Rear wheel alignment / How to access the eccentric adjuster?

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Georg67
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Model: Lotus Excel SE
Colour: Burgundy
Year: 1989

Rear wheel alignment / How to access the eccentric adjuster?

Post by Georg67 »

Hi everyone!

I just completed a complete revision of the rear suspension and rear brakes of my MY 89 Excel SE. Everything sandblasted, galvanized, power-coated, new PU bushes, new discs, pads, revised calipers, nuts, bolts, etc. Took me 7 or 8 days of work; but with the help of the workshop manual, service parts list, some Youtube videos, info from this forum and support from father and neighbor, it was finally done!

However, the car needs to have a full wheel alignment now. Will go to specialist for that. However, as this car is very rare in Germany, they have for sure never done a wheel alignment on this. But the workshop manual has all the data; so we it should work out.

There is just one thing, I do not understand at all: How to access the eccentric adjuster in the lower link pick-up channel?? I assume, it is necessary to turn the adjuster with a spanner either left or right and I guess the spanner needs to sit on the middle section of the adjuster in order to do so. But how to get there??? I can not get the adjuster from below, as the boot floor brace is in the way. And getting to it from the left or right side is not possible as well, as the lower links are bolted into the sides of the pick up channel.... Maybe I have completely misunderstood something.... Can anyone help me on that? Thanks a lot in advance!

BR from Germany, Georg

Pete Boole
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Re: Rear wheel alignment / How to access the eccentric adjuster?

Post by Pete Boole »

You have to remove the boot floor brace.

Pete

richardw
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Re: Rear wheel alignment / How to access the eccentric adjuster?

Post by richardw »

This is a job I need to do as well. I've measured the rear alignment using string, and they are a fair bit out.

The manual mentions loosening the wishbone bolts. Presumably you only need to loosen the bolts nearest the adjuster?

Also I guess the car needs to be jacked up - then you are into a tedious process of trial and error to check the alignment when the car's sitting on the ground (with a pile of bricks in the boot!)

Anybody got any tips?

Thanks, Richard
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Pete Boole
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Re: Rear wheel alignment / How to access the eccentric adjuster?

Post by Pete Boole »

Remove the boot floor brace (you may need spacers on the forward bolts when you re-tighten the bolts) and re-tighten the brace bolts at the adjustment point. Make sure everything is free to move when loosened. Take it to an alignment centre with the appropriate load to ensure the required ride height and get them to adjust it - they will have access to the underside while it's on a lift. While it's there they can adjust the front toe-in and make a note of the caster/camber readings. The caster is a bit of a pain to adjust as you have to remove the anti-roll bar but it may not need adjusting. The camber is not adjustable at the front or rear without different upper arms. Replace the boot floor brace when you get home.

Pete

richardw
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Re: Rear wheel alignment / How to access the eccentric adjuster?

Post by richardw »

Thanks Pete. I've not had good experience at alignment shops; the best one near me couldn't cope with balancing my wheels so it was worse when it came out than when it went in. Whether they'd understand the Excel rear alignment eccentric I'd doubt!

As I have a loose gravel drive I'll probably try it on there. The wheels should be able to shift enough without jacking it up.

Cheers, Richard
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Pete Boole
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Re: Rear wheel alignment / How to access the eccentric adjuster?

Post by Pete Boole »

I use pieces of flat 8mm nylon (about 12" x 12") laid on top of each other, with a bit of grease, under each wheel - turns easily.

Pete

Georg67
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Re: Rear wheel alignment / How to access the eccentric adjuster?

Post by Georg67 »

Thanks for the explanation!! Guess, I will have an interesting Saturday. Finance guy with a rare car and foreign language workshop manual, trying to explain the suspension geometry of an Excel to a group of car mechanics...... Well, they already made sure, that their most experienced guy is present. So, let's see.... :-)

Pete Boole
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Re: Rear wheel alignment / How to access the eccentric adjuster?

Post by Pete Boole »

Let us know how you get on Georg.

Pete

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