Front Axles

[Henry VIIII]

I think the front steering on my Elan might be a bit worn, where the vertical bit goes into the brass thingy at the bottom, so I've bought some good second hand vertical bits.

But they don't have any front wheel axles. Will it be ok normally to take my front axles out of the older vertical bits and fit then in the newer ones and how difficult is that to do.

The front wheel bearings look a bit tricky.

I've already got one new brass pivot thingy for the bottom but I've got to get the other, how do I tell whether the one I have is a left side or right side pivot?

[Panda]

Hi Henry,
The left hand thread goes to the left hand side and vice versa. Some trunnions are stamped on the bottom face L or R. Best to have the shafts removed in a press, but I have done it with a spacer tube just long enough to fit a thick washer and nut on and pulled them out that way with care not to strip the thread on the nut.
You must clean the bearings very well and if in good condition, repack as per the manual with the correct grease and don't overtighten. Better to have a tiny amount of play, than risk seizure.
Good luck
Alan P

[Elan45]

Henry,

Do you have bolt-on wheels or K-O wheels. The vertical links as well as the stub axles are different. The K-O stub axles are a larger diameter for the larger wheel bearings and the tapered end of the spindle is also larger, so the vertical links are different too. If you have bolt-on wheels, I am interested in your spare vertical links.

Roger

[Elan45]

Also, Henry,

You are more likely to have wear in the upper ball joints or the bronze trunnions or even the wheel bearings than to have wear in the vertical links.

Roger

[Henry VIIII]

Henry,

Do you have bolt-on wheels or K-O wheels. The vertical links as well as the stub axles are different. The K-O stub axles are a larger diameter for the larger wheel bearings and the tapered end of the spindle is also larger, so the vertical links are different too. If you have bolt-on wheels, I am interested in your spare vertical links.

Roger

Mine are knock-ons, the ones with the 3-eared big nut thing. I'm pretty sure I got the correct vertical links.

[Henry VIIII]

Also, Henry,

You are more likely to have wear in the upper ball joints or the bronze trunnions or even the wheel bearings than to have wear in the vertical links.

Roger

Arh, true, but the ball joints and 'trunnions' and wheel bearings have already been replaced at least once before.