Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

My +2 has a slight vibration felt through the steering wheel. The fault is only felt when turning right and only at speeds around 70mph.
I?ve changed all the suspension bushes, fitted new wheels and tires and new trunnions and vertical links.
Any suggestion what it could be? My next step is shock absorbers and steering rack.

Paul

When you have the vibration try touching very lightly the brakes to see what happens.
If it stops it could be the endfloat on front wheel bearings.
If not change a back wheel with a front wheel.
Alan

Thanks,
I?ll take a look at the bearings.

It?s definitely not the wheels. Just put on a brand new set of the Paul Matty alloy wheels and the fault didn?t go away.

Paul

You haven't mentioned it.

Have you had the wheels balanced ?

Brand new wheels, vibration there on old wheels and new.
Paul

Almost certainly wheel balance, I would get them done again.

I think many balance machines do not have the correct adapter for Lotus knock ons.

result bad balancing
Alan

It's probably wheel balance.

I had the a similar problem on my plus 2 with Matty Lotus alloy wheels. What I would do...

1. Check the run out of the wheels - 0.5mm or less with alloys.
2. Buy some stick on weights. and have a blunt knife handy to remove the weights.
3. Road test the car, applying 20 g of weights at 120 degrees spacing in turn on each wheel. At one point the vibration should get better.
4. Home in on that point and vary the weight and position to get the best result. Worked for me.

Or find a garage that does on the car balancing. They are rare, but I found one in Ilford, Essex, UK so there might be others somewhere near you.

Dave Chapman.

My +2 once had a vibration at about seventy and it was the uj's on the propshaft.

Alan

A really good mechanic once told me all speed related vibration is tire balance. I will modify that in this instance by saying it is probably a brake disc, since it has followed after changing wheels and tires. Increased play can magnify imbalances but do not cause the vibration.

Since you have replaced many suspects, one area of play on the +2 is the offside rack bush. usually causes a minor clunk and no more, but who knows. Also I have seen complaints of new trunnions being worse than old in the past.

Also maybe check for run out in the hubs

After that I am out of ideas

Imho it will only be Brake Disk if when you lightly touch the Brake Pedal it causes vibration and not before.
This includs rear Brake Disks which can distort due to worn Rear wheel Bearings.

Alan

If you only get it at 70mph then it?s almost certainly out of balance. That will be the critical speed for the wheel/tyre assembly. It could be that it?s side to side balance rather than just pure oob. Check to see if some weights have been fitted to the inner rim and some on the outer. At the critical speed this will create a sideways rocking force whilst at the balancing speed it may not be obvious. If there are, then try putting the balance weights all on one rim inner or outer.

I have found if the vibration is around 55 mph it's wheel balance.
Around 70mph the problem for me was uj's on Prop Shaft worn.
Once i had bad vibration when braking and the problem was a broken rear Brake Disc. Which was caused by worn Wheel bearings.
Good luck with the search which is not always easy
Alan

Thanks guys.

It?s not wheel balance. The fault was the exactly same with the old steel wheels, and the vibration is only there when turning right at speeds in excess of 70mph.

I?m going to fit new bearings and pull the steering rack off for a rebuild.

Hopefully that?ll get to the bottom of it!

Cheers for the suggestions.

Paul.

I suggest you check play in uj's 5 minute job to check
Are the track Rods worn
Alan