Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have some spare racks and from a visual inspection of the racks, they are same for left and right hand drive with different tubes and pinions.
Am I right?
Vaughan

I don't think so Vaughan. I have a RHD rack assembly back home that I have kept, because the single seater racks are made from the RHD version. I believe the type 14 Elite flips the rack over so a RHD Elan rack is same as a LHD Elite rack. I have a collection of LHD Elan racks I was going tot supply to a friend who took a couple of LHD Elites to Australia but is now coping w/ health issues.

Roger

Thanks Roger
When I compare the racks gears they appear identical other than on opposite ends of the rack, I’m thinking of trying to end for end a left hades rack and assemble it in rhd bidy and pinion.
I’ll report back.
Cheers
Vaughan

I believe you are correct, Vaughn, the same Triumph rack for Elans, +2s, 7s, Europas - only the lock spacers and rod ends are different.

This is something I snipped and saved from a Buckland article in CLN:

I'll be interested to see if the pinion will work in your installation. Perhaps you'll half to use a RHD pinion., but I'll bet they are available individually.

I had to re-bush the rack housing on my 20/22 and the worst part was it should really have been a-line bored

Roger

Hi, Guys. This question arises often. I have refurbished many Elite and Elan racks in both RHD and LHD configuration. Have some extras if needed. Yes, you can certainly take a LHD rack and "flip it over" for a RHD car. Just please remember, that when you wish to make a right turn, the steering wheel must be rotated left (counter clockwise). A bit of a nuisance, but can be done. Cheers. Mike.

Mike can confirm or correct me, but I believe the internal components are the same for LHD and RHD. However, the alloy pinion housings are necessarily different to allow the pinion to be above the rack in each instance so the car steers in the direction intended.

To just flip a rack end to end, it will only work if the rack is also moved from one side of the axle centerline to the other. In the Elan that means from in front of the axle centerline to behind, where there certainly isn't enough room to even mount it, let alone get the bump steer anywhere near to acceptable. Then there is the matter of new steering arms, getting the Ackerman right....

Hi, Steve. You are correct on the pinion "top or bottom" location. Other than moving the rack behind the center line, which, I guess could be accomplished. Easier to have the correct rack and check the specs in the Elan workshop manual for pinion and tie rod torque. I use these specs for re furbishing our Elite racks. Cheers. Mike.

I’ll be fitting it to RHD tube and pinion housing with rhd pinion etc.
I have new rack bushes etc.
Thanks all.
Cheers
Vaughan