Tazio Posted March 14, 2019 Share Posted March 14, 2019 I've just had my rebuilt BDR at Northampton Motorsport, they set the webers, ran it in on rollers etc, and set ride heights and alignment, but there is an imbalance on the camber ( which is currently not adjustable).side to side. This is strange as everything on the suspension has been replaced with new.The current wishbone setup includes the additional top links which makes the full wishbone.The question I have has anyone replaced the top links with wishbones that have camber adjustment, and if they have apart from replacing the front arb, is there anything else that needs to be considered? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted March 14, 2019 Share Posted March 14, 2019 some info here mate,https://www.lotus7.club/forum/techtalk/trunnion-less-fron-suspension Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molecular--Bob Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 Might be worth a call to Arch, I saw an adjustable top link on ebay last year that kept the stock extra top link and roll bar. It looked like an Arch part as it was of brazed fabrication, so maybe they have made them in the past? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted March 15, 2019 Author Share Posted March 15, 2019 Thanks Bob, it will be my first call, I have seen photos of a Lotus S3 that has adjustable top links so I know it can be done, I wanted to see if there any downstream impacts that need to be considered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molecular--Bob Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 Just a thought, you have got both lower wishbones to the same spec? They are available as "standard" and "negative camber". Worth checking before buying new parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted March 15, 2019 Author Share Posted March 15, 2019 Yes Bob, everything is new, and I know the neg camber bottom wisbones are 4 mm longer than the standard ones. I have chatted with Bruce at Arch, he believes that if anything is out it will be the forged top links as he has experienced significant machining issues with them, and he aslo commented he has some tubular top links which take the existing additional top link and anti roll bar arrangement and allows adjustable camber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HJF Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 If you get more info on the adjustable top links please post. I still have the original Lotus cruciform ones fitted and they are still good but interested in what is available for their eventual future replacement. When rebuilding the car a few years ago I bought a pair from Caterham but they were completely dimensionally incorrect and I sent them back. I saw a pair of tubular adjustable ones on a Lotus S3 racer at last year’s Gold Cup. I think he said Mike Brotherwood made them for him but I may be remembering incorrectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted March 15, 2019 Author Share Posted March 15, 2019 Will do HJF, needs a bit of thinking as Bruce says they need rose joints too. John Muirhead races an S3 with them, but I have only seen a photo in Low Flying, but I do know Bruce made some for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 If you use a DD top link with DD ARB 1990 ish vintage that will work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molecular--Bob Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 I think what Elie suggests has been done in the past and works well, but you may need to use an alternative ball joint as the taper on the trunnion upright is different to the one in the later DD style upright. If I can find a thread that suggests what is required I will add a link later. This thread has a part number:https://www.lotus7.club/forum/techtalk/old-style-front-suspension-can-it-be-converted-upgraded-there-any-gain-and-it-worthA search for the quoted part number (QR1118S) for the ball joint brings up a few threads that might be instructive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 The DD front set up started with a trunnion before the K series day's ball joint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted March 16, 2019 Author Share Posted March 16, 2019 My chassis is a 1990 de dion with the forged top link and trunnions with the additional top links. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncm Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 IMG.pdfMy chassis has the same front suspension set-up as your car which was supplied for less than a year before being replaced by the twin wishbone system. At the time CC offered an update kit (£650 + vat!) which I would presume used the same top wishbone as the 91 on system . Details can be found in Low Flying aug/sep 1991.Brian. IMG.pdfIMG.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncm Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 Hmmm, I've scanned the page but can't add it to the post?? Never mind it's in the archive..page 14. IMG.pdf IMG_0.pdf IMG.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted March 16, 2019 Author Share Posted March 16, 2019 Thanks for that Ncm, but I don't want to do that, I want to keep as much of the originality as I can, I just want to swap the cast top link for a solution that provides camber adjustment and retaining the existing secondary top wishbone and arb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 My previous post was wrong, a 1990 DD does have a forged top link with non adjustable balljoint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncm Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 I would be interested to see what you manage to find as a replacement for the standard top link. I see in a couple of the posts above that the replacement o/e style parts appear to be not fit for purpose.Brian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 From conversations over the weekend, the non-availability of the forged top link has become an issue, and apparently the supplier is not prepared to make them in small batches and requires a significant order for them to do so. It seems therefore inevitable that a tubular wishbone solution is required anyway. It will be the solution I adopt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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