Mudguard brackets....

[Miguel]

Yep, i reckon you need about 30 !

[Ratman]

On ‎06‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 19:06, C8RKH said:

That really is shocking. Where they designed and made in Italy before being shipped to Hethel. Or worse, where they Austin/British Leyland new-old stock that just fitted?

it is quite funny you post as in Italy we think exactly the same of UK products.

the main concern to buy a british RHD car is rust, not the steering wheel on the other side! your wheater is so hard for metal parts, as here the same parts are completely rust free.

[C8RKH]

When my wheater is hard I would never put it near anything metal - ouch, that could be painful!

You've just explained perfectly why until a few years ago every Italian made car sold in the UK was never bought on 5 year finance as the body and chassis would never last that long. Obviously no research done on UK weather before they sold them here lol.... 

[Ratman]

this explain also why British cars are rusty today? you should be able to sort it out, don't you?

[RichardC]

I haven't dared to look at my mudguard brackets yet, but I suspect that they'll already be rusting and that I'll be ordering a pair too.

I've just had the back wheels off my Evora, it seems that there are a couple of brackets there that will be turning to rust dust in the near future. Miguel, have you considered making replacements for these too?

Having previously owned an Elise, used daily and parked outdoors in all weathers for 16 years, I've learnt what's going to rust away due to bad design. Lotus don't seem to have got the hang of it though with the Evora still having various water/dirt traps and flimsy mild steel components in exposed areas just waiting to rot. Saving a few quid for not using stainless is inexcusable. With all these years of building plastic cars it doesn't look like they've got anyone working on corrosion prevention, other than as an afterthought. 

So far on the Evora I've noticed:

- front mudguard brackets,

- these two brackets at the rear of the rear wheel arch,

- water trap under front access panel -> rusty hinge,

- lower end of radiator seems to be permanently sitting in a puddle of dirty (salty in winter) water and dead fly soup.

For the last two I wonder if it's worth drilling some drain holes to stop the water collecting? On my old S2 Elise water used to collect below the heater box and the area was never dry, resulting in the heater literally turning to dust. Lotus's cure for this was the advice that some drain holes needed to be drilled in the floor panel to let the water out. Having never seen an Evora with the front clam off, are there any water traps beneath that would benefit from having holes drilled, I wonder?

[Miguel]

Looks like those would be simple to make, but no idea what demand might be like -no point cutting a batch out unless you think you can sell them all. The cynic in me wanders whether Lotus know parts like these will see out the warranty period, but have to be changed later at the owners cost, but of course I'm sure that's not true. Another reason could be a concern over mixing stainless with aluminium -add some water to the mix and you can get an electrolytic reaction ( I think) -this can cause bad corrosion, mainly to the aluminium part I suspect. But this is easily solved with rubber bushes/washers etc. The mudguard brackets only bolt to the bodywork so there's no risk there, but those above are mounted to the alu. chassis.

I really doubt this is down to the cost of the part as the mild steel version, whilst a cheaper base material, has to be sent for zinc plating which I doubt Lotus do on site.

It could be a case of 'its just how we've always done it'. Hopefully things may be changing though.

[Bibs]

17 minutes ago, Miguel said:

Another reason could be a concern over mixing stainless with aluminium -add some water to the mix and you can get an electrolytic reaction ( I think) -this can cause bad corrosion, mainly to the aluminium part I suspect. But this is easily solved with rubber bushes/washers etc.

 Perfect cure. 

[PaulCP]

Yep, Duralac 👍. Bought a tub of this many years ago when replacing all of the clam fixings and other bolts on the previous VX 220

Everything came apart 3 years later with zero effort and no sign of corrosion between the different metals

[Miguel]

Worked a treat on my hemorrhoids too.

[Fasteddie]

can't believe I am just seeing this after replacing both front mudflap brackets. Doh!

[Bibs]

Sadly you'll need to do it again soon enough, remember this thread next time!

[Colin P]

28 minutes ago, Bibs said:

Sadly you'll need to do it again soon enough, remember this thread next time!

.. or order a set now an put them in the toolbox. The 400 is 2 years old now, so I suspect I'll be dusting off my set shortly 

[Spinney]

Do the rusted brackets affect both front and rear mudflaps? Just thinking I might need to take a preventative look at those fitted to my new Evora over the winter. 

[pete757]

Any chance you can sell these to Lotus direct... to install on all new Evora's!

[Bibs]

I've taken them up to Lotus, it's on their 'to consider' list. 

[C8RKH]

2 hours ago, Bibs said:

I've taken them up to Lotus, it's on their 'to consider' list. 

What's to consider? They should just do it. End of.

[Bibs]

Sadly adopting a new supplier into a £100m manufacturing company isn't as easy as that, but we're working on it. 

[pete757]

Drop a box full of S/S brackets with a 'cash invoice' for £500 at the Hethel security gate. That should see the next year of Evora production with rust free brackets sorted. 👍

BTW... how can I buy a set please! 

[Miguel]

28 minutes ago, pete757 said:

Drop a box full of S/S brackets with a 'cash invoice' for £500 at the Hethel security gate. That should see the next year of Evora production with rust free brackets sorted. 👍

BTW... how can I buy a set please! 

Haha! If you want a pair, just email me with your billing/delivery address: [email protected]

I'd happily supply direct to Lotus, it was a while back that Bibs kindly took some to the factory, but i've never heard a peep from them. I only really sell these out of love for the car and marque, happy to keep doing it until i run out, then i'll have to decide whether it's worth it or not. 

[CocoPops]

I’ve just found a set of Miguel’s brackets if anyone still needs them.

brand new unfitted!

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Yes please. Not checked the condition of mine, but assume they’re rotting. PM me with details. Thanks.

[CocoPops]

Just tried PM it said you can’t receive messages?

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

I’ve just cleared a load of messages to release some storage, so please try again. Thanks.

[madmax]

Are there any of these stainless brackets left for sale?

If so, I'd like a pair please.

Thanks, as always.

[CocoPops]

I still have my pair.