Cv Drive Shafts

[mark030358]

Any body fitted MM drive shafts? Bought some Saturday from Donnington but having a real pain fitting them. I fitted the outboard CV first and it is the devils own job to fit the inner. Have tried really compressing the spr9ing and jacking, no joy, removimg he a arm no joy so I'm a bit stuck. MAin problem is that I can't get the correct angle. Advice most welcome.

cheers
Mark

[nebogipfel]

Mark, I recently fitted some to my S4. With the body off they are a doddle to fit, with it on I imagine they are a struggle.

FWIW I released the lotocone and dropped the whole leg out of the chassis, this enabled me to line things up quite easily. I fitted the inner first and then the outer and finally inserted the lotocone/strut back in the chassis.

It's worth checking the hole spacings mine were tight but went with a tap I've read others on the forum who say a little bit of filing was needed.

Sorry this will be no help if your shell is on the chassis!

John

[mark030358]

John,
Thanks foir the reply. I did what you said just after I posted the note. Dropped the leg off, lined up the holes and tapped them in. No filing required. Job done

cheers
Mark

[mark030358]

John,
By the way I guess with the body off your CV's have gone to a very funny angle. Mine have as the rear end is still in the air.

thanks again
MArk

[frearther]

A very funny angle, indeed. I'm in the process of fabricating limiting straps for the rear, just in case. I don't want the rotors sawing through my expensive new wishbones if the car should get airborne (accidentally, of course!).

Art
26/4934

[nebogipfel]

Mark, Glad to help

Yes I am quite concerned about the angle! With the shell off they were actually binding when I pushed the chassis along. The weight of the shell has helped but I suspect fully loaded they will run at a fairly steep angle.

I assume it is not a problem or we would have heard bad reports by now.

[mark030358]

John,
FWIW, I have just now finished rebuilding the rear suspension, bushes, shocks, lotoclones, springs, shockes etc. I have my engine and box removed and the clearance from the tyre to the top of the arch is about 4" and the car looks like it has a positive camber!!! The correct spring free length is 41cm (this dimension I got from spyder, who said the workshop manual dimensions were incorrect ie not 38cm) while the old springs I took off measured 40cm (maybe they sagged after 30+ years). I have not rolled the car, well maybe two feet, to counter tyre scrub and will do that tomorrow, but this height looks looks very odd to say the least. How does your car look and what length springs did you fit? (mine were mick millars)

cheers
Mark

[nebogipfel]

Mark,

My car is all standard except for spyder chassis (the original pressed steel one) and spyder tubular front wishbones.

I re-used the original springs with new konis on the rear. I would have thought if anything my original springs would have gone a bit soft and tended to lower the ride height ......... but they don't seem to have done so!

I have just bolted the bare shell back on and with that weight only the rear springs are almost on full drop with as you say a bit of positive camber on the rear wheels.

I am assuming/hoping that as I rebuild the car and add weight the driveshaft angle will reduce somewhat though I am sure they will run at a fairly steep angle.

I suspect the problem (if it is a problem) with the CV shafts on the baby Elan is that they are so short, the problem is less apparent on +2's

I mentioned in another thread that if you look at period publicity shots of the Elan chassis the drive shafts are running almost straight BUT the rear springs look very short! I suspect Lotus may have cheated so that it looked good in the pictures??

[mark030358]

John,
Any chance you could measure the height from the floor to the top of the rear wheel arch to compare heights? Mine is 26".
Any chance I could give you a call to discuss? My mobile no is 07971070224. Where are you based?

cheers
Mark

[mark030358]

John,
Did you get a chance to measure your cars height from the floor?
As a matter of interest I fitted polybushes to the A arms, not sure what difference it could make but the mounting bolts are relativley loose anyway. cheers
Mark

[nebogipfel]

Mark,

As soon as the tyres are on I'll check for you. I ordered them today so should be soonish.

Polybushes shouldn't make any difference. It is certainly a good idea to leave everything loose until the car is fully loaded. My car has good old rubber bushes.

I must admit I try not to depart too far from original because in my experience and from reading the forums it seems to create as many problems as it solves!

I'll report back asap