Suspension Tire Clearance
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Recently while laying underneath the rear of my Elan I noticed that the distance between the tire and the lower spring mounts were different. On the right side almost no clearance, but on the left side plenty of clearance. I’m curious if there are any suggestions on where to look to correct the difference.
In full disclosure the car has been modified over the years and has 15” wheels, but I don’t think this would be different with standard wheels.
In full disclosure the car has been modified over the years and has 15” wheels, but I don’t think this would be different with standard wheels.
Alan Hill
1967 Elan S3 SS
Delaware
1967 Elan S3 SS
Delaware
- AlanJH
- First Gear
- Posts: 28
- Joined: 13 Mar 2021
Maybe +2 hubs are 0.5 longer than elan?
Born, and brought home from the hospital (no seat belt (wtf)) in a baby!
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
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h20hamelan - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1964
- Joined: 25 Sep 2010
Hi
I do not think it's possible to tell from those pictures. Well, not for me anyways! I would have to know the truth though, so measuring equipment out!
Berni
I do not think it's possible to tell from those pictures. Well, not for me anyways! I would have to know the truth though, so measuring equipment out!
Berni
Zetec+ 2 under const, also 130S. And another 130S for complete restoration. Previously Racing green +2s with green tints. Yellow +2 and a couple of others, all missed. Great to be back 04/11/2021 although its all starting to get a bit out of control.
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berni29 - Fourth Gear
- Posts: 822
- Joined: 10 Mar 2004
You really need to put it in the air take the wheels off and look/measure the position of the components to see if they are offset or not.
It could be narrow wheel bearing in a later issue 18 carrier that should have a wide bearing. But that would also mesd up brake disc alignment.
It could be narrow wheel bearing in a later issue 18 carrier that should have a wide bearing. But that would also mesd up brake disc alignment.
'73 +2 130/5 RHD, now on the road and very slowly rolling though a "restoration"
- mbell
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- Joined: 07 Jun 2013
This is not unusual. On my +2 with completely standard suspension, wheels and tire size the clearance between the inner wall of the tire and the lower spring platform is about 1/4 inch on one side and a cigarette paper thickness on the other. One thing to consider is that the lower spring platforms are not round. They extend out a bit from the centerline of the strut tube where the end of the spring nests. You may have a situation where the strut tubes are not oriented the same way in the hub carriers. There is no keying in the strut tube or hub carrier to control the rotational position of the tube when installed in the carrier. In your case the difference seems to be greater than I would have anticipated.
Russ Newton
Elan +2S (1971)
Elite S2 (1962)
Elan +2S (1971)
Elite S2 (1962)
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CBUEB1771 - Coveted Fifth Gear
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- Joined: 09 Nov 2006
First an apology for taking so long to follow back up on this, family, work and weather meant I was finally able to take some measurements this weekend.
The clearance from the spring seat to the tire is 0.25” on the left side but only 0.10” on the right. I also measured from the disc to the outside of the hub, 6-7/8” both sides, chassis upright to the outside of the spring base, 7” both sides, and inner cv to the outside of the hub, 17-1/2”.
It does look like the tire has rubbed the spring carrier in the past as the paint finish had been rubbed off, but as the area has old rust and no apparent polishing from the tire.
So even though the tire is very close to the spring carrier it looks like it has been touching in the past but maybe not now.
During the course of measuring I noticed that the drain hole in the spring carrier on the right side was on the outside where as it was on the inside left side, is that normal?
The clearance from the spring seat to the tire is 0.25” on the left side but only 0.10” on the right. I also measured from the disc to the outside of the hub, 6-7/8” both sides, chassis upright to the outside of the spring base, 7” both sides, and inner cv to the outside of the hub, 17-1/2”.
It does look like the tire has rubbed the spring carrier in the past as the paint finish had been rubbed off, but as the area has old rust and no apparent polishing from the tire.
So even though the tire is very close to the spring carrier it looks like it has been touching in the past but maybe not now.
During the course of measuring I noticed that the drain hole in the spring carrier on the right side was on the outside where as it was on the inside left side, is that normal?
