Lotus Elise Service Notes page 35

Lotus Service Notes
Section TDM
Operating handle
\
Compressed air inlet
Vibrating cutting blade
It is not generally practical to remove a bonded panel for later refitment, such that when necessary, the
panel can be cut away for better access to the bonded joint. It is not necessary to remove all traces of sealant
from the joint faces on the remaining panels or chassis, but any remaining sealant must be securely bonded
and no thicker than 1 mm or the fit and joint gaps will be upset. It is essential always to follow the cleaning/
priming/bonding operations meticulously if sufficiently strong and durable bonds are to be obtained. Always
use the specified materials.
BM.7 - FRONT CRASH STRUCTURE
The front crash structure consists of an upper and lower moulding bonded together and supplied only as
an assembly. It is bonded to the front face of the chassis, and is braced by a flat alloy undershield screwed to
the bottom front edge of the chassis, and to each lower side of the crash structure. The unit also acts as a
ducting for the engine cooling radiator and a.c. condenser (if fitted) which are mounted horizontally on its top
surface in a bolted-on composite radiator housing. Longitudinal tubes formed in the construction are designed
to produce a particular crush characteristic in order to control the rate of deceleration of the vehicle occupants
in a frontal collision.
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