Lotus Club Queensland
Dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of the Lotus experience
Login
Register
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Membership
    • Member Login
  • Events
    • Calendar
  • Motorsport
    • Lakeside DTC Timed Laps
    • LAKESIDE DTC RESULTS
  • Magazine
  • For Sale
    • Merchandise
    • Classifieds
  • Posts
  • Galleries
  • Directory
    • Suppliers & Parts
    • Advertisers
  • Archives
elan-driveshafts-001

Elan Driveshaft Conversion

By Greg Bray

After 40 years of Elan ownership and being happy with the standard doughnut driveshafts, I began to think in the last year or two it would be nice not to have to worry about coupling failure. Not so much about the failure, because if you check for cracks often enough, you’ll be OK, but it was about the pain of having to change them every seven years or so.

So I looked at all the different modern style C.V. joint shafts available, and ordered mine from Elantrikbits. They were about the most expensive, but with my Elan, as my good wife would say, ‘money no object’.

Another possible failure point is the hub shafts, which can break between wheel flange and outer bearing therefore letting go of the wheel. So I bought two Tony Thompson Racing outer shafts which won’t break. The most common failure used to be the early diff output shafts, but most have been replaced now. I fitted my Elan with Sprint ones with mount stiffening bracket many years ago.

Back to my new drive shafts, my Koni shock absorber stroke was now too long for the C.V. joints. So I dismantled them and machined up two spacers 1¼” long and put one each side to limit that stroke, so she’s OK now.

The top Lotocone mounts need to be changed whenever you have reason to remove the rear suspension legs.

Diff mounts are another thing that slowly collapse and lower the diff onto the chassis.

Also with new outer shafts or wheel drive flanges you must lap-in the flange to the shaft to ensure a good mounting fit.

This was just a little job I fitted in over Christmas for myself. It’s early days yet, but I haven’t felt any adverse effect of the rear loss of roll bar effect, but I don’t actually drive the car the same as I did when I was only in my 20’s.

S3 for sale Hans Device Compulsory

Related Posts

duratec-banner

Articles, Homepage, Technical

Duratec Elise – better late than never

plus2-banner

Articles, Gallery 2022, Homepage, Technical

Unique +2 Road Trip to Brisbane

amos-banner

Articles, Homepage, Lotus Cars, Technical

My Elan Story

Random images

IMG_3724 118_1813_IMG 118_1801_IMG IMG_4276 121_2200_IMG IMG_6824 image_082 group2 IMG_7593 113_1308_IMG IMG_6509 IMG_7836 PICT7278 IMG_1275 P1060260 055_55 Clive_Wade_Lotus_Elise IMG_5646 P8310156 Weekend warriors 172_THC22_2022-3 221707065_384351383062365_7143520318489763557_n 07252021-copy2 ICC-Dick the-meeting nathan-04 Andrew Row 2005 Lotus Exige - 1 IMG_1963 IMG_8615 Lloyd MG-8230 Dicks Slicks chris-derek Clive-stocking-up-on-Rockford-wines MG_9493 3.Downtown-Esk IMG_0008 P1060098 More-mountain-views-before-lunch-at-Canungra Green-line-up Seven-Lineup Daryl-ready-for-action Elan-line-up main-24 P1010418 lec_0194 P1060103 IMG_6360 MG_7054 Ploughman's Lunch IMG_0037 1426854264_0b044007d8_m_1 Arbarth IMG_0444 img_1085 img_1069 Mar-main-4 P8310108 IMG_6358 IMG_7973 Daryl_and_Mitch_checking_times DSC03861 IMG_8592 IMG_6401 IMG_4293 The-saddle-challenge HCtW4 Through-beautiful-undulating-countryside main-18 main-2 Mar-main-113 main-19 main-20 1-Early-arrivals Goody-Bag Detail-of-superb-restoration IMG_1805 Jen-relaxing-in-the-comfortable-habitat IMGP8287 Parking-was-a-bit-tight Fun-day-ahead_gw In-full-flight-across-the-Gobi-Desert Jon img_2028 DSC_0227 Fans-requesting-freebies-during-lunch-stop-Russia IMG_0512 Grandstand-Khanacross keeping-the-flag-flying Maryanne-Steve_GW Zaid - Post Scrutineering Monaro proud-jag-owner Table 1 IMGP8491-1 Friendly rivalry Two-Elans group-shot IMAG5965 IMAG6015

Recent Articles

  • Morgan Park Sprints R4
  • Kev’s Big Day Out
  • Duratec Elise – better late than never
  • Gold Rush Hill Sprint – 2022
  • Marburg Pub Run – 4 Sept 2022
  • Unique +2 Road Trip to Brisbane
  • Leyburn 2022
  • August 2022 DTC

Latest Gallery Images

20220220_093834 20220220_093818 20220220_093827 20220220_093743 20220220_093812 20220220_093730

Search articles by category

Archived articles

Lotus Club Queensland
© Lotus Club Queensland   |   Site by Black Eye Studios