Alan Hill
1967 Elan S3 SS
Delaware
1967 Elan S3 SS
Delaware
- AlanJH
- First Gear
- Posts: 28
- Joined: 13 Mar 2021
I have the same situation on my S3. RH clearance of tire and rim is good, but not plenty. LH clearance of tire and rim is very, very little. I expect that the tire will rub the spring platform under brisk driving, although I can‘t see any marks on the tire or platform. This is currently a major fault for my TÜV/ MOT inspector, but I have no clue how to improve the clearance. My Tires and rims are OE knock on‘s. Any clues why the clearance is much different on the rear wheels?
- phil1800
- Second Gear
- Posts: 117
- Joined: 29 Jul 2016
The angle of your two photographs are clearly different, and the perspective change can have an impact on how you see the difference. As noted by others you really need to measure from various points to determine if and where the perceived variance is coming from.
Steve
Elan S1 1963-Bourne bodied
Elan S3 1967 FHC pre airflow
Formerly:
Elan S1 1964
Elan S3 1966 FHC pre airflow
Elan S3 1967 FHC airflow
Elan S4 1969 FHC
Europa S2 1970
Esprit S2 1979
Elan S1 1963-Bourne bodied
Elan S3 1967 FHC pre airflow
Formerly:
Elan S1 1964
Elan S3 1966 FHC pre airflow
Elan S3 1967 FHC airflow
Elan S4 1969 FHC
Europa S2 1970
Esprit S2 1979
- bitsobrits
- Third Gear
- Posts: 418
- Joined: 27 Apr 2011
Thanks for all the suggestions, It was hard to get representative photos and the measurements were a challenge with very few options to measure from with any kind of accuracy. Impossible for me without jacking up and removing the wheels which I would think changes the geometry, but that’s what I did. I’m definitely going to switch wheels and see if there is a difference. There is always the option of installing narrow springs to increase the clearance and remove the worry.
Alan Hill
1967 Elan S3 SS
Delaware
1967 Elan S3 SS
Delaware
- AlanJH
- First Gear
- Posts: 28
- Joined: 13 Mar 2021
Hi
I only have experience of plus 2's but when I spoke to Spyder it seems that chassis are jigged using the suspension mounting points. This means that as long as they line up then other parts of the chassis can be pretty much anywhere. I guess the same or worse is true of the standard chassis?
All the best
Berni
I only have experience of plus 2's but when I spoke to Spyder it seems that chassis are jigged using the suspension mounting points. This means that as long as they line up then other parts of the chassis can be pretty much anywhere. I guess the same or worse is true of the standard chassis?
All the best
Berni
Zetec+ 2 under const, also 130S. And another 130S for complete restoration. Previously Racing green +2s with green tints. Yellow +2 and a couple of others, all missed. Great to be back 04/11/2021 although its all starting to get a bit out of control.
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berni29 - Fourth Gear
- Posts: 822
- Joined: 10 Mar 2004
This is a very clever and valuable tool to compare tire/wheel/offset issues:
https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?wheel1 ... 0mm&sr=0mm
https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?wheel1 ... 0mm&sr=0mm
'65 S2 4844
- Davidb
- Fourth Gear
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- Joined: 02 Jul 2009
CBUEB1771 wrote:This is not unusual. On my +2 with completely standard suspension, wheels and tire size the clearance between the inner wall of the tire and the lower spring platform is about 1/4 inch on one side and a cigarette paper thickness on the other. One thing to consider is that the lower spring platforms are not round. They extend out a bit from the centerline of the strut tube where the end of the spring nests. You may have a situation where the strut tubes are not oriented the same way in the hub carriers. There is no keying in the strut tube or hub carrier to control the rotational position of the tube when installed in the carrier. In your case the difference seems to be greater than I would have anticipated.
The second picture down in this thread clearly illustrates how far out of round the lower spring perch is.
https://lotuselan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=31067&start=
Having the 'bump' adjacent to the tyre vs. having it pointing away from the tyre could explain much of the disparity in clearance being experienced. I had not thought of this before, thanks CBUEB1771 for pointing this out. Well worth checking how your shock tubes have been fitted.
68 Elan S3 HSCC Roadsports spec
71 Elan Sprint (still being restored)
32 Standard 12
Various modern stuff
71 Elan Sprint (still being restored)
32 Standard 12
Various modern stuff
- Andy8421
- Coveted Fifth Gear
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- Joined: 27 Mar 2011
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