IslandRoadster
Former Owner of #609
And now demonstrating my ignorance of suspension systems, what is the function of those plastic bushings? Is it to keep lubricants above them? Some other purpose?
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New Roadster owner
- Thread starter jason.tv
- Start date
And now demonstrating my ignorance of suspension systems, what is the function of those plastic bushings? Is it to keep lubricants above them? Some other purpose?
The roadster came with foam bushings for the suspension which are now disintegrated so really there are no bushings on the roadster. If you hit a pothole or slam down on something hard you could bottom the car out if it hits the metal on metal if nothing is protecting it. The black springs are very durable for heavier cars but anything is a possibility; rather be safe than sorry.
Since rubber bushings in your suspension take a pounding any time your vehicle is in motion, they must be extremely robust and durable in order to last. And, generally, they do last for quite a while under most normal driving conditions - so much so that automakers don't specify any kind of replacement interval. However, rubber bushings in your suspension do eventually succumb to wear, tear, and dry-rot over time. When one or more suspension bushings give up the ghost, you've got metal-on-metal contact creating noise, vibration, and harshness. more details on - When Is It Time To Replace My Suspension Bushings?
Google result - To be blunt, no, it's not safe to drive a vehicle that have any bushings that are completely broken. ... When they fail, those components can snap and cause serious damage to the vehicle, but more importantly, it will create a serious safety hazard for you and any occupants in the vehicle
The bushings were the first thing I noticed that were disintegrated upon taking off the belly panel when I first received the car.
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eHorses
Member
they did the bushings on the ends and the bump stops on the shafts? or just the bump stops? you mentioned preventing bottoming out. either way, how much was that?
did you get the shocks serviced too? new oil, etc?
received and installed the rear diffuser by Medlockandsons.com and it's Stunning!! DMV randomy issued me a plate ending in -F16, I'm gonna take off now!
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DeedWest
2008 VP & 2011 2.5 Sport
Are you sure that's not a picture of me when I was doing it earlier this month?
Same method. Same socks.
Same method. Same socks.
Are you sure that's not a picture of me when I was doing it earlier this month?
Same method. Same socks.
i draped myself across the door sill and twisted. builds core strength with either method!
Mark77a
Member
It's called 'The Lotus Position'
Received the new batch of rotors from @titaniumdave ; They are beautiful with the black forged rims; I wish I could say everything was a success but the Carbotech 1521 brake pads do not fit; they are to thick for the rotors. I ordered these on my own prior to the new rotor batch.
So confused in thinking the brake pads should fit my lotus guy was explaining why I should not use Carbotech or G-loc brake pads; reason for this is they are high performance pads for both street and racing which I am not tracking the car; at most I am going to daily activities and or doing daily errands at end of the day such as going to the supermarket lol.
He was explaining to me all these pads require Heat or a high temperature for the brakes to work; I am not bringing my brakes up to that kind of temperature especially when the roadster has regenerative braking with release of the acceleration I have learned to use that as my braking.
We went with the Hawk HPS
Hawk Brake Pads - Lotus Elise/Exige/2-eleven all - HPS Rear
Hawk Brake Pads - Lotus Elise/Exige Standard - HPS Front
These pads do not require any heat for them to activate. This is more street user friendly in which if you look at few prior posts about them no one has anything bad to say. Only good things. And they are $100 cheaper - Now Shipping: Custom Tesla Roadster 2-Piece Slotted Rotors
I will repost when all the rotors are properly installed with the new Hawk pads.
So confused in thinking the brake pads should fit my lotus guy was explaining why I should not use Carbotech or G-loc brake pads; reason for this is they are high performance pads for both street and racing which I am not tracking the car; at most I am going to daily activities and or doing daily errands at end of the day such as going to the supermarket lol.
He was explaining to me all these pads require Heat or a high temperature for the brakes to work; I am not bringing my brakes up to that kind of temperature especially when the roadster has regenerative braking with release of the acceleration I have learned to use that as my braking.
We went with the Hawk HPS
Hawk Brake Pads - Lotus Elise/Exige/2-eleven all - HPS Rear
Hawk Brake Pads - Lotus Elise/Exige Standard - HPS Front
These pads do not require any heat for them to activate. This is more street user friendly in which if you look at few prior posts about them no one has anything bad to say. Only good things. And they are $100 cheaper - Now Shipping: Custom Tesla Roadster 2-Piece Slotted Rotors
I will repost when all the rotors are properly installed with the new Hawk pads.
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Received the CF spoiler from @CM_007 - This one was a bitch to put on; not sure if I stripped the screws or what not on the left hand side but thank god he included longer screws; maybe the thread did need the longer screws I have no clue. Took me 3 hours to figure out.. ugh.
Overall came out great; also received the Carbon fiber side ducts which will be installed when we finally receive the correct brake pads in a few days; titaniumdave said something must of happened or error with the carbotech 1521 pads; Sure enough I contacts knsbrakes.com and they did mess up. They contacted carbotech and they sent me a return label which they received today, fixed, and already sending back. I should received those in a few days; that's when I can install the side ducts.
The next project is the Headlight buckets / internal housing done in carbon fiber; @drewski recommended the "Silver" color cf which would make the headlights POP and I kinda love the idea so I think I am going with it as the original CF look might be too dark underneath the lens of the headlight.
Overall came out great; also received the Carbon fiber side ducts which will be installed when we finally receive the correct brake pads in a few days; titaniumdave said something must of happened or error with the carbotech 1521 pads; Sure enough I contacts knsbrakes.com and they did mess up. They contacted carbotech and they sent me a return label which they received today, fixed, and already sending back. I should received those in a few days; that's when I can install the side ducts.
The next project is the Headlight buckets / internal housing done in carbon fiber; @drewski recommended the "Silver" color cf which would make the headlights POP and I kinda love the idea so I think I am going with it as the original CF look might be too dark underneath the lens of the headlight.
CarboTech fixed the issue with the pad thickness and shipped the front pads back now have finally installed all the Custom Rotors from @titaniumdave
Also did the Carbon Fiber side ducts from @CM_007 which were tricky to install at first until understood how to do them. The driver side Bass tube is in the way so it's not possible to get to the screw where my finger is pointed. The Bass tube or Bass Enclosure needed to be removed in order to access the screw but managed and figured it out.
Florida weather is really crappy; been raining all week so can't take the car out for a spin or test drive with the new rotors or to begin the embed process; hopefully it's a nice day tomorrow.
Also did the Carbon Fiber side ducts from @CM_007 which were tricky to install at first until understood how to do them. The driver side Bass tube is in the way so it's not possible to get to the screw where my finger is pointed. The Bass tube or Bass Enclosure needed to be removed in order to access the screw but managed and figured it out.
Florida weather is really crappy; been raining all week so can't take the car out for a spin or test drive with the new rotors or to begin the embed process; hopefully it's a nice day tomorrow.
drive her in the rain! better braking tests!
though you do need to bed the pads a bit . . . drive in the NEXT rainstorm after you bed the brakes!
though you do need to bed the pads a bit . . . drive in the NEXT rainstorm after you bed the brakes!
drive her in the rain! better braking tests!
though you do need to bed the pads a bit . . . drive in the NEXT rainstorm after you bed the brakes!
I believe you they are good
; my guy said better to embed in dry weather; assuming makes more sense as you want to put heat into the rotors to start the embed process, with rain it will stop the rotor from getting hot.
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