Car going great. Thanks all!

[Corranga]

Following my spin and be driven into episode at KH, I think my car might be a bit bent.

Using the tried and tested 'put a long bit of wood against the front and rear wheel on both sides of the car' method, it looks like the rear drivers side might be about 10-15mm further in at the back than the front...

Basically, I don't have a clue what to do with it or even if I should drive it?!

If I get it to somewhere like Steve Walker, would they be able to tell me any more?
Is it worth me taking the arch liner out and looking at it, or taking it somewhere for a 4 wheel geo type thing?

Any suggestions welcomed

Chris

[BiggestNizzy]

It could be wishbones rod ends or something, take the wheels off and look for something bent

[VXJON]

Being driven into?

[Corranga]

Being driven into?

I lost the car at the chicane, spun a bit more than 360 degrees then just as I stopped, crunch, another car hit me from behind.

Not the best end to my track day, but I suppose we all know the risks of tracking our cars.

Chris

[r055]

yeah - more than likely to be the toe links - you might be able to see it from the rear tray where there are cut outs in the tray - compare them both. will be better if you remove the tray though.

was there much damage done to the rear clam? and who hit you!?

[Corranga]

The rear tray is off as it was bend down / broken away from the clam at the 3 rightmost bolts.

Damage wise, the clam looks pretty stuffed though I'm no expert, it feels pretty flimsy/weak, and there is a lot of cracks with light showing through! The metal piece behind the clam that sits vertically was bent at about 90 degrees in the middle and it definitely sounds as if the exhaust is blowing so the impact was enough to split a join on it or something (not had a good look yet). The other car had a roughly 6 inch square of tyre mark on it's front clam so it definitely hit the rear wheel.

I *think* my car might well still have the original weaker s1 toe links so I suppose if it's a weak point that might be a good starting point. Right now i'll take anything but chassis damage!

Who hit me, I don't remember his name as I think I was a bit more in shock than I realised tbh. I'm not sure i'd say if I did know tbh, don't want to cause any problems / I would like to make it clear I'm not finger pointing!

Chris

[r055]

no worries mate- wasnt intended as being a witch hunt, i was just being nosey

either way, its a risk we all take when on track but that doesnt make it any easier for you. Are you handy with a spanner?
it should be quite easy to spot it if its the toe links, and until you know for sure, i wouldnt drive it.

[Corranga]

I'm no spanner monkey, but have been in deeper than my ability on many occasions and have done a number of things on the Lotus and my old Mini. Wheel bearings, braided cables, pads, discs, callipers etc. My biggest issue is not having a garage and having a Mini with no MOT in the driveway!

Hopefully the weather will go my way and i'll get the arch liner out / wheel off at the weekend and hopefully spot a likely culprit, or post some nice big pics to see if anyone else can!

Chris

[alicrozier]

Two sides to every story but I was in the car directly behind that accident. As I saw it the other car was pretty much stopped and you were still travelling backwards across the track...
Lesson would be to keep your foot fully on the brakes during a spin, IMO would likely have avoided this incident.

Anyway, sounds like the toe link is bent at the very least, should be pretty obvious from inspection. Don't need the liner out, just undertray and wheel off to look. Jack it up and check if there is any movement in the wheel (side to side, alternately pushing and pulling at 3 and 9 o'clock).

As ro55 said I wouldn't drive it until checked. If it's secure it may be OK to limp to a repair place but take it easy as handling will be a bit hairy.

[Corranga]

Thanks for the advice Ali, will check as you've suggested at the weekend.

[robin]

If you remove the rear wheels on each side, take a couple of pictures of the suspension from a couple of angles and post them up, I'm sure you'll get basic diagnosis done in a matter of hours - plenty of people on here know what the suspension should look like.

Where abouts are you? There's a GRP capable place in Glenrothes - Fd posted about it a while back - I think he was planning on taking his clam there - chances are it can be repaired, but don't leave it too long ... water ingress into the material will make it worse.

Cheers,
Robin

[tut]

The other car had damage to the front offside clam, but it was not that bad, and would not have expected it to damage anything other than your bodywork.

tut

[Corranga]

Glad the other car isn't too bad

I know what it feels like to have a damaged Elise and don't wish it upon anyone. His looked in much better overall condition than mine too

[Corranga]

link to photos..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42435545@N03/

Everything looks pretty straight, though I don't really know what i'm looking at, though the whole toe link assembly doesn't look at all healthy. The thin adjustable part (thin threaded bit) of the toe link rod thing looks like it might no be straight but it's difficult to tell with all that rust!?

Also,tried moving the wheel (pushing forward and back on opposite sides as if checking a wheel bearing) and its all tight, no movement at all.

[woody]

I would change them regardless TBH, given they're very likely to be originals.