Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: kram350kram on Monday,January 04, 2021, 07:47:48 PM
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Can anyone confirm the bearing #6206 for both inner and outer? 30x62x16? Thanks
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According to the Golden Gate Lotus Club the inners all Europas are: SKF or FAG 6206 2RS; NSK6206VVC3E-CSR1S5; NTN 6206LU, NTN6206LB
And the outers for the Specials are: SKF or FAG 6206 2RS
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I thought it was 6206 outer and 6006 inner.
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... get -2RS versions, of course.
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Hmm, according to the online parts manual and cross reference at lotus-europa.com
S1/2 & TCS 6006/31 (ID=31mm)
TC 6006 (ID=30MM)
Doesn't make sense to me. The TCS came after the TC. Why would they go back to the funny, hard to find, expensive bearing?
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RD lists the TCS rear axle bearings as the same for both the inner and the outer. So a pair of 6206-2RS bearings it is for the TCS. Makes more sense.
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Make sure you have hardened spacers.
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RD lists the TCS rear axle bearings as the same for both the inner and the outer. So a pair of 6206-2RS bearings it is for the TCS. Makes more sense.
:I-agree: Presently have mine (TCS) disassembled so can confirm same bearing (6206 2RS) - this is likely to start a discussion based on if they are 2RS, (sealed both sides), do you really need the oil seal on the inboard side of the hub..... ?:FUNNY:
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Helps control moisture ingress due to condensation.
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CW removed the inner seals on my car, drilled the castings for a grease zerk and pumped grease in the housings and said he has not had to install another set of bearings since he did that.
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The rear uprights are hollow. That's a lot of grease.
John
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We will see how they look when I get to the point of disassembling them....and how much grease is in them
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The rear uprights are hollow. That's a lot of grease.
John
I would venture to guess that you would pump almost an entire cartridge in to the upright. :huh:
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I see there is a dust seal on the inside at the u-joint but not on the outside bearing? What other than the bearing seal seals the outside bearing?
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The rear uprights are hollow. That's a lot of grease.
Unsprung grease, too. ;D
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I see there is a dust seal on the inside at the u-joint but not on the outside bearing? What other than the bearing seal seals the outside bearing?
If I recall, the original inner 6006/31 bearings weren't available as 2xRS, so Lotus made provision for the separate inner seal.
I think the outer 6206 was commonly available with two seals.
Someone please check my recollection on this.
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The first Europas came without the extra seal on the driveshaft side. It was added due to longevity concerns about the inner wheel bearing. There isn’t an extra seal on the outer side as that is shielded by the brake back plate and the drum.
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Gavin,
Perhaps the unsprung grease is an "unsprung hero" 🙄
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There isn’t an extra seal on the outer side as that is shielded by the brake back plate and the drum.
Correct me if I am wrong but there cannot be a seal on the outer side as it is the outer race of this bearing (secured firmly between the hub and trailing arm) that effectively locates the stub axle in the hub. (I remember you highlighting this fact in a previous post some time back when I was trying to get my "head around" exactly how the rear hub/bearing/hardened spacer arrangement works. For me it has to be one of the most short sighted engineering designs on the car - I note on the much later Eclat/Elite, with very similar rear suspension arrangement, Chapman saw fit to change the bearing set up. Chris
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+1 that the rear axle is woefully over-taxed. It was fine for the 40hp Imp it came from. The Imp rear axle was widely used in period formula cars and it was a problem there as well.
If you wanted, you could engineer in an outer seal. Have an extension on the backplate to house the seal and machine down the hub for it to run against. It's just not a problem though.
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Gavin,
Perhaps the unsprung grease is an "unsprung hero" 🙄
Haha . .
I guess I asked for that.
OK, seriously, then . . if corrosion is of concern then perhaps a shot of Boeshield T-9 and a cork in the lower hole would suffice?
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+1 that the rear axle is woefully over-taxed. It was fine for the 40hp Imp it came from. The Imp rear axle was widely used in period formula cars and it was a problem there as well.
And in the Europa design there's that 3/8 inch spacer behind the hub too.
That translates to 3/8 inch less spline engagement than even the Imp!
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+1 that the rear axle is woefully over-taxed. It was fine for the 40hp Imp it came from. The Imp rear axle was widely used in period formula cars and it was a problem there as well.
And in the Europa design there's that 3/8 inch spacer behind the hub too.
That translates to 3/8 inch less spline engagement than even the Imp!
And the splines extend underneath part of the outer bearing which causes a big wear problem. Why didn't Lotus change some of this? Why can't newly manufactured axles change this? The Imp went out of production in 1976.
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For a race car that has its bearings and axles replaced frequently, it is a brilliant, inexpensive set-up compared to what was in the 47. For a road car? Not so much. There are several redesigned set-ups out there with the common denominator of not being cheap. If you have a good machine shop, there is the Corvair/Corvette rear axle set-up as well. Though what you save in parts cost is probably more than eaten up by machining costs.