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Lotus Service Notes
Section DJ 10. Release the two bolts securing the spring top abutment plate to the inside of the subframe tower, and the single bolt (captive nut) securing a leg on the plate to the front face of the tower. Withdraw the complete spring/damper/abutment plate assembly. 11. Using spring compressor clamps and taking all suitable safety precautions, unload the spring seats and remove the bolt securing the damper top eye to the spring top abutment plate and separate the three components, noting the spring top seat cushion. Unload the spring compressor clamps.
Anti-Roll Bar 12. Release the drop link from each lower wishbone and/or the anti-roll bar. 13. Remove the two bolts securing each of the two alloy clamps to the subframe (riveted nut plates), and withdraw the ARB. Upper and Lower Wishbones 14. Remove the two pivot bolts securing the top wishbone, and withdraw the wishbone. Note that the top wishbone is not handed, so should be marked accordingly if both sides are removed and are to be refit- ted. 15. Before releasing the lower wishbone rear pivot, match mark the eccentric cam to aid re-assembly. Remove the cam bolt and cam, release the front pivot bolt and withdraw the lower wishbone. 16. Release the inboard pivot bolt and withdraw the toe-link. Note that the toe-link is not handed, so should be marked accordingly if both sides are removed and are to be refitted. The shorter toe-link tube is fitted outboard.
Reassembly
Re-assemble the suspension in reverse order to disassembly with the following notes: - Take care to assemble each pivot bolt with the correct washers/snubbers/spacers as noted on removal. - Smear the shank of each pivot bolt with PBC grease to inhibit corrosion and facilitate subsequent servic- ing, but do not allow grease contamination of the threads. - Where bolts are threaded into captive nuts with no secondary locking mechanism, apply a suitable thread- locking compound. If separate self-locking nuts are used, assess the locking torque and renew the nuts in any case of doubt. The ARB drop link ball pin self locking nuts should always be renewed. - Take care to match mark and refit the eccentric cam adjusters on the lower wishbone rear pivot to facilitate subsequent geometry checking and adjustment. - Lubricate the rubber type anti-roll bar mountings with rubber grease on assembly. - Adjust the brake shoes and pump the brake pedal to re-position the pads before driving the car. - If the car suffers a suspension impact sufficient to damage a wheel rim, careful attention should be paid to all related suspension components, and replacement parts fitted in any cases of doubt. The Service Schedule specifies that the security of the front and rear suspension is checked at each service. For cars used on race tracks, or in similar conditions, suspension components and torque checks should be carried out between sessions. This operation requires that all the principal suspension pivot bolts are torque checked, noting the following points: Where a bolt is tapped into a housing or weldnut, and relies on a thread locking compound for security, be aware that if the bolt is disturbed, the locking compound must be re-applied. The following procedure should be adopted for all such fixings: - Check the torque of the fixing. - If the specified torque is attained without the fixing being disturbed (moving), take no further action. - If the bolt moves, the locking action of the thread adhesive will have been compromised. Remove the bolt completely, clean off all old adhesive using a wire brush and acetone, and apply new adhesive as specified. - Refit the bolt and tighten to the specified torque.
If for any reason a bolt is found to have become loose, and the car has been operated for any period in this condition, the bolt should be renewed as a standard precaution and related components carefully inspected for hole ovality or wear. |