Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

My S4 Elan has front rear lower wishbones with small brackets welded on with access hole for suspension nut and a hole above this as shown in the picture. Are all Elan wishbones like this or are mine unusual as I'm not quite sure what purpose they serve? Also, on full lock with the suspension fully extended the lower caliper retaining bolt head hits the top of the bracket. I am also assuming I have put these wishbones in the correct positions or should they be on the front?

Hmm, that's a new one on me. When I first read your post I thought it might be for a stiffener as wishbones have been known to crack or flex, but having looked closer at the photo, well, I'm stumped.

As you say, they do strange and if they do impeded the amount of lock you can achieve then I'd be tempted to take them off.

Random thought - could this be someone's way of restricting the steering lock for extra wide wheels & tyres ? I'll look forward to seeing what the rest of the folks think.....

Brian

So the photo is of the rear of the wishbone?

Possibly tie down attachment points for a dedicated race trailer.

My first thought was mounting points for a towing A frame but they would need to be on the front, at a different angle and all the ones I have made have used the inner pick up points.

The upper hole is quite small, I guess some kind of support for cable or brake flex line. Possibly to keep it out of the way of a larger set of wheels

Are the brackets fitted to all 4 lower wishbones? Would they make more sense if they were fitted the other way up, with the brackets hanging down?

Mark

Never seen this before. As an aside anyone know if standard pattern front wishbones are available ? when I asked Miles in November he said they were none around, and I don't want the Spyder tubular ones.

Original style wishbones are available from Kelvedon & Tony Thompson, and it?s always worth giving Susan Miller a call.

Mark

My guess would be they were meant to point down and where used for mounting a custom antiroll bar.

cheers
Rohan

I think that you are the prize winner

Thankyou, gentlemen, for your thoughts. Great to be responsible for a mystery question! I took all the lower wishbones off today and swapped them around so that the brackets are pointing downwards and are now in the forward position. I think I would also agree that they are some sort of hold down facility when the car is being trailered.

Try swapping them side to side and they might morph into anti-roll bar attachments.

The angle of them should give you a clue.

On reflection I can see the wisdom in having tie down point outboard on the unsprung upright, the vehicle will be able to bounce up and down on its suspension without moving or straining the straps similar to the ratchet strap wheel hold downs used on flat beds.