The MOST stupid way to connect something to a car...

james · Post by **james** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:10 pm

...would HAVE to be the monumentally stupid way the inner wheel arches are fixed to the Elise.

My NSF one came loose and fell onto the moving wheel, rubbing it right through. So I went to take it off to replace it.

At the bottom it is attached using pathetic plastic screws (why plastic????) they came off all by themselves, hence why it fell down.

But at the top it is held in place by several bolts (through the fuse box) that have NO FLATS ON THE NUTS and they are surrounded by rubber. Which means when you want to remove them - you need to grind them off (they were rusted solid) which is nigh on impossible as they are totally innaccesable.

So to recap - flimsy at the bottom and total overkill at the top.

So the lessons are. Check:

1. all the plastic screws are still there
2. they are all still tight enough

So far its looks like £50 plus a good amount of thumb skin to fix mine.

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:31 pm

Think mine are all just plastic screws. I admit they're flimsy but I don't think there are any of the metal bolts you mention. Perhaps they've learned on later cars!

Not much use to you though! Hope you get it all sorted.

jj · Post by jj » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:38 pm

My early S2 had the wheelarch liner stuck on with bolts through the fusebox. I attempted to remove them when I was fitting the HID kit but gave up as they were so rusty. The exige was different and a much better system, so they obviously learnt as they went along.

james · Post by **james** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:42 pm

jj wrote:My early S2 had the wheelarch liner stuck on with bolts through the fusebox. I attempted to remove them when I was fitting the HID kit but gave up as they were so rusty. The exige was different and a much better system, so they obviously learnt as they went along.

I'm gonna change mine to a normal galvenised nut and bolt system around the fuse box. Perhaps a couple of rubber washers to reduce the vibration which is what the original rubberised nut must be doing.

Dont think I'll be "upgrading" the OSF one though unless it too comes loose!

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:02 am

The plastic nuts at the top are very poor . It appears if you use the plastic screws more than once thye are gubbed . Mine has factory fitted self tappers going into the clam , quality.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:08 am

The rubber nuts are called Rawlnuts, they appear all over the cars and they all seize solid, it's a brass insert round a galvanized steel bolt.

Galvanic corrosion anyone?

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 7:01 am

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:
Galvanic corrosion anyone?

Keep your high-falutin' galvanic stuff...

Lotus's good old fashioned sodium chloride factory coating offers ideal protection to all steel components of my car.

I suspect they bought the patent from British Leyland

james · Post by **james** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 1:35 pm

bertieduff wrote:
RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:
Galvanic corrosion anyone?
Keep your high-falutin' galvanic stuff...

Lotus's good old fashioned sodium chloride factory coating offers ideal protection to all steel components of my car.

I suspect they bought the patent from British Leyland

Ha, I think I'll go to Halfrauds and ask for bolts with sodium chloride coating