Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Sherman Kaplan on Monday,January 13, 2020, 02:45:45 PM
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I'm about ready to install the rear hubs. I have the correct Loctite, spacer and lock tab washer from RD. In watching Serge's excellent video on rear suspension assembly I noticed that he bent the lock washer over each of the 6 flats of the hub nut. I was thinking that bending the washer over two flats that are next to each other would be sufficient and would allow for checking on the tightness of the nut in the future. I can't find any other pictures and the shop manual does not seem to give any specific information. After torquing the hub nut, Serge then uses Loctite 290, which is a wicking Loctite on the nut. I think this is a good idea. Any comments on bending the lock washer and using Loctite 290 would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Sherman
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You only need to fold the tab over one (1) flat. That way the lock tap can be reused.
Best practice is to drive the car and corner hard right after initially tightening the nut. Then recheck the torque, and drive again. Once the nut stops going further. Fold over the one tab and you're done. Check the torque again when servicing the car.
To properly check the nut's torque: mark it's position, back it off a 1/4 turn and then torque it back down.
To that end, I would not use wicking loctite on the nut. The nuts don't loosen, play develops either because it was not assembled properly and the parts settle, or, the spacers collapse. Either way, you won't be able to check the nut torque easily if you have applied loctite.
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JB, thanks. As my car will not be running for at least 6 months or longer, probably longer as I still have to put the body back on the chassis, for now I will loctite the hub and torque the lock nut. I will leave tab alone until I can drive the car and then follow your advice about rechecking the torque and finally bend the tab over one flat. I will skip the wicking loctite.
Sherman
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Sherman, I think the idea is that you do the exercising to get everything seated before that loctite cures, which is a few hours. After it's cured you shouldn't be able to meaningfully tighten it any further.
So you might delay assembling it with loctite until you're farther along.
Vince
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Yup, assemble without loctite and then disassemble and add the loctite when you're up and running. The correct loctite is 635. It is meant for splines and it cures slowly. Full cure is 24 hours or more.
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Thanks JB and Vince. I will wait to use the loctite. I ordered the loctite from RD so I trust that it is the correct number.
Sherman