Special Front Hubs/Uprights

[chrisbeck]

What are the original front hubs and uprights on a 1973 Special? I bought uprated stub axles and alloy hubs for a Spitfire but they don't fit. They said the kit was for all Spitfires except early Mk.1's with bolt on calliper mounts. Surely Lotus weren't using uprights from 1962 Spitfires 11 years later?! Are they GT6/Vitesse maybe?

[BDA]

I recently looked into this. The uprights are from STANPART which IIRC implies Triumph origin. A couple of parts cross references I've seen lists the uprights as Spitfire parts yet the Spitfire uprights I see on ebay do not look at all the same. The GT6 parts are similar but don't appear to be correct. The TR3 uprights look a lot closer but the TR3 was out of production when the Europa was in so that seems unlikely.

Hopefully somebody can straighten this out.

In the meantime, I'm sure the usual suspects have them. I saw that Lotus Supplies has them in two versions (small and large stub axle) for 120 GBP and Kelvedon has them for a similar price.

[chrisbeck]

Thanks. I'm looking to retain the original uprights and fit new stub axles and alloy hubs. The GT6 hubs look more like mine but then I wonder if the discs will be different. Rabbit hole alert!

[BDA]

I have GT6 hubs and they fit on the standard stub axle but I don't believe the standard brakes will fit. I went to vented front discs that I got as a kit from Richard when I built my car many years ago so I can't be absolutely sure

[gideon]

Did you get the Canley Classics kit?  What doesn't fit to what?  Could you post some pictures?

[4129R]

What are the original front hubs and uprights on a 1973 Special? I bought uprated stub axles and alloy hubs for a Spitfire but they don't fit. They said the kit was for all Spitfires except early Mk.1's with bolt on calliper mounts. Surely Lotus weren't using uprights from 1962 Spitfires 11 years later?! Are they GT6/Vitesse maybe?

How many do you need?

With or without the stub axle?

[Pfreen]

I don't understand because the stock uprights are from a Spitfire.  I bought alloy spindles from these people (http://www.leechapmanracing.com/lotus_elan.html) and had the uprights magnafluxed.  They fit perfectly.

I kept the standard iron hubs though.

[BDA]

I can't say I understand either. The attached photo is, according to ebay, a front upright compatible to a 1973 Spitfire. It does not look at all like ours. ebay or the seller could be wrong but there are several just like this, all called Spitfire vertical links. 

[Pfreen]

Well, I think the uprights are not from a spitfire.  I have been misinformed for 45 years.
A quick check says it may be from a Herald.  The Gt 6 looks the same but I know the brakes are different.

So, I am lost.  The Europa suppliers of alloy hubs know though.

[chrisbeck]

I can't say I understand either. The attached photo is, according to ebay, a front upright compatible to a 1973 Spitfire. It does not look at all like ours. ebay or the seller could be wrong but there are several just like this, all called Spitfire vertical links.

Absolutely! I've bought improved (equal sized bearings) & stub axles from Rimmer but they don't fit my uprights. My uprights, with square calliper mounting plates are like early Mk.1 Spitfire, surely they weren't using 1962 Spitfire uprights on a 1973 Europa! I don't want to upgrade everything to GT6, quite happy to keep my uprights and refurbished calipers.

[BDA]

I can relate, Pfreen. For MANY years I had assumed they were Spitfire units (that assumption was bolstered by that assertion on more than one parts cross reference list) till I started looking on ebay for them.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I got Richard's (Banks/Lotus Supplies) vented disc kit for the front. It came with GT6 hubs which fit on my stock uprights with stock stub axles.

[chrisbeck]

Did you get the Canley Classics kit?  What doesn't fit to what?  Could you post some pictures?

I bought these, lovely kit but the they don't fit my uprights:https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-RL1684

[EuropaTC]

The spitfire vertical link pictured is one of the later ones, they changed from having a bolt-on caliper bracket to one that was cast into the upright. I think this might be around the Mk4 Spitfire but honestly not sure.

Lotus used the earlier versions which were fitted to Herald/Spitfire from the early 60s so yes, Lotus were using 1963 era parts on a 1973 Europa !

The GT6/Vitesse used a different vertical link part number although I don't know what the differences are (stub axle diameter ?) because the same trunnions/ball joints fit both.  The stub axles cater for larger bearings than on the Herald so the hubs will be different as well.

Brian

[BDA]

Thanks for that clarification, Brian. After a lot of searching around, I found that according to Rimmer Brothers, it looks like our upright came from early Mk1 Spitfires and Heralds (https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID005740 see the inset exploded diagram). These are not commonly found (even on UK ebay). The price at Rimmer Brothers for these is US$188 which is still more expensive than at Lotus Supplies or Kelvedon.

[jbcollier]

The early uprights that came with our Europas have the steering arm going through the centre of the upright.  This means that they will bend before the chassis.  This is why it is so common to find bent uprights.  This is a good thing as it helps protect the chassis.  Same with the open-U, a-arms.  Later Spitfire uprights are much stronger and therefore will transmit more shock to the chassis.