Thinking Of Doing A Suspension Refresh

[GreyKnight]

Hi folks

 

Having gone out for a drive last weekend and hearing a number of complaints coming from the front wheels I think it's about time the ball joints and toe links etc were chaged all around my car. The rear suspension has had new TRE's and lower wishbone ball joints fitted by me in the last two years, so they are probably okay, but I think all the joints on the front suspension and the upper ball joints on the rear plus all the wishbone bushes need replacing.

 

Now I'm thinking of giving it a go myself since I have the space and the tools necessary, plus MartinR's suspension refresh guide which will be very useful (though I don't think I'll be shotblasting and painting all the bits though to be honest).

 

I have had quotes from a couple of the usual places to have the work done and by and large it would cost me in excess of £1,000 which I don't really want to have to shell out for really. I can probably knock £700 in labour off that straight away if I did the job myself.

 

So, I have a couple of questions.

 

1) Eliseparts sell Nylatron and Polyeurathane bushes, the poly's are a lot more expensive. Which should I use and why?

 

2) Is it worth using the uni-ball kit rather than just using standard replacement ball joints etc?

 

Many thanks

 

Graham

[Ladders]

1). Don't use Nylatrons unless you really really specifically want them. I most people who fit them use them for race/track use only really as they keep the suspension geo ultra tight and don't have much complience. You also have to pretty much fettle each bush to fit and then ream the eyes to get a proper fit.

 

If I were you I'd get Lotus OEM or go for the route that me and Martin went and fit Superflex. The Superflex are pretty easy to fit and can be done by hand. You will need a press to fit the OEM bushes.

 

Be prepared to spend at least a couple of weeks of evenings work if your going to fit them yourself btw.

 

2). If your going to be doing a lot of trackwork then yes get the Uniball Toe-links. If not then save the money and don't bother.

 

 

 

Hope that's some help Graham!

[GreyKnight]

Thanks Dave, yeah that's what I thought people would say.

 

Where do I get the superflex bushes from? I'd like to avoid doing anything where presses are required if possible

 

Timescale isn't an issue, the car can be off the road for months if necessary, I just don't want to pay anybody else to do it [/tight ba$tard mode off]

 

I think I'll get the normal joints then.

[dalepearson]

Do you have a link to the guide? As I will be changing upper wishbone bushes and maybe it would be handy?

[GreyKnight]

Link is here here Dale.

[Martin R]

Graham, a couple of things. I would strongly recommend you remove the front clam as it makes it so much easier. You can also do all sorts of other little jobs whilst its off. Im sure you could refit the OE bushes with the aid of a vice and a couple of peices of flat plate steel. Dont buy anything without PM me first as i have a ball joint splitter etc you can use. I would also replace the bolts as you go along for new as a matter of course. Let me know what you need and i will have a search in the garage. Finally you know were i am if it goes pear shaped. Good luck.

[GreyKnight]

Thanks Martin

 

I already have the Eliseparts ball joint splitter (big hefty great thing) so I should be alright for tools, plus my dad is/was a farmer and repaired all his own machinery so if he doesn't have the tools nobody does We even have a heavy duty engine hoist in one of the old sheds where we used to dismantle tractors! I wish it had a pit in it...

 

Are you saying I should go for the OEM bushes rather than the superflex ones then?

 

Thanks

[Daniel]

Nice one Graham, I envy people that are any good with things like this. If you want a practice run then I'll bring my car around for you to do as well!

 

When you get started take lots of pics, it's great to look at.

[Martin R]

Thanks Martin

 

I already have the Eliseparts ball joint splitter (big hefty great thing) so I should be alright for tools, plus my dad is/was a farmer and repaired all his own machinery so if he doesn't have the tools nobody does We even have a heavy duty engine hoist in one of the old sheds where we used to dismantle tractors! I wish it had a pit in it...

 

Are you saying I should go for the OEM bushes rather than the superflex ones then?

 

Thanks

 

Graham, i went for the superflex. Having talked to some knowledgable people the OE ones are up to the job for road or track. Im more than satisfied with the superflex ones though. The price difference is very little. If you go for the superflex ones you must ensure they sit flat on the outer edge though as they will squeek otherwise. You may have to remove a bit of weld from around the joint. ( crap welding ). I liked the idea of the larger diameter sleeve in the superflex ones. HTH

 

Edit, also make sure you remove the top wishbone slowly so you can get the castor shim arrangment right either side of the bushes.

[GreyKnight]

Thanks Martin, but where do you get the superflex bushes from???

 

Dan, I'll certainly photograph everything, although Martin has already done a great job of that. I don't consider myself a mechanic, but I also don't consider myself to be stupid and since I've got all the time in the world to do the work I reckon it will give me something to do in the evenings (even if I may get a little cold doing it in a big farm shed on a winters night... ). I'm keen to learn more about the way cars work, so the Elise is an ideal project car for me.

 

I don't think I'll ever be advanced enough to carry out my own Honda conversion, but if I can learn how to do all the main "service items" then I'm on to a winner. It would cut the cost of Lotus ownership enormously and I'm all for cutting costs

[AL G]

I think you buy direct from Superflex? I remember looking, as I'm doing the exact same job when my garage is finished in February

 

I got offered 20% off powerflex thru a mates car club, but superflex sound better - I think Martin mentioned something about them retaining grease better due to the design? and the thicker sleeve.

 

Apparently 'new' OE rubber bushes are brilliant compared to ten year old ones which a lot of us have however I am loathed to strip the car down for something I don't deem to be an 'upgrade'

[Martin R]

Graham here you go http://www.superflex.co.uk/

 

As Al says they do have a knurled inside of the bush to help retain the grease. IIRC you can also torque the wishbone bolts up not at ride height. Although i did. This is because the inside sleeve is clamped by the bolt but the bush and wishbone rotate together around the insert. With OE bushes you must tighten at ride height. Another tip, clean the 2 hardened faces in the channel where the bush fits well. Also offer up each insert between the hardened faces before you assmble the bush and insert. One or two were really tight and i fettled them a smigen HTH.

[innivodave]

Hi guys,

first of all, a big thanks for all the info posted, I'm fitting a full set of bushes at the mo and Martin's guide is exactly what I needed. I was originally going to fit powerflex bushes, but after reading this thread I decided to go for superflex. After searching around I found that superflex are rebranded superPro bushes . I doubt it makes much difference, but you can get the original superPro bushes, designed an manufactured by fulcrum suspension and imported from Australia, from PRI racing http://www.priracing.com/section.php/259/1/lotus . I spoke to Navid who was extremely knowlegable and helpful. Btw, I have no affiliation with PRI racing, I just wanted to pass on the info in the hope that someone may find it useful.

 

Thanks

Dave