Suspension bush options - old style, damper programme ?

[Mightymetro]

7 minutes ago, Sparky said:

No worries at all mate, take your time!

Wish I could 😂.  I’m booked on a eurotunnel with the car Transporter early March to take the car to Mike for the engine fitting.  Lots of little jobs keep appearing ......🙈😂

[Mightymetro]

23 minutes ago, cweeden said:

Ah man, that sucks, I do feel for you. Can you be bothered to let him know the mess he's made and present the bill for two new bushes?

cheers

-Chris

I just can’t be bothered with the hassle of it.  He would just say that’s what happens etc etc.  I don’t think there is any point in having the aggravation for £70.  He billed me 3 hours labour for moving the ball joints and old bushes etc when I picked them up for plating and asked if that was ok.  I said yes, that’s perfect thanks.  then next time I see him after they have been plated he says ‘oh it took a day and a half to remove them’ 🙄 so I didn’t charge enough etc.    Think some people just struggle with the truth and decency and a consistent story !!!

Replacements ordered and here tomorrow.  Will keep updated 

[sailorbob]

It is hard to tell from the photos but is there the remnants of copper grease on the bushes? If so, I hope the fitter has not used that as a lubricant to aid fitting them. Any lubricant must be the sort that dries and doesn't become a lubricant again when it gets wet as otherwise the bushes will not function as Lotus intended.

[Barrykearley]

What is wrong with folks ? Those bushes are very solid things - the correct use of a press, lube and the appropriate pushing socket and they slip in. This is just plain incompetence.

the old style rubber bushes you have to have the tool as the lip will tear 

[Sparky]

Barry, referring to your post on a related thread:

"the poly bushes do simply press in - they go in at an angle then straighten up."

This is how they can get damaged.  The tool mitigates that risk.

[Barrykearley]

The tool does indeed mitigate risk - and you can’t fit an old rubber one without. I somehow managed to do all my bushes without damaging them - maybe it was just beginners luck

[Chillidoggy]

Mightymetro, that's sad to see.

If it helps, the Lotus Service Notes (MY 93 onwards) advises the use of P-80 'Rubber Lubricant Emulsion' for rear bushes. There's also a Lotus P/N of A082C6042V quoted, but no doubt it's NLA from the factory now. This is for rubber bushes, but presumably it is safe to use on the poly bushes, too.

[Mightymetro]

Here’s a close up of the expert motorsport mechanics effort once I removed it 

[Sparky]

Ouch.  Might be a motorsports expert, but doesn't know the Esprit.

[Barrykearley]

Simple ineptitude and lack of respect for the materials they are fitting.

if they can do a simple thing like that to a bush - would you trust them sealing the sump of your V8 in place?

[Mightymetro]

What, like the last place 😂

[Barrykearley]

And that isn’t the first time I’ve seen a picture like that from a V8 after experts have been plying their trade

 

@Lotusfab here’s an example of just what “specialists” are capable of doing

[Mightymetro]

Radius arm bushes removed.  Seems I have the 7/16 bolts rather than the m12

the holes in the radius arms are 11mm (ish) but the bushes are 12mm.  Are the bushes just clearance?

also, one radius arm was well shimmed with about 9mm, other side was 1mm.

still finding stupid little things to sort before the big bolt back together.  Both rear ABS sensors absolutely stuck solid so 2 new ones now required 🤬