17 replies to this topic

[R.I.B.]

I'm going to be fitting some road legal semi slicks to my car for Le mans & Spa and I've read that you should also upgrade your toe links as the standard ones are prone to failure whilst under load.
Looking at eliseparts / elise shop they're the best part of £300 and I was wondering what everyones thoughts are on these before I go and spend the money on them.
Cheers

[DeanB]

Do you have uprated springs and dampers as well?  I wouldn't bother with semi slicks if not.  They are designed to work with exige suspension or stiffer. You don't get the full benefit on softer suspension.    Plus they wear out fast on the road and Le Mans is a long way away!

[R.I.B.]

I do have a set of Nitrons fitted as well Dean.
I'm not sure if they're something I need to buy or not. Just because we might hear of the odd track day junkie breaking one I was wondering if I really need to upgrade mine for just a couple of track days a year or is getting them regularly checked sufficient enough.
If i'm going to run the risk of heading backwards into armco like some posts on other sites might suggest then they'll be worth every penny.

[DeanB]

I had nitrons and 48s on my old vx220.  I only used the 48s for track days.  I didn't have upgraded toe links and nothing broke in 7 or 8 track days.  I even had a big ass rear wing for the last one.  I was trying pretty hard too.
Having said that maybe I was just lucky.  If I made those mods now I would want the upgraded links to feel safe.  3 or 4 hundred quid isn't that much relatively if you are shelling out for nitrons and tyres all round.  I have seen a toe link come adrift on an elise at a track day once.  The damage didn't look too bad but even if you don't crash it can't be good for the rest of the suspension,  drive shaft, gearbox etc

[Dazzx10r]

I think the S1's had more of an issue with toe links failing, iirc Lotus uprated them from the S1's. Have a look on seloc techwiki, there should be some info on there.

[danwebster]

The spitfire engineering toe links I've got on mine are things of beauty phil, pricey but they feel extremely well made and come with very high spec rod ends in dust covers.

[DeanB]

The ones I saw broken were on an s1.  And exiges have semi slicks as oem fitment. ...

[danwebster]

Yes to add some balance I should also add that I clocked 85k miles and tens of track days in my first elise on the standard toe links, I don't run sticky tyres but I still corner pretty quickly.

[Steve J]

I've seen a few toelinks go on standard cars with semi slicks. Not something you want to happen. It's precautionary due to the insrease stresses extra grip generates. Can do more than the cost in damage if they snap half way through a fast corner

[Martin R]

My S2 Sport 190 came out of Hethel with semi slicks and standard toe links. Make of that what you will. However most people change their cam belt every 4 years but never check a toe link. I check / change mine as required. Anyone who goes on track without a check of safety related items is asking for trouble IMO. Back it up some ramps make sure they are tight and rotate  as they are supposed to do.

[Steve J]

Yours also came out with a VHPD, TPS and a few other parts which required regular replacement/fettling
Standard toelinks are fine for a road car but are safer replacing for extended track use IMHO

[R.I.B.]

Thank you everyone for your help and opinions, I think i'm going to play it safe and get one of the kits.
Eliseshop sell a kit for about £250 inc. vat and eliseparts have what looks like the same kit for £290 inc vat, so i'll probably go with the elise shop one.
Cheers

[DeanB]

Do you want to come on the geo day Phil?  Have you seen the thread?

[Numbnutz]

There is another Toe link thread lower down in here with some examples etc that I added to (Found it here).  I did a fair about of rummaging and investigating, and some of the upgraded toelinks seem to get play in them after a while.  I'm not sure what use they got to cause play in the rodends, but you don't want movement.

I decided to go for elise shop motorsport NMB rod ends (Linky) - not fitted them yet but NMB are known to be the best rodends.  Yvo used to sell the spitfire ones, but now does his own.

Before you decide on your rodends, do a bit of googling etc.

Incidently, I think they changed the S2 toelink ends end of 2003 Linky see items 34/35, they seem to have stayed similar from that point on though.
,
S1 are different - and had a problem S1 Linky or S1 Motorsport

My MY04 toelinks have been fine after 3 trackdays- but I'm still changing them as I have a honda, so a bit more oomph.

Edited by Numbnutz, 11 June 2013 - 06:34 PM.

[olliecast]

I use spitfire toe links and after alot of conversation regarding the design with gaz I went for them and dont regret it, even if theyre a bit more