Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

My Elan has a strange fault. It understeers normally on right handers, but when starting to be pushed it tends to sit down on the right rear with the feeling it wants to oversteer. While playing the other day, I noticed it tends to pull left on power on and right with the power off, the effect is very slight. Had the car up on a ramp the other day and checked the rear lower arm bushes and they seem fine.
Has anyone found a similar fault? I am wondering about the top strut mount on osr(Lotocone?), the car is rhd.

Hi There

Sounds to me like you have the left hand rear wheel loose and it's steering the car when you're one and off the power. You need to find out where the play is asap as this is potentially very dangerous. You could end up loosing the rear wheel

Regards
andy

That is definitely something you should look into before your next drive as it's not normal at all. Also check the lower wishbones and frame mounting points for cracks. I've had a (aging internally rusted) wishbone fail before when cornering and it's a heartstopper.

???

bitsobrits wrote:That is definitely something you should look into before your next drive as it's not normal at all. Also check the lower wishbones and frame mounting points for cracks. I've had a (aging internally rusted) wishbone fail before when cornering and it's a heartstopper.

Car has new galvanised chassis from rebuild and all clean and solid. Checked the bushes when on ramp as that was my first thought, but the seem excellent. Arms look to have been replaced with chassis.

It feels like suspension movement/ wheel alignment problem, so the top rear strut mount seemed the only thing left. Track has been checked front and rear.

Try changing the wheels, left side to right and right to left, tyres can do some strange things and I have had a similar problem although not on an Elan.

Hi Again

I assume you've checked for any movement in the wheel bearings and that the hub is still tight on the stub axle. Remember too that if your car has rotoflex couplings, the tension in these can often mask play in the wheel bearings etc

Andy

If you do have Rotoflex couplings check they are all the same type and in good condition. If not you may be getting more wind-up on one side under acceleration/deceleration causing a steer effect.

Also check your rear shock absorbers are OK. If one side is duff it may squat more on that side under acceleration and perhaps cause a roll-steer effect.

Regards,

Ok, been for Mot and passed, after a bit of work. Nothing obvious in suspension bush dept. The only thing found when jacked up was that both inner Rotoflexs are split. They drive ok, but have delaminated at the intermediate plates. Getting replaced next week.

The fault exists on 2 sets of tyres and definately feels like the back is steering out, not sliding. Haven't put the camber guage on it yet, but wheels look same both sides.

My S3 had a new galvanised chassis back in the eighties and I fitted the standard springs/dampers. The front wheels toed in and made it terrible to drive-it was not a Lotus Elan at all!

My only option was to fit TT adjustable (angle and damping) front springs/dampers. It drives and handles beautifully now.

All I am saying is don't rule out a chassis problem even though that thought seems most unlikely and most unpalatable.

Best wishes

Jim