Re: [DML] Lotus Esprit Rear Suspension

["Tom Niemczewski" <dmctom@xxxxxxxxx>]

Jake

Thanks for the encouragement ;) I'm working hard to make it a reality...

As I have stated in my previous post (the very long one) by saying that this 
joint doesn't work I didn't mean that the suspension or the car doesn't 
work. It was an exaggeration to make my point. But when you think about it, 
this joint truly doesn't work. It just crushes the bushing and bends the 
shock. There is no real movement in this joint. The front lower shock mount 
joint works great... the rear doesn't.
I hope you understand what I'm trying to say here.

Jake, does this joint work just fine on your car? Are you sure? If you are, 
I can change your mind ;) Jack up the rear of the car and remove the shock 
from the bolt that supports it at the wheel hub. Examine the bushing 
carefully. Now, it doesn't matter if the shock has been on the car for 27 
years, or 27 days. (Although, if you have not replaced the shocks since new 
it might be a good idea to think about replacement now ;) ) You will notice 
how crushed the bushing is. On top of that, most of the long support bolts 
that I've seen where slightly bent at the point where they exit the wheel 
hub mount. On my car the bend was so severe that I had to cut those bolts in 
order to remove them from the hubs. Both of them!
Ok, my car being driven first in New Jersey and now in Poland (with a few 
years in Florida) has probably seen more rough roads in it's life than 
average DeLorean does, but doesn't explain the bad design. Crushed bushings, 
bent support bolts, bent TABs... it should NEVER happen! All this leads me 
again to one conclusion - very poor design by Lotus.

The suspension should allow free movement throughout the entire range of 
travel with rigid bushings (metal tubes). The bushings are there to cushion 
vibration (to make the ride smoother) and to allow for some controlled 
movement as to avoid failure. In case of the DeLorean the rear shock would 
crack/bend/snap if the bushing was replaced with a rigid one.

Please, give me some credit if it doesn't make much sense... English is my 
second language! That's why I'm taking a bunch of pictures... a picture is 
worth a thousand words and it will help greatly in trying to explain my 
ideas ;)

Take care,

Tom Niemczewski
vin 6149 (in Poland!)
Google earth: 52°25'17.30"N 21° 1'58.00"E
dmctom@xxxxxxxxx
www.deloreana.com



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jake Kamphoefner" <jakekamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 11:53 PM
Subject: Re: [DML] Lotus Esprit Rear Suspension


Tom, it sounds like a great project, and I am excited to see the results. 
But how is it that thousands of us have been driving problem-free on 
something that "doesn't work"?! I think you mods will benefit the rigidity 
greatly and improve the handling, but saying the old way doesn't work just 
isn't true.
Mine seems to work just fine for roughly 27 years and well over 90K miles.
Jake Kamphoefner
1063

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

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:
    mailto:dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    mailto: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/