Rubbing Arches...?

[bridgdav]

I haven't really noticed before until this weekend...

Only occasionally over the winter, when taking a tight corner at speed the front wheels have rubbed on the inner arches.

Over the weekend with better dry roads I have pushed the car nearer the limit. The arches seem to be grounding much more....

There is no problem with ride height and the suspension doesn't appear to be soft. The car seems to be handling well enough, but I don't have the experience of driving many S's in the same circumstances..

Do all S's have this 'feature'..?
Should I get the setup looked at..?
Are the shocks on the way out..?

I want to get this sorted before a 1st Lotus day..!

Cheers

Dave

[shnozz]

mine rubbed to the point that they ended up with holes through them. Stuck on new shocks and it was better - then changed the tyre from SO2 to RE720 and the problem came back again. Particularly bad on the drivers side, probably due to my 15stone weight on it without a passenger. On left hand bends it was particularly bad. I tried re aligning the inner arch and sticking another bolt through the 2 sections that hang down under the bonnet. Still no joy.

never did manage to prevent it. odd.

[Psychobert]

Mine has started doing it on tight lock, (i.e. when parking for example). Started when I fiddled with the adjustable shocks. Doesn't seem to be an issue unless the lock is tight, never happens on the road, (not that I can hear).

[essexbloke]

Ours does it on full lock in both directions...

interesting, but we have got knackered trailing arms (another prob), could it something to do with this?

[mel-S3]

essexbloke said:

Ours does it on full lock in both directions... interesting, but we have got knackered trailing arms (another prob), could it something to do with this?

I doubt it; the trailing arms are on the rear.

If i was you i would get the trailing arms sorted ASAP - I've seen one collapse, not pretty, you wouldn’t want it to happen when you are doing 70 MPH around a bend.

[Essexbloke]

tis off the road looking very sick with the offending article already removed !!!

now having problems sourcing a new (Pair apparently),
without having to wait months for TVR !!!!

[M@H]

Essexbloke said:

tis off the road looking very sick with the offending article already removed !!! now having problems sourcing a new (Pair apparently), without having to wait months for TVR !!!!

Give Harrogate Horseless Carriages a ring... they sometimes have dusty parts at the back of shelves that they re-discover.

Cheers,
Matt

[Essexbloke]

any chance of a no. ??

[mel-S3]

It is possible to get the trailing arms rebuilt. RT racing do it, and i think Adrian Venn. I was quoted £160 last year by RT racing, but decided to buy a new one for £220.

They can be replaced individually, unless you have the early type of trailing arm on the S1/2. There again if one has gone, the other is always near to it.

Surprised to hear it takes TVR months to make some new ones, was told they had a quick turn around (2-3 weeks) on things like that. It may be worth phoning TVR directly to check.

[Essexbloke]

We've been trying via the local dealer so far, he was quoted 3-4 weeks, but then told me that another customer had already been waiting for approx 6 weeks so far, as there is apparently a shortage on bushes...

no quick fix here then, i guess....

[M@H]

Essexbloke said:

any chance of a no. ??

01423 561666 - Jim, the Parts Manager is a top bloke, very helpful.

Cheers,
Matt.

>> Edited by M@H on Friday 16th April 13:11

[V8Smith]

bridgdav said:

Only occasionally over the winter, when taking a tight corner at speed the front wheels have rubbed on the inner arches. Over the weekend with better dry roads I have pushed the car nearer the limit. The arches seem to be grounding much more....

Sounds like your Springs/Dampers may be shot! Does the bonnet open fully or does it hit the floor before it gets to the support point??? This is normally a quick way to see if the car is sitting too low.

Mike

[bridgdav]

The car sits perfectly, the bonnet fully up past location hole.
The ride height is fine doesn't ground out unless I misjudge a large bump.

I get the usual 'S' arches scraping on full lock, but it appears only recently when hooning. But, as I said I have been pushing it more than usual. The set up could be a bit soft..?

Did yours suffer any rubbing on Top Dog..?


Dave

[Batty S4C]

Is it on the inner mud guards or on the inner wheel arch/bonnet?
could it be a sagging bonnet?
how are the panel gaps etc?

[M@H]

Batty S4C said:

Is it on the inner mud guards or on the inner wheel arch/bonnet? could it be a sagging bonnet?

A what.. ? the bonnet isnt' going to move much unless you bend the front hinges..


Cheers
Matt


>> Edited by M@H on Friday 16th April 13:54

[Batty S4C]

M@H said:

Batty S4C said: Is it on the inner mud guards or on the inner wheel arch/bonnet? could it be a sagging bonnet? A what.. ? the bonnet isnt' going to move much unless you bend the front hinges.. Cheers Matt >> Edited by M@H on Friday 16th April 13:54

but can't the hinges be adjusted to line the bonnet?
or should i just shut up

[bridgdav]

Batty S4C said:

Is it on the inner mud guards or on the inner wheel arch/bonnet? could it be a sagging bonnet? how are the panel gaps etc?

Inner mudguards - I took them off and re aligned them before the winter. The rubbing isn't drastic so there is no damage.

No sagging.

Bonnet gaps are consistant - it was removed when front end paint repair was done last year.

How, Who or Where can I get the set up checked out..?

There appears to be nothing wrong with the car, although I would like another opinion.


Dave

[M@H]

Batty S4C said:

M@H said: Batty S4C said: Is it on the inner mud guards or on the inner wheel arch/bonnet? could it be a sagging bonnet? A what.. ? the bonnet isnt' going to move much unless you bend the front hinges.. Cheers Matt >> Edited by M@H on Friday 16th April 13:54 but can't the hinges be adjusted to line the bonnet? or should i just shut up

[shnozz]

my springs and shocks were fine and ride height "usual" for an S and mine still did it under heavy cornering - in extreme cases it would hit hard enough to give a quick jerk on the steering wheel. Nasty

I think in my case the bonnet was sitting slightly too far "back" - ie too close to the windscreen. By moving it forward slightly you might help reduce the friction

[bridgdav]

Phil
Just the man, you seem to have a better knowledge than most on this subject, having experienced this symptom before.

Maybe over the next few weeks we will meet up at one of the Hants meets and you can have another blast in an S. To let me know what you think..!

Fleet meet..?

Dave

To add - its got the Unichip treatment as well...

>> Edited by bridgdav on Friday 16th April 14:20

>> Edited by bridgdav on Friday 16th April 14:21