Re: [DML] Forgot to Mention

[Michael Griese <mike.griese@xxxxxxx>]

Lotus didn't use rag joints in the steering on any of their cars except for 
maybe the Evora - I haven't looked at that model in sufficient detail to know 
but I would be surprised if they did. Rag joints numb the steering response and 
feel.

A properly maintained steering system (which includes the front suspension) 
should not have regular vibrations.  If it does, fix that problem first before 
deciding if additional dampening is desired.  What the Lotus design provides is 
very tactile >vibration free< feedback from the contact patch of the front 
wheels to the drivers hands.  That is very important for drivers who like to 
track their cars, and a significant number of Lotus owners do just that.  
Knowing when the tire is going over bumps, seams, uneven or loose pavement is 
good to know when you are pushing the contact patch to its limit.  Rag joints 
also make it impossible to feel the tire tread moving around, which makes it 
hard to know when the contact patch is at the limit.

Personally I prefer manual steering cars with no rag joints.  Cars like our BMW 
3 series or even the Boxster feel numb and disconnected from the road compared 
to my Elise, Esprit and DeLorean.  Most of that is due to the power steering 
systems.  Our pickup is just hopeless.

 --
Mike




________________________________
From: content22207 <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thu, June 14, 2012 9:26:56 AM
Subject: Re: [DML] Forgot to Mention

  
Sale rep at Borgeson claims they work as well. Borgeson is the only place I've 
seen them -- they may be Borgeson patented. They certainly weren't available in 
the early 1980's, when traditional rag joints would have been the only option 
available to Lotus. I suspect Lotus looked at DMC's Guigiaro design and the off 
the shelf steering components they were working with, discovered that a rag 
joint wouldn't fit anywhere, and said "whatever -- just throw the lower column 
in there without any vibration reduction and get the design out the door."

Vibration reduction *DOES* work. Even Chevettes had rag joints in their columns.

I've ordered a vibration reducing U joint to be delivered shortly after DCS, so 
we'll have an answer next week. 


Bill Robertson
#5939

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Farrar Hudkins <fhudkins@...> wrote:
>
> Do you think the vibration-reducing U-joint will be as effective? How does it 
>dampen vibration?
> 
> Farrar Hudkins
> #2613
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx

For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com

To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnewsYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/