Wishbone Pivot Bushes & Spherical Joints - Lotus Evora Service Notes

Lotus Service Notes
DJ.3 - WIShBONE PIvOT BUShES & SPhERICAL JOINTS
Pivot Bushes
The upper and lower wishbone pivot bushes are bonded rubber type with a plastic flanged outer sleeve,
an alloy inner sleeve, and an aluminium interleaf sleeve within the rubber bush to control the flexing charac-
teristic. The rubber material specification has been selected to optimise the handling/refinement balance. The
flanged end of the bush incorporates a snubbing feature to limit the axial distortion of the bush, with each bush
arranged to resist braking forces transmitted through the suspension; Both top wishbone bushes are inserted
from the front, and both bottom wishbone bushes from the rear. A chamfer is provided in the wishbone bore
for this purpose.
The bushes may be pressed out of the wishbone eyes, and new bushes fitted using suitable press tool
dollies. Smear the outer surface of the new bush with IPC 'P-80' rubber lubricant emulsion (A082C6042v) to
ease fitment, and assemble in the direction detailed above.
To be revised
Damper Upper Bush
The upper eye of the damper houses a bonded rubber bush, with a steel outer sleeve and an alloy inner
sleeve. The bush may be replaced using suitable press tools.
Spherical Joints
Through bolted spherical joints are used at the outboard ends of the upper and lower wishbones, both ends
of the toe control links, and in the lower eye of the dampers. All joints have an outside diameter of 40mm apart
from the lower wishbone joint (pressed into the hub carrier) which is 47mm. Spherical joints are maintenance
free, but may be replaced using suitable press tools.
DJ.4 - ANTI-ROLL BAR
A 21mm o.d. tubular steel anti-roll bar is mounted beneath the rear subframe behind the axle line, in rubber
bushes retained by extruded alloy clamps. One clamp secures the bar at each side to the bottom surface of
the subframe longeron via two bolts tapping into a steel nutplate riveted inside the longeron. Each end of the
bar curves over the toe-link before connecting to a lug on the lower wishbone rear leg via a short ball jointed
drop link. A pair of washers crimped to the bar, bear against the outboard sides of the mounting bushes to
provide lateral location of the bar.
The drop link ball joints require no maintenance, and are replaceable only as part of the handed drop link
assembly. The chassis mounted bushes are lubricated with rubber grease on assembly, but require no routine
maintenance.
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Section DJ