Lotus 2004 Eleven Service Notes page 107

Lotus Service Notes
DH.1 - GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The fully independent rear suspension comprises, on each side of the car, upper and lower tubular steel
wishbones, a toe control link, and a concentric coil spring/telescopic damper unit linked between the outboard
end of the lower wishbone and the chassis. A forged steel hub carrier, provides a mounting for the hub bearing
unit to which the road wheel is attached via four spline socket bolts.
The upper and lower 'A' frame wishbones are fabricated from steel tube, with the inboard ends of both
wishbones using replaceable bonded rubber pivot bushes to provide maintenance free articulation, with a
specification providing accurate and responsive dynamic characteristics, with some suppression of noise and
vibration. The two legs of the top wishbone pick up on the chassis rear subframe, and converge outboard
and forwards to a ball joint housing into which is pressed a ball swivel joint. The ball pin of this joint locates in
a forged steel plinth which is itself secured to the hub carrier using two horizontally disposed M10 bolts. The
braced, wide based, lower wishbone, is anchored at its front inboard end to the chassis rear crossmember via
a steel bracket, and at its rear inboard end to the chassis rear subframe. The two legs converge outboard and
rearwards to a ball joint housing which accommodates another swivel ball joint, the ball pin of which is secured
directly into a tapered hole in the forged steel hub carrier. The Bilstein telescopic damper with concentric coil
spring, is fitted with the damper rod lowermost to minimise unsprung weight, and acts between the outer end
of the lower wishbone and an anchorage on the steel subframe.
The adjustable length, double ball jointed, toe control link, shares a subframe anchorage with the rear pivot
of the lower wishbone, and at its outboard end, is secured directly into a tapered hole in a rearward integral
extension of the hub carrier.
The forged steel hub carrier provides a mounting for a hub bearing unit, which is secured by three 'Torx'
head bolts and incorporates a wheel speed sensor for the anti-lock brake system, engine management and
speedometer data.
DH.2 - GEOMETRY & ADJUSTMENTS
Provision is made for the adjustment of wheel alignment and camber. Under normal service conditions, no
periodic scheduled check of the geometry is necessary, with a full geometry check required only after suspension
repair, or if excessive tyre wear is evident, or handling deficiencies encountered. Before any measurements or
adjustments are made, it is essential first to set the vehicle to its 'mid-laden' ride height, approximating to driver
and passenger and a half/full tank of fuel. This will require the vehicle to be ballasted or tied down:
Standard Elise
Mid laden ride height (reference height for geometry check);
- all except USA prior VIN 3013
- USA prior VIN 3013
Camber;
Alignment;
Roadsport Elise, Exige (for Super Sport suspension see sub-section DH.6)
Mid laden ride height (reference height for geometry check);
Camber;
Alignment;
- front 130 mm below front end of chassis siderail
- rear 130 mm below rear end of chassis siderail
- front 135 mm below front end of chassis siderail
- rear 135 mm below rear end of chassis siderail
- optimum - 1.8°
- tolerance - 1.6° to - 2.0°; max. side/side: 0.2°
- optimum 1.2 mm (0.16°) toe-in each side
- tolerance 1.2 to 1.8 mm toe-in each side
(0.16° to 0.24° toe-in each side)
Max. difference side/side: 0.3 mm (0.04°)
- front 130 mm below front end of chassis siderail
- rear 130 mm below rear end of chassis siderail
- optimum - 1.8°
- tolerance - 1.6° to - 2.0°; max. side/side: 0.2°
- optimum 1.5 mm (0.20°) toe-in each side
- tolerance 1.2 to 1.8 mm toe-in each side
(0.16° to 0.24° toe-in each side)
Max. difference side/side: 0.3 mm (0.04°)
Section DH
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