Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Recall some talk about rear uprights, and someone adding some zerk greasing nipples?

deleted - sorry I was with the front uprights.

Anna

https://www.lumax.com/lx-1462https://ww ... om/lx-1462

Seems a simple inexpensive product.
As usual, no affiliation.

I don't understand??? What are you lubricating? My spindle bearings are double sealed, so no need for external lubrication.

Roger

I suppose it is for two reasons. Maybe neither important.
I too believe they are sealed bearings, oil will keep them cool.
It also helps eliminate corrosion. As its a mixed metal part.

I am really not sure if it will help or hinder the roller bearings. My hope is that the failure rate of rear bearings is not because of anything other than poor quality materials. Japanese or European. From what I read, and please do correct me. People have more problems with the rear bearings, than the front. Simply because the fronts are easily serviceable.

The bearings are indeed sealed but I understand that they usually fail when the seals fail and/or the grease dries out with time. Many years ago, I saw a suggested fix that involved removing the inner seal, drilling the ally housing and fitting a grease nipple with a pipe to the inside of the bearing to allow greasing and prolong bearing life.

I suppose the hole leading to a tube(s) then to bearings (inner and outer) is a-fixed to the upright.
And hoping/praying it all stays close to where it is a-fixed, while being pressed and shaft inserted.

I can see a flexible line holding oil

I also suspect the seal is oil resistant

Is a bath in oil much different?

Most bearings in axle hubs like the Elan fail due to water and dirt getting in not the grease leaking out. Adding grease injection on the inside and removing the inner seals may help to push the water contaminated grease out but you need to be careful not to overfill with grease. Filling with oil would be problematic as the bearing outer seals are not designed to retain oil , only grease.

Using the standard sealed bearings and grease lubrication installed when made will get you 100,000 kms if assembled properly in normal road use especially as the cars tend to be only used in fine weather these days. Most Elans will not do that in most members of this forums future lifetime

cheers
Rohan

Changing the inner bearing to a sealed and shielded wide Ford halfshaft type, specifically designed to stop axle oil reaching the brake drum, as used in the later Type 18 carrier was in response to premature failure of the original bearing used in the Type 16 carrier. Early failures were thought to be due to ingress of water and debris rather than lack of lubrication. Maybe this modification is more applicable to early cars .

I did not drill any holes. Simply reassembled
Agree, there is no out for overfilling with grease.
So, maybe next time I will find some overpressure outlet
Guess its probably overkill, as I am not on type 16 carriers

Have fun

Good evening,

When I recently took my Type 16 carriers apart I found the spindle cavities full of grease. Weird, as has been pointed out, the bearings are sealed. I don't believe (on one side at least) the bearings have ever been changed, so I guess this was done by the factory.


Has anyone any other ideas why?

Cheers,

David