The wheel bearing housings are manufactured using a traditional green sand casting method.
The original components have been obsolete for some period of time and are now available in several different forms.
They can be supplied as the standard components or a specially machined housing for race applications where larger width bearings maybe installed on both inner and outer locations.
The Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan +2 share many components, including the rear alloy wheel bearing housing.
There are two types of housings and for the ease of identification are often referred to issue 16 or issue 18.
Lotus Elan rear right hand alloy bearing housing, Lotus part number 026D0004Z - issue 16 (up to chassis number 7761)
Lotus Elan rear left hand alloy bearing housing, Lotus part number 026D0005Z - issue 16 (up to chassis number 7761)
NOTE: Both of these housings are fitted with identical bearings 0.625” (15.87mm) wide, Lotus part number X036D6017Z on both the inboard and outboard sides of the driveshaft.
Lotus Elan rear right hand alloy bearing housing Lotus part number A026D0004 - issue 18 (from chassis number 7762)
Lotus Elan rear left hand alloy bearing housing Lotus part number A026D0005 - issue 18 (from chassis number 7762)
NOTE: Inboard bearing fitted is 0.825” (20.95mm) wide, Lotus part number X036D6003Z Outboard bearing fitted is 0.625” (15.87mm) wide, Lotus part number X036D6017Z Bore size of both types of bearing is 30mm
Lotus Elan +2 rear right hand alloy bearing housing, Lotus part number 026D0004Z - issue 16 (up to chassis number 0249)
Lotus Elan +2 left hand rear alloy bearing housing, Lotus part number 026D0005Z - issue 16 (up to chassis number 0249)
NOTE: Both of these housings are fitted with identical bearings 0.625” (15.87mm) wide, Lotus part number X036D6017Z on both the inboard and outboard sides of the driveshaft.
Lotus Elan +2 rear right hand alloy bearing housing Lotus part number A026D0004 - issue 18 (from chassis number 0250)
Lotus Elan +2 rear left hand alloy bearing housing Lotus part number A026D0005 - issue 18 (from chassis number 0250)
NOTE: Inboard bearing fitted is 0.825” (20.95mm) wide, Lotus part number X036D6003Z
Outboard bearing fitted is 0.625” (15.87mm) wide, Lotus part number X036D6017Z
Bore size of both types of bearing is 30mm
Common wear problems
With the passage of time and regular replacement of rear wheel bearings, this action causes the bores in the castings to become slightly enlarged.
In addition to this, poor work practices cause damage during the removal process.
Various “repairs” have been noted such as, welding the castings.
This is totally unsatisfactory as the welding process imparts heat to the casting and causes annealing (softening) of the parent metal when it reaches about 150 degrees Centigrade.
Sleeving the housing involves machining and removing metal which in turn weakens the assembly.
Sleeve retention is usually reliant upon an interference fit plus the use of Loctite.
This is unsatisfactory as the forces applied to the bearings on a high speed cornering vehicle such as an Elan are very high, especially with wider wheels and modern day (low profile) sticky tyres.
Both inner and outer circlip grooves located on the outer edge of the wheel bearing bores are easily damaged.
Once the metal retaining the bearing circlip is broken off, there is insufficient material to prevent the circlip and bearing from escaping from the housing.
The wheel bearing housing illustrated above has been carefully remanufactured using modern alloys to improve strength and reliability.
The new housings are supplied fully machined and are compatible with all the original components such as the driveshaft, bearings, circlips and steel tubular upright.
Weight - 1.2Kgs approximately
- Material – Aluminium alloy AA601 (similar to LM25)
- Heat treatment – T6 specification
- Issue 16 casting – available in both right hand and left hand options
- Issue 18 casting – available in both right hand and left hand options
- Race casting – available in both right hand and left hand options
New tubular uprights and adjustable spring platforms are also available.
A full fitting service is available for customers who wish to change over their original tubular uprights.
For more information and pricing, please contact Lotus Marques.
Copyright © 2011 Lotus Marques
