http://www.southrun.co.uk Craig's Blog from Southrun E-Magazine on Lotus things. en-gb Craig Diment Sat, 29th August 2009 17:23:00 GMT Sat, 29th August 2009 17:23:00 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Southrun RSS Feed Generator 5 http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php Last weekend I decided that the bleed valve I started on wasn't going to budge and would require a week of soaking in some penetrating oil, so I turned to cleaning. I took off the front wheels and gave them a brush down with some water to start with which surprisingly got rid of most of the brown brake pad dust. Craig Diment Sat, 29th Aug 2009 17:23:00 GMT http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php#8 http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php The anti-roll bar needs rubbing back and protecting but that was something I was already aware of. I thought about the brake hoses which will be ten years old along with the rest of the car in September, and although the rubber 'looks' ok, I decided they should be changed, especially as the brake fluid is due for renewal. Craig Diment Sat, 20th Aug 2009 06:40:00 GMT http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php#7 http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php The last few weeks I took the car off the road and decided to do as many jobs as I could to bring the car back up to scratch. I've so far identified twenty two thing to do, but around seven are essential and at least two are urgent. Craig Diment Sun, 16th Aug 2009 07:54:00 GMT http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php#6 http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php Titan Motorsport and Automotive Engineering sent my steering rack by courier on Thursday. In fact when I got to work on Friday morning, it was already waiting at my desk. I had to open it up and have a proper look. I took all the bubble wrap off, the pinion and track rods were capped for protection and the aluminum casing was completely clean. All the oil stains from the pinion bearing had been cleaned so much that the rack looked almost brand new. Craig Diment Sat, 29th Mar 2009 21:30:00 GMT http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php#5 http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php The steering rack was sent off to Titan Motorsport over in Cambridge at a cost from the friendly Post Office of twenty pounds and is currently being dismantled to be examined. Craig Diment Tue, 24th Mar 2009 20:12:00 GMT http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php#4 http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php Still, this morning is a bright sunny day and perfect to have another go at the steering rack. It was quite simple, I should have used the same logic with the pinion being stuck as I did with the Lambda sensor. Craig Diment Sat, 14th Mar 2009 11:34:00 GMT http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php#3 http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php Continuing on from yesterday's steering rack removal on the Lotus Elise, today I had to try and pop the pinion out of the steering column universal joint between bursts of rain and more hail. Craig Diment Sun, 8th Mar 2009 16:24:00 GMT http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php#2 http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php Craig decides to tackle the task of removing the steering rack from his Lotus Elise S1 Craig Diment Sat, 7th Mar 2009 15:52:00 GMT http://www.southrun.co.uk/craigs-lotus-blog.php#1