Discussion
Are you using sticky tyres - yoko 048's or Toyo T888's on track? If so, then on an early(ish) S1, replacement would be recommended. For road use on normal tyres, as long as there is no play in them, the standard ones should be fine.
I did 25 odd trackdays on standard toelinks, about 15 of them on sticky tyres. Then the nearside one started to develop some play in it, so I had them changed. There are about 5 different versions of "standard" toelinks on various models of elises.
I did 25 odd trackdays on standard toelinks, about 15 of them on sticky tyres. Then the nearside one started to develop some play in it, so I had them changed. There are about 5 different versions of "standard" toelinks on various models of elises.
shangani said:
I did 25 odd trackdays on standard toelinks, about 15 of them on sticky tyres
Glad you've said that shangers, I've been contemplating the uprated toelinks, but didn't really want to fork out. They can literally just 'snap' though, can't they? Or would detectable 'play' develop first, which would fore-warn me of any disaster?
Hollywood Wheels said:
shangani said:
I did 25 odd trackdays on standard toelinks, about 15 of them on sticky tyres
Glad you've said that shangers, I've been contemplating the uprated toelinks, but didn't really want to fork out. They can literally just 'snap' though, can't they? Or would detectable 'play' develop first, which would fore-warn me of any disaster?
I'd be interested to know this as I am in the same situation. Even though mine is an S1, it is a 2001 car so hopefully it already a bit better toe link than early S1's.......
I'm having mine upgraded on my S2 along with Nitrons, so I can safely run 888's or A048's.
I believe they certainly can break and have seen one or two video's on it, however I think alot of it is people voicing concern, more than there being many cases of this. The S2 Exiges run standard toe-links with A048's.
In the end, it's better to be safe than sorry when tracking on semi slicks, hence my purchasing them.
I believe they certainly can break and have seen one or two video's on it, however I think alot of it is people voicing concern, more than there being many cases of this. The S2 Exiges run standard toe-links with A048's.
In the end, it's better to be safe than sorry when tracking on semi slicks, hence my purchasing them.
I'm upgrading with my nitrons (if they ever get bloody fitted) and I have the upgraded toe-links in my sweaty hand which will be fitted at the same time.
Riding kerbs on tracks doesn't help and sticky tires puts more pressure on the standard links. Those with ali uprights (ear S1s generally) have more susceptible and those with steel ones are generally better, although as Andrew (shangani) says above its a bit mix and match to know which type they put on which model.
I see the normal 160 crowd hogging this thread!
Riding kerbs on tracks doesn't help and sticky tires puts more pressure on the standard links. Those with ali uprights (ear S1s generally) have more susceptible and those with steel ones are generally better, although as Andrew (shangani) says above its a bit mix and match to know which type they put on which model.
I see the normal 160 crowd hogging this thread!
4pot said:
I'm having mine upgraded on my S2 along with Nitrons, so I can safely run 888's or A048's.
I believe they certainly can break and have seen one or two video's on it, however I think alot of it is people voicing concern, more than there being many cases of this. The S2 Exiges run standard toe-links with A048's.
In the end, it's better to be safe than sorry when tracking on semi slicks, hence my purchasing them.
I believe they certainly can break and have seen one or two video's on it, however I think alot of it is people voicing concern, more than there being many cases of this. The S2 Exiges run standard toe-links with A048's.
In the end, it's better to be safe than sorry when tracking on semi slicks, hence my purchasing them.
S2 Exiges I understand have a bracing bracket which improves the strength.
4pot said:
I'm having mine upgraded on my S2 along with Nitrons, so I can safely run 888's or A048's.
I believe they certainly can break and have seen one or two video's on it, however I think alot of it is people voicing concern, more than there being many cases of this. The S2 Exiges run standard toe-links with A048's.
In the end, it's better to be safe than sorry when tracking on semi slicks, hence my purchasing them.
