QUESTION
Do you sell rear hub removal tools for the +2?
P.M. - Warriewood, NSW
ANSWER
Back in 1980 Lotus Marques designed a hub puller tool set for the Lotus Elan knock-on hub that utilises a hydraulic ram.
This tool set has performed flawlessly over the years extracting hubs that have been subject to corrosion and thought impossible to remove.
The puller set was once loaned out and unfortunately returned damaged so it is no longer available for loan or hire.
From experience, cheap threaded pullers and commercial three legged pullers are not suitable for removing the rear hubs without risk of damage.
As the hub and stub axle have mating tapered surfaces for retention purposes, a significant amount of force is required to separate these components.
To date, Lotus Marques has not received inquiries for hydraulic hub pullers so instead a comprehensive rebuild service is offered to Lotus Elan owner's.
From experience, just removing the hub is only the first step to replacing rear wheel bearings.
Once the hub is removed the stub axle needs to be extracted from the alloy housing.
This operation needs to be carried out with great care to ensure there is no damage to the 5/8"UNF thread or bending the 3 fingers of the drive flange.
Bending just one of these fingers will cause the rear brake disc run out of true and brake shudder will be experienced when applying the brake pedal.
To overcome this, Lotus Marques has designed a special tool to extract the stub axle from the alloy housing without causing any damage.
Whilst replacing the rear wheel bearings, it is essential to check the run-out on the stub axle drive fingers.
If any run-out is detected then the inner face of the fingers can be carefully machined in a lathe to correct the run-out error.
When the stub axles are removed they should be routinely crack-tested to check for fatigue cracks.
Unfortunately it is not to provide a fixed quotation for this service until the hubs and axles are dismantled for inspection.
This service has recently been carried out for a valued customer who is carrying out a comprehensive Lotus Elan +2 restoration.
Copyright © 2013 Lotus Marques
Do you sell rear hub removal tools for the +2?
P.M. - Warriewood, NSW
ANSWER
Back in 1980 Lotus Marques designed a hub puller tool set for the Lotus Elan knock-on hub that utilises a hydraulic ram.
This tool set has performed flawlessly over the years extracting hubs that have been subject to corrosion and thought impossible to remove.
The puller set was once loaned out and unfortunately returned damaged so it is no longer available for loan or hire.
From experience, cheap threaded pullers and commercial three legged pullers are not suitable for removing the rear hubs without risk of damage.
As the hub and stub axle have mating tapered surfaces for retention purposes, a significant amount of force is required to separate these components.
To date, Lotus Marques has not received inquiries for hydraulic hub pullers so instead a comprehensive rebuild service is offered to Lotus Elan owner's.
From experience, just removing the hub is only the first step to replacing rear wheel bearings.
Once the hub is removed the stub axle needs to be extracted from the alloy housing.
This operation needs to be carried out with great care to ensure there is no damage to the 5/8"UNF thread or bending the 3 fingers of the drive flange.
Bending just one of these fingers will cause the rear brake disc run out of true and brake shudder will be experienced when applying the brake pedal.
To overcome this, Lotus Marques has designed a special tool to extract the stub axle from the alloy housing without causing any damage.
Whilst replacing the rear wheel bearings, it is essential to check the run-out on the stub axle drive fingers.
If any run-out is detected then the inner face of the fingers can be carefully machined in a lathe to correct the run-out error.
When the stub axles are removed they should be routinely crack-tested to check for fatigue cracks.
Unfortunately it is not to provide a fixed quotation for this service until the hubs and axles are dismantled for inspection.
This service has recently been carried out for a valued customer who is carrying out a comprehensive Lotus Elan +2 restoration.
Copyright © 2013 Lotus Marques