses a longer shaft than the elan trikbits so proceed with caution if you plan to use a mix of the 2 suppliers. I suppose the CV joints themselves may be different too.
Scott
45/9011
Hawkestone, On, Ca
45/9011
Hawkestone, On, Ca
- snowyelan
- Third Gear
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- Location: Hawkestone, Ontario, Canada
1owner69Elan wrote:I had a long discussion ("argument") with Tony (TTR) regarding the CV kits. He felt that the kits were made with sub-standard Far Eastern CV's and were vastly inferior to the TTR sliding spline U-joints. Based upon this input, I verified that the kits were made with genuine GKN Lobro parts prior to my purchase. I figured a road car would be better off with the CV's rather than the TTR sliding spline u-joint units given the range of road conditions (not a smooth track) that would be encountered.
I have had similar conversations with TTR who seem to be in denial about the risks of the splines in their driveshafts binding under load. As I have posted earlier in thread, the suspension movement on a race prepared Elan on a smooth track is limited, so maybe splines are OK in that application. I wouldn't use splines on a road car.
Andy.
- Andy8421
- Third Gear
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- Location: Surrey, UK
Rhetorical question, How do CV shafts shorten and lengthen if not on sliding splines.
- Craven
- Coveted Fifth Gear
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Plus Hooke Joints aren't constant velocity! Hence the need for Constant Velocity joints.
He's spouting bollo**s.
1owner69Elan wrote:I had a long discussion ("argument") with Tony (TTR) regarding the CV kits. He felt that the kits were made with sub-standard Far Eastern CV's and were vastly inferior to the TTR sliding spline U-joints.
He's spouting bollo**s.
- vincereynard
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Craven wrote:Rhetorical question, How do CV shafts shorten and lengthen if not on sliding splines.
Like this?
https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p/gkn-plunging-joint-size-10-fford-gkn-ms3j001
- Andy8421
- Third Gear
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- Location: Surrey, UK
..and while we are at it, this is how you do it if cost isn't a problem.
http://www.aston-v8.co.uk/blog/sliding-halfshaft-joints/
http://www.aston-v8.co.uk/blog/sliding-halfshaft-joints/
- Andy8421
- Third Gear
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- Joined: 27 Mar 2011
- Location: Surrey, UK
Craven wrote:Rhetorical question, How do CV shafts shorten and lengthen if not on sliding splines.
If you Google "How does a CV joint work?" - you get this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant-velocity_joint
And for an extra bonus, if you Google "What is a rhetorical question?" - you get this: https://examples.yourdictionary.com/rhe ... mples.html

Steve Lyle
1972 Elan Sprint 0248k @ https://www.mgexp.com/registry/1972-Lot ... 48K.30245/
1972 MGB Roadster @ https://www.mgexp.com/registry/1972-MG- ... 842G.4498/
2007 BMW 335i Coupe
1972 Elan Sprint 0248k @ https://www.mgexp.com/registry/1972-Lot ... 48K.30245/
1972 MGB Roadster @ https://www.mgexp.com/registry/1972-MG- ... 842G.4498/
2007 BMW 335i Coupe
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steve lyle - Second Gear
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