I believe they certainly can break and have seen one or two video's on it, however I think alot of it is people voicing concern, more than there being many cases of this. The S2 Exiges run standard toe-links with A048's.
In the end, it's better to be safe than sorry when tracking on semi slicks, hence my purchasing them.
The toe links on the S2 exige are much thicker and the actual rod end is about a 1/3 bigger as well than the setup on S1 and S2 elise's..........
Standard toelinks are fine on the road and are okay on track as long as you're not on sticky rubber or pushing REALLY REALLY hard on road rubber. I broke one on road rubber on track but that said, I was just as fast as most of the guys on track rubber.... If this is your first trackday or you're just getting into it, the standard ones will be fine (can't hurt to check that they're tight and in good order though). It took me about 12 months and maybe 8 or 9 trackdays until I had the confidence to push the car to a level where the toe links were beginning to be stressed.
Thanks guys,Now what about wish bones and track rods,ball joints etc,I have seen ball joints on elise parts which are reasonable but no wishbones anywhere! does anyone do galvinized or electroplated components or do we all have to go to lotus direct and obtain powdercoated mild steel?
engiebenji said:
Thanks guys,Now what about wish bones and track rods,ball joints etc,I have seen ball joints on elise parts which are reasonable but no wishbones anywhere! does anyone do galvinized or electroplated components or do we all have to go to lotus direct and obtain powdercoated mild steel?
Ball joints are a consumable... especially the lower rear ones, but they are cheap enough just to change on a shedule.
Wishbones as std are just lightly plated, (read - they rust like F***).
lot's of places will shot-blast and either re-plate or powder-coat them (in an ideal world, you should passive zinc them then powder coat).
Toe links as said, really are down to how you drive, there are two issues here, one is the joints thenselves wearing, the other is the link (or joint) actually snapping. the first is though hard use and heat, the second is impact damage from kerbs, cornering, etc. Personally, I would never run std ones on any car, and with Ali uprights, make sure you get the bracing bracket for the upright fitted.
S2 Toyota cars also have a subframe brace avaliable, this is to try to limit the flex in the sub-frame, it has nothing to do with the toe links.
I just bought an S2 (2001) and i snapped the toe-link after 1hr. Watching the guy kick ur back tyre back into place while slowly winching it off the recovery truck isnt the best feeling in the world. So if its old id asked for it to be inspected when its next in the garage its not easy to see if its gone though. Mine had coroaded in a thread from both sides about 40%-45% from each end. The White bit was the bit that snapped when i was driving.
Edited by insy09 on Monday 21st May 09:57
engiebenji said:
On elise parts i have seen a recommended upgrade for toe links,Am i likley to snap these on my fist outing,Are they really that fragile? I havnt managed to break them on the road yet (he said touching the nearest wooden thing!.....no not that!)
Any info much app.
Any info much app.
At the risk of appearing ignorant, can someone tell me *exactly* what the toelink is for? I'd guess it is a part of the suspension gear regulating the alignment of the wheel with its vertical travel, but I'd be grateful to get the real truth from someone who knows rather than guesses
ludo said:
engiebenji said:
On elise parts i have seen a recommended upgrade for toe links,Am i likley to snap these on my fist outing,Are they really that fragile? I havnt managed to break them on the road yet (he said touching the nearest wooden thing!.....no not that!)
Any info much app.
Any info much app.
At the risk of appearing ignorant, can someone tell me *exactly* what the toelink is for? I'd guess it is a part of the suspension gear regulating the alignment of the wheel with its vertical travel, but I'd be grateful to get the real truth from someone who knows rather than guesses
Keeps your rear wheels pointing in the right direction!
Hi all....its a few months later and i was travelling down to southampton on the M3 and low and behold the offside toe link snapped and the rear or the car started to crab toward the central reservation,After nagotiating accross three lanes of traffic and through the cones on the hard shoulder it finally came to rest....Bell and colvill sorted it out last week,But just goes to show that even at 70 on the motorway these things can snap!!!Get them sorted!!!
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