Suspension Disassembly; Spring/Damper Removal; Spring Top Platform - Lotus TURBO ESPRIT Service Manual

SECTION
CC
Page
5
Caution i n a l l cases ensure that the top wishbone pivot stud and ball joint bolts
have sufficient engagement through their ~ ~ l o c nuts. I f necessary, replace the pivot
bolt front Nyloc and locknut with two iocknuts
(i
.e. one Nyloc a t rear and two
locknuts a t front).
A
5mm longer ball joint outer bolt
(M8
x 65) i s available part
no.
A OEW2 044.
CC.
3
-
SUSPENSION DISASSEMBLY
See exploded diagram for general layout
Caution The road spring lower platform
is
integral with the damper lower body, while
,
the spring top pla tform/damper abutment i s bolted to the chassis. Under no c i r c u m tances
therefore may the damper top stem nuts be removed unless the spring/damper assembly
i s removed from the vehicle and the spring compressed i n an hydraulic press or similar.
a
Spring/damper removal
:
These two components must be removed from the vehicle as an
assembly. Release the damper to lower wishbone fixing, and the four nuts securing the
spring top platform to the chassis, and remove assembly to bench.
Spring Top
PI
a tform/
Spring Lower Platform
Note that early
'85 MY
cars used parall el coil springs, which were superceded by conical
springs with the greater diameter fitted lowerma t. The dianieter of the spring seat on the
damper body i s correspondingly increased for use with conical springs.
If
replacing a
spring or a damper o f the earlier 'parallel spring' type, then the later 'conical spring' type
components should be fitted us an assembly.
Before the spring/damper assembly may be further dismantled, i t i s necessary to
compress the spring. Conventional spring compressor clamps may not be suitable
due to the close coiled nature of the compressed spring. Use special tool TOO0
or hydraulic press with suitable adaptors to compress the spring before removing the
damper top stem nuts and rubber bush, After unloading the spring, the individual
components may be replaced.
The anti-roll bar fixing into the lower wishbone i s by push f i t only.
Use rubber grease
on assembly.
If
replacing the lower wishbone anti-roll bar bush, ensure that the larger
portion (in relation to its location groove)
i s fitted towards the front.