Rear Suspension

• The rear suspension is fully independent, having a Chapman strut type construction incorporating coil springs and dampers. The upper end of the spring and damper unit joins the chassis by means of Lotocone flexible mounting. The springs in these units are powerful and if accidentally released during disassembly shoot high into the air. Removing them is a job which requires expert use of the right tools! A cast rear bearing housing is the attachment point for the lower end of the spring damper unit and is itself held in place by a lower wishbone arm mounted onto the chassis. The bearing housing accepts both the drive shafts and the brake calipers.

• A cast rear bearing housing is the attachment point for the lower end of the spring damper unit and is itself held in place by a lower wishbone arm mounted onto the chassis. The bearing housing accepts both the drive shafts and the brake calipers.

• On each side of the car, drive to the wheels from the differential is by means of driveshaft, which is connected to the differential and wheel by means of Rotoflex couplings. These doughnuts, as they are popularly known, allow for movement in the final drive although they do introduce an element of surge which needs some getting use to at first. Over the last three decades, the conversion of the elan drive line from rubber Rotoflex (Donuts) to drive shaft conversion has become a very popular and sensible upgrade. The drive shafts provides far greater reliability and a more satisfying and positive driving experience. A conversion completely eliminates the annoying windup-unwind experienced on acceleration and de-acceleration which is caused by non other than the rubber donuts, you either love’em or hate’em, most elan owners grow to hate the rubber donuts.