Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

This year when I went to the annual inspection form my 1970 +2 the guy complained that there was play in the front when checking the right tire. I suspected that perhaps the ball joint was worn, but when I finally got around to pulling the rubber off of the tie-rod I saw that the ball joint is in perfect condition. It was actually some play in the rod itself causing the problem. I took a short video clip to show the problem and you can see it here [url]https://youtu.be/B5oZ6do4YVo
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When I looked a the parts manual for my car I can not see that there would be a bush for this. Am I correct? Is this a problem? Should I do something about it? What actually can be done?

It has been this way since I had the car for the last 14 years - the inspection people have only complained 2 times about it - the very first time I had the car inspected, and now again this year.

Thanks for any advice on this. Bit stuck what to do, if anything on this.

David
1970 +2S
Helsinki

isn't the play coming from the steering rack rather than from the tie rod? some adjustment can be attempted to minimize play at the rack (via screw holding 33 on the display at lotus-suspension-f42/where-can-get-one-these-tie-rod-components-t29598.html) , though if it results from wear, teeth are often worn only in a portion of the range, and reducing play in the middle ends up in steering getting stuck when turning the steering wheel... in which case some overhaul has to be considered.

That is considerable play and should be resolved, you are in Helsinki so is the vehicle left hand drive?

What I am really asking is, you say the play is at the right hand Wheel, is that the steering column side of the rack?

If so then there is no bush but adjustment may be made by removing shims from and adjusting the damper, if its the non column side then there is a bush that can be replaced, I'm not sure that they are available but have made them on my lathe in the past.

I think I recall correctly that I replaced a bush in the passenger side end of the rack to solve this problem. The Elan parts pages on rdent.com and my S2 workshop manual don't show the part, but if you look on the Moss Motors site, the page for a Spitfire rack shows a "BUSH, passenger side" that seems to fit the bill. I had a machine shop do the actual work.

Yes there is a bush in the end of the tube.
I have the same problem.

I did see a Triumph catalogue with the part listed some time ago but couldn't get one.

Have just looked - Moss Europe part number 128002

Thanks guys that helps a lot. Yes, my car is a left hand drive US Federal model and it is the passenger side that is the problem - so that is the one with the bush, as I understand it. It is a bit maddening that the parts manual fails to mention indicate this part.

Anyone do a replacement of it? What is the procedure? Do I need to disassemble the whole steering rack?

Thanks for the bush reference - found it and will order one.

David

Hi David,
Yes, the rack has to be removed from the car and dismantled to fit the new bush. I did the job myself. If I recall, I used a piece of pipe/bar slightly smaller than the rack tube diameter to remove the old bush. It is also worthwhile mentioning, that there is also a anti-rattle bush fitted through the rack tube that presses against the the rack and stops any movement of the rack in the new bush. This bush is just a piece of nylon stock that fits into a small hole under the rack tube mounting rubber. The mounting rubber then pushes the nylon bush against the rack.
Cheers,
Colin.

davidwinegar wrote:Thanks guys that helps a lot. Yes, my car is a left hand drive US Federal model and it is the passenger side that is the problem - so that is the one with the bush, as I understand it. It is a bit maddening that the parts manual fails to mention indicate this part.

Anyone do a replacement of it? What is the procedure? Do I need to disassemble the whole steering rack?

Thanks for the bush reference - found it and will order one.

David