Maintenance and rolling re-restoration
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 9:08 am
Hi there,
I am just two months into Elan +2 ownership and getting to know the car. I am fortunate in having a fully and well restored car but this was completed about 10 years ago so some elements are now needing attention. This is what I expected but I was hoping to get some good use this summer before delving into heavier maintenance/ongoing mini restorations.
I carried out an engine service upon purchase and had an oil analysis performed by Millers Oils that showed no concerns and I now have a benchmark analysis to compare with in the future.
Unfortunately, the braking was not great with one front disc shiny and the other not, and having checked for sticky pistons twice and finding nothing wrong, it started pulling harder to the left under braking. So with new discs, pads and refurbed callipers purchased, I set about the replacement. On jacking the car I noticed few lumps of blue plastic on the garage floor and realised the poly bushes on the lower front wishbones were in a dire state:
The nearside rearmost bush on the front lower wishbone had disintegrated entirely and the remaining three had worn and distorted so the bolts were no longer central allowing the wishbones to move away from the centreline of the car. As far as I can tell it is only the lower front wishbones that are in this state but this winter will see a full suspension rebuild. I believe the car has done about 16,000 miles since the full rebuild which is probable not too bad, but these should have been replaced earlier. In hindsight, one clue was the steering weight being excessively heavy and a lot of negative camber, but this will be difficult to detect through gradual wear. I suggest if you have polybushes, a visual inspection for alignment of the bolt/bush centreline is in order every service.
Also, I have fitted a new cam cover gasket and filler seal so hopefully most of the oil leaks stem from this area and there will be fewer drips.
I guess this is all normal for Elan ownership and fortunately I am fairly handy on the mechanical front and enjoy it too!
Hopefully that's if for a few months!
Cheers
Alistair
I am just two months into Elan +2 ownership and getting to know the car. I am fortunate in having a fully and well restored car but this was completed about 10 years ago so some elements are now needing attention. This is what I expected but I was hoping to get some good use this summer before delving into heavier maintenance/ongoing mini restorations.
I carried out an engine service upon purchase and had an oil analysis performed by Millers Oils that showed no concerns and I now have a benchmark analysis to compare with in the future.
Unfortunately, the braking was not great with one front disc shiny and the other not, and having checked for sticky pistons twice and finding nothing wrong, it started pulling harder to the left under braking. So with new discs, pads and refurbed callipers purchased, I set about the replacement. On jacking the car I noticed few lumps of blue plastic on the garage floor and realised the poly bushes on the lower front wishbones were in a dire state:
The nearside rearmost bush on the front lower wishbone had disintegrated entirely and the remaining three had worn and distorted so the bolts were no longer central allowing the wishbones to move away from the centreline of the car. As far as I can tell it is only the lower front wishbones that are in this state but this winter will see a full suspension rebuild. I believe the car has done about 16,000 miles since the full rebuild which is probable not too bad, but these should have been replaced earlier. In hindsight, one clue was the steering weight being excessively heavy and a lot of negative camber, but this will be difficult to detect through gradual wear. I suggest if you have polybushes, a visual inspection for alignment of the bolt/bush centreline is in order every service.
Also, I have fitted a new cam cover gasket and filler seal so hopefully most of the oil leaks stem from this area and there will be fewer drips.
I guess this is all normal for Elan ownership and fortunately I am fairly handy on the mechanical front and enjoy it too!
Hopefully that's if for a few months!
Cheers
Alistair