Help! Advice on heim joint condition

Conan · #1 08-12-2007, 07:20 AM

Ok, so my last track event was at Grattan Raceway Park. This has very tight, and banked, turns. The data logger showed me hitting about 1.4-1.5 lateral g's. And it looks like it took its toll. I checked the torque (50 lb-ft.) on both toe links last night and they were fine - no movement. However, it looks like they got stressed pretty good considering the heim joint seal seams to have popped out on one side. Is this something I should be concerned about? Is it safe to drive it on the track, and if so, for how long? Thanks. Pics are of the left and right toe links.

Eric · #2 08-12-2007, 08:39 AM

Good catch, btw. Easily could have escaped notice. Are you sure that they were ok before Grattan? Is it possible that the one being pushed out wasn't a result of a previous, more dramatic impact?

Conan · #3 08-12-2007, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric

Good catch, btw. Easily could have escaped notice. Are you sure that they were ok before Grattan? Is it possible that the one being pushed out wasn't a result of a previous, more dramatic impact?

Yep, this is definitely from Grattan. The Elise toe link joints are a known weak point. When I bought the car, part of the deal was having the Lotus track link brace installed (which it is). That is suppose to save the bolt for any severe shear forces, which it seems to be doing since the bolts aren't working loose. Those who track the Elise without toe-link braces consistently complain about the bolts loosening. Because of this, I have been religiously inspecting those bolts after each track event.

I find it odd that the bolts are still tight (50 lb-ft) but the seal has popped.

JimLill · #4 08-12-2007, 09:37 AM

those are 10 or 12mm ?

Conan · #5 08-12-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimLill

those are 10 or 12mm ?

Not sure. Here's what the parts manual says:

Quote:

Pivot Bolt, M10 x 120 x 1.25, hex hd., lower pivot/TCA

JimLill · #6 08-12-2007, 12:51 PM

That sounds more like the bolts that goes through the Heim (rose joint). I notice in the lower picture that the Heim body seems to be hitting the adjacent aluminum piece.

Is there a separate bolt or is it an "end" like a tie rod end?

Conan · #7 08-12-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimLill

That sounds more like the bolts that goes through the Heim (rose joint). I notice in the lower picture that the Heim body seems to be hitting the adjacent aluminum piece.

Is there a separate bolt or is it an "end" like a tie rod end?

Here's that assy. 41 is the adjacent Al piece, which is the end of the toe-link brace. That ball-joint is the toe-link joint. The bolt (no number in this image) is the one I called out in my previous post.

JimLill · #8 08-12-2007, 01:23 PM

It's a Heim and 99% of those have a male thread equal to the bore in the ball. Let me find you a better part.

Conan · #9 08-12-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimLill

It's a Heim and 99% of those have a male thread equal to the bore in the ball. Let me find you a better part.

Cool! Thanks!

If it helps, here is some more detail (see attached images)....

Part #32 is replaced with #44 on my car since I have the track brace (#'s 39 - 46). The parts manual says #44 is just a "spherical ball-joint, inner," if that helps.

jstecher · #10 08-12-2007, 02:11 PM

It looks like just a regular rod end that you can get from someone like Aurora Bearings (http://www.aurorabearing.com/) that I would bet would be an upgrade over what Lotus put on the car from a strength perspective. It's basically what my whole suspension is made up of and they are pretty cheap. If your going to upgrade you might as well get a good set thats going to last you.

Most of the bearings from Aurora are all MiL or Aero spec so I think they should hold up to the beating you can disk out.