Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: kram350kram on Tuesday,August 24, 2021, 06:59:29 AM
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There are 4 locations for the steering rack stands to bolt to the front of the chassis. Any reason not to use the outside (or inside locations) either side? I would think the further apart the stands are the more stable the rack?
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Photo of rack location bolt holes
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Photo of rack bolt hole locations
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There are two sets of holes for the rack pillar mounting bolts, one for LHD and one for RHD so the chassis could be used for both.
There are also two nuts welded for the pivot for the reaction lever for the handbrake, one for LHD and one for RHD
The other steering rack holes were covered over with black tape.
Only one set will suit getting your rack in the correct position for centralising for LHD.
From sitting in the car, the left side pairs are for LHD racks, and the right side pairs are for RHD racks, so obviously in you are under the car looking at the rack from the front, the right side pairs are for the LHD rack and the left side pairs are for the RHD rack. Capiche?
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Thanks 4129R, I do Capiche! The rack has a welded flange washer that butts up against the stand on the right, (left in the picture). I presume this is what centers/ locates correctly the rack on the chassis? The left stand (right in the picture) gets very close to the master cylinder, but there is a witness mark on the rack tube, so that must be the original correct location then. Capiche, lol?
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Yep. The flange on the rack pretty much dictates everything. I don't have a stock frame so I trust 4129R's comment about holes and threads. Your shiny patch on the rack places the mount for that side as you suggest. In any case, the further apart they are, the better.
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Make sure the rack is centred correctly. It is about 2 1/3 turns end to end.
Make sure at the halfway point the discs are parallel, or you will have steering problems later.
I had the rack not centred, and I could not turn right.
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Kram,
Did you just relocate the stock sway bar? Any more pics of your setup for that?
Thanks!
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Yes , just moved the stock one up, maybe flipped it over, can remember. Mounted it up with a couple of standard frame bushings, some rod ends, bolts and tubing. Extended the lower shock bolt fand used a reducer coupling for the rod end. McMaster Carr likes me. Bar location interferes with the brake line chassis mount tabs so will have to move/reconfigure those. Should all work, maybe? Clears the a-arms and stock springs and can get it in and out with the body on. Just didn't like the stock lower mounting arrangement. When I got the car one shock stud was bent over.
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I see you have "strengthened" the a-arms. Be careful as the a-arms are designed to bend in order to save the chassis. Just a heads up.
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Thanks for posting sway bar pics!
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Thanks JB for the heads up. Better watch for those potholes... if I ever get it running!