Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I've just had the wheel bearings changed in all four hubs of my Plus2. The work was done by a well known Lotus specialist here in the UK.

If I grab hold of either front wheel or the passenger side rear wheel and pull/push, I can still detect play.

Is this normal or do I need to go and talk to the garage who did the work?

Thanks

Simon

Simon,
You should be able to detect a small amount of play in the front wheel bearings and it always feels excessive if the wheel is rocked (top to bottom) it should be checked in a parallel direction (in and out) I forget the tolerance but its about 4thou
New bearings "bed in" and usually become loose requiring some re-adjustment.
NOTE: better loose then tight.
The rear bearings cannot be ajusted and the "play" needs to be investigated.
Regards Brian

Hi.

Re the fronts- there should be slight play only- sometimes awkward to get this just right because the holes in the castellated nut on the stub axle don't always line up in the right spot. Don't be tempted to eliminate all play or you'll wreck them.

At the back every time I've changed these I haven't noticed any detectable play so if you have any there might be a problem- it depends how much there is. Are you sure the play is not actually in the alloy housing itself- they do sometimes cause the bearing races to become a looser fit which needs to be rectified (if only slightly worn Loctite Bearing Fit will take up the slack.

Hope this helps.

John

I have just had to re-adjust one of the front bearings 400 miles after it was set-up (correctly) after a chassis change. As porviously suggested they do need to bed in.

Pete

Thanks for the input.

I've done about three hundred miles in the car since the bearings were fitted. This probably explains the play at the front. I shall attempt to adjust this out.

On going back over the car, I have noticed that the play in the rear wheel exists only if I push/pull the top and bottom of the wheel but not the sides. This leads me to suspect wear in the suspension bushes on the A-arm rather than poor bearing fit in the hub.

Regards

Simon

Simon,
I note you say the play in the rear is there when you "rocked top to bottom" check that the shock insert is not moving within its housing, I've seen the insert "rock" if the top gland nut has not been tightened down onto the insert (usually when a new shock insert has been fitted)
Regards Brian.