Putting my suspension back together?

[ABZ-Elise]

I've ordered all the bits that I should need to put my car back together but there are a few things I'm not sure about.

Firstly, I'm fitting poly bushes all round. I have had a read through this article on SELOC http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Change_wishbone_bushes and it mentions replacing the spacers with the small diameter that sort the caster angle out with the larger diameter ones. That artile was based on an S2 but it says that it should be the same for an S1. Can anyone confirm that? also are those spacers just washers? if they are would it be possible for me to replace them with stainless steel ones? I was going to go along to Grampian Fasteners to see if they had any stainless steel washers the same thickness as the standard ones.

Secondly, when I come to bolting the steering arm, caliper and the bottom plate back onto the hud do I locktite the bolts in or should I use some of that duralac stuff on them to stop them seizing in?

Final question, the top brackets on the front shockers. When I bolt them on should I use instant gasket between the bracket and where it bolts onto or use some of that duralac stuff on there to? When I took the old brackets off I noticed It was quite corroded on the chassis so I was going to clean it back and treat it with something before I put the new ones on.

Cheers,
Kev.

PS if there is any other info that you might have thats relevant to refitting suspension and that will help me out feel free to share it

[mattg]

you have a pm

[Mikie711]

As you know Kev i've just done this. When you took all your suspension apart (front upper) hopefully you noticed how many washers were either sides of the bushes. If you have changed to polyurethane then you need to replace the small ones you took out with larger ones. From Lotus you won't believe how much these things cost. A whole set both sides is about £48 from B&C with discount!!!!!!. They are basically big flat washers, but they are larger in diameter than the stainless ones that come in the eliseparts kit. You also need to replace the rubber coated one or remove the rubber coating with a knife. The idea is the larger ones hold the metal sleeve in place rather than allowing it to float which it will do with the small diameter washers.
BTW PM me when you want the press and a get the misses to dig it out for you.
You need to duralac any metal to aluminium surface. So duralac the bottom and back top faces of alloy hub carriers, for the ball joint plinth, the steering arm and camber spacers. Also duralac caliper mounting brackets for the rears if you removed them. Loctite the all the bolts that are threaded into the hub carriers, no duralac on these. If you need any I've got loads of both loctite and duralac. You should do the shock mounts as well BTW.

Mike

[BiggestNizzy]

I have been putting alot of thought into this recently as I am (eventually) going to get my suspension rebuilt and I have redesigned my bushes due to an oversight regarding the castor angle, I was going to use washers at the top and bottom but have desided to change my bottom bush design. and use nylatron (I have loads) washers and longers sleeves on the top.this will position the top wishbone in the correct place. as far as I could tell the rubber washer/washers build up was just to position the upper wishbone and the rubber was to allow rotational movemement, just like the bushes as my bushes work different to the rubber bushes. I am just packing out with nylatron, I may even fit a thrust bearingif I can seal it behind some Nylatron pads

[ABZ-Elise]

As you know Kev i've just done this. When you took all your suspension apart (front upper) hopefully you noticed how many washers were either sides of the bushes. If you have changed to polyurethane then you need to replace the small ones you took out with larger ones. From Lotus you won't believe how much these things cost. A whole set both sides is about £48 from B&C with discount!!!!!!. They are basically big flat washers, but they are larger in diameter than the stainless ones that come in the eliseparts kit. You also need to replace the rubber coated one or remove the rubber coating with a knife. The idea is the larger ones hold the metal sleeve in place rather than allowing it to float which it will do with the small diameter washers.
BTW PM me when you want the press and a get the misses to dig it out for you.
You need to duralac any metal to aluminium surface. So duralac the bottom and back top faces of alloy hub carriers, for the ball joint plinth, the steering arm and camber spacers. Also duralac caliper mounting brackets for the rears if you removed them. Loctite the all the bolts that are threaded into the hub carriers, no duralac on these. If you need any I've got loads of both loctite and duralac. You should do the shock mounts as well BTW.

Mike

£48!!! for a heap of washers!!! I tried calling B&C but they're out of stock and so is lotus aparently, they said it could be a month to get them. Back to the drawing board. I'm ok for a balljoint press now, one of my mates gave me one. Said he's only ever used it once and had no intention of using it again...mine for a pint . I've also bought some duralac, it was cheap enough. Cheers anyway!

I was thinking of getting some spacers machined up in stainless to go in place of the washers/shims. So instead of having loads of washers/shims juat have one spacer.

Kev.

[BiggestNizzy]

I'm trying to remember exactly what they are like, but isn't it just a repair washer. i.e big OD small ID ?

[Mikie711]

There's nothing special about them, as long as the OD is big enough to cover the bush then you could use any washer(s). Like the sound of the spacer idea, however it might prove to be a bit of a bugger to get in.