Am I thick or is it the felt or both?
Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 4:15 pm
Dear Oracles of the Elan,
As I attempt to assemble my front suspension even my highly untrained eyes have noticed the felt on the replacement seal is significantly thicker than the felt which was removed. Also, I was unable to "coax" (bang and curse) the new ring into the hub as it is just bit larger than the replacement. Not large enough to notice prior to causing the cursing of course.
Here is my course of action so far. I have removed the new chubby felt and attached it to the old properly fitting ring. Oddly, I could not find a glue labeled "high heat felt to metal ring glue for misfitting Elan bearing seals" at my local part store. So, I did not glue the felt to the ring figuring, usually incorrectly, that the pressure from assembly will keep things in place. Bad idea? Should I glue? If so what type?
I am still left with the thick felt conundrum. It appears to be causing binding and will not compress enough to allow the bearing to seat and even causes the brake caliper to rub as it pushes out the hub. Have any of you Oracles had success compressing the felt prior to installation? Or is the proper route to remove felt material? If so, what method (yes I am as thick as my felt)? Or does it run in after a bit of driving?
I have also inquired at my kindly Lotus specialty vendor who supplied the less than perfectly fitting part.
Faithfully yours,
As I attempt to assemble my front suspension even my highly untrained eyes have noticed the felt on the replacement seal is significantly thicker than the felt which was removed. Also, I was unable to "coax" (bang and curse) the new ring into the hub as it is just bit larger than the replacement. Not large enough to notice prior to causing the cursing of course.
Here is my course of action so far. I have removed the new chubby felt and attached it to the old properly fitting ring. Oddly, I could not find a glue labeled "high heat felt to metal ring glue for misfitting Elan bearing seals" at my local part store. So, I did not glue the felt to the ring figuring, usually incorrectly, that the pressure from assembly will keep things in place. Bad idea? Should I glue? If so what type?
I am still left with the thick felt conundrum. It appears to be causing binding and will not compress enough to allow the bearing to seat and even causes the brake caliper to rub as it pushes out the hub. Have any of you Oracles had success compressing the felt prior to installation? Or is the proper route to remove felt material? If so, what method (yes I am as thick as my felt)? Or does it run in after a bit of driving?
I have also inquired at my kindly Lotus specialty vendor who supplied the less than perfectly fitting part.
Faithfully yours,