Rear tracking - Elan S2

[PaulH]

I wanted to check the rear tracking of my Elan S2. A friend came up with a method that could be done without having to take it somewhere for alignment checking. Here's a video showing the method and my calculations.

https://youtu.be/d5AhWw9A-OM

Looks like a good method to me and hopefully my calculations are valid.

Paul

[sprintsoft]

Hi Paul, I’d be curious to know what you would do if the rear tracking is out?

Iain

[Foxie]

When I eventually got round to checking my rear suspension, I found substantial and unequal toe-out on both sides.

I invested in a set of Spyder adjustable rear lower links.

Setting them up completely transformed the straight-line stability.

[richardcox_lotus]

Hey Paul, I love your videos. I have a request.......

In this instance you’ve got the car in the air. Could you video the steps you used to raise the car and then support the car - specifically at the rear as this is always problematic with Elans to get a sturdy platform.

Thanks,
Richard

[PaulH]

Hi Paul, I’d be curious to know what you would do if the rear tracking is out?

Iain

Hi Iain,
I was thinking about it, just in case. I think my approach would have been some careful measurements and calculation and then an adjustment of the rear 'A' frame. Cutting the front tube to make it shorter (if it had been toeing out), sleeving it inside and then brazing it. This approach has been used successfully by others.

An alternative would be to buy adjustable 'A' frames which I believe are available; used by the Elan racers. I'm sure I've read about the 'A' frame being made adjustable by those who race the type 26 Elans.

Paul

[PaulH]

Hey Paul, I love your videos. I have a request.......

In this instance you’ve got the car in the air. Could you video the steps you used to raise the car and then support the car - specifically at the rear as this is always problematic with Elans to get a sturdy platform.

Thanks,
Richard

Hi Richard,
OK, will do. I'll take some video, can't promise when, but should be able to do it fairly soon.

Paul

[Famous Frank]

Paul,

You have done an outstanding job on your Elan. Bravo!!!

Certainly having correct FOUR WHEEL ALIGHNMENT is critical to a proper handling Lotus. I remember back in 1973 when I purchased my first lotus, ( a very used 72 Europa Twin Cam ) that the handling never felt right. Going to Autocross events, I couldn't figure out why I was hitting every other pylon when going through the slaloms. Very frustrating! And at speeds above 75, it was a Nitty Nellie! Scared the hell out of me.

Then one day I was visiting a girlfriend. This was in Chicago. It started to snow and I thought, ........ I had better get the Europa in the garage before the streets get salted. As I went down the street, nice and slow, with about a 1/2 inch of snow on the ground, I got another lesson in Alignment! When I looked in the mirror, there where four sets of tire tracks in the snow behind me.

The rear end of the frame was bent and it was "Dog Tracking" ! I aligned the trailing arms with shims to the best of my ability but. I ended up buying a 74 Europa with a 5 speed. No more hitting pylons and that car took me to the Nationals! What a great car!

Good luck, and if it snows, go down the road and see how many tracks there are!!!

Frank

[Davidb]

I would suggest to forum members to keep an eye out for a set of Dunlop Optical Alignment Gauges coming up for sale-by somebody quitting racing perhaps which is how I got mine many years ago. They are accurate, simple and robust and work. I have used mine for almost forty years now. The local racing club/group may be a source.
Just remember that you are measuring toe-out when doing the rear wheels-how do I know that?...