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Lotus Service Notes Section AJ
AJ.3 - REAR SUBFRAME
The rear ends of the chassis siderails are linked by a fabricated sheet steel subframe which provides
mountings for the powertrain, rear suspension, rear body, exhaust muffler and seat belt mounting frame struts.
The subframe is aligned to each of the siderails by an 8mm roll pin, and secured by seven M10 x 30, 8.8 grade
bolts. It is possible to remove the subframe from the chassis complete with powertrain and suspension attached,
although access to some fixing bolts will be restricted, and alignment on refitment may be difficult.
To remove/refit rear subframe
1. Remove rear body and disconnect all pipes, hoses, harnesses and cables.
2. Remove the seat belt mounting frame rear struts.
3. Support the rear subframe before progressively and evenly removing the seven fixing bolts from each side
of the frame:
At each side;
- Two bolts from beneath into threaded inserts in the chassis rail lower surface;
- Three bolts into captive nuts in the chassis rail side face;
- Two bolts from within the engine bay using loose nuts ahead of the siderail closing plate.
4. Withdraw the subframe taking note of the shim plates fitted at each side between the bottom of the siderail
and the subframe.
5. On re-assembly, first trial fit the subframe to the chassis, using no shim plates. Locate the subframe by
engaging the roll pins into the dowel holes in the chassis rail rear closing plates and secure at each side
by temporarily fitting the two bolts and nuts through the closing plates. Measure the gap between the
bottom of each chassis siderail and the subframe horizontal surface, and select the appropriate number
of 1mm shim plates.
Front subframe (alloy)
Main chassis tub (alloy)
Rear subframe (steel)
Tie plate
Shim plate
a32
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