JP Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 I'm thinking of renewing my De Dion as part of my rebuild, but I understand that the newer tubes may be slightly wider than mine. If so, does that present a problem for driveshaft lengths and would new shafts be needed as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 If you're unsure of the condition of the tube you could always take it to Arch to get it sandblasted, checked over and re-powder coated. This is what I did at 59,000 miles. I only changed mine at 92,000 as it had completed many sprints (running over the kerbs) and felt it prudent to do so. The old tube still appears sounds although it has bowed by 1 or 2 degrees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Lowe Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 I don't think the width of imperial S3 DD tubes changed much but I would take Drumster's advice above.I changed mine after 35K because it broke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Richard Price Posted January 11, 2023 Area Representative Share Posted January 11, 2023 'Not sure of the date dedion tubes changed, but i replaced a DD tube where the replacement was around 8mm wider than the original.'pretty sure the driveshafts easily tolerate the extra width. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishmaninwales Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 #3 Looks just like mine at about 65k miles! Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted January 11, 2023 Author Share Posted January 11, 2023 Thanks all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 I’d be very surprised if Arch bother with blasting etc - they will just recommend a new one. I took my original one for inspection when I rebuilt the car, and they took it away and came back saying it was slightly bent, and recommended a new one. I don’t believe it was due to having all the tracking and alignment sorted. I think they play safe, and regard them as a part with a fatigue life - certainly race cars / teams treat DD tubes in this way. Materials have changed over the years (thicker gauge steel) and design has submitted changed over the years. I’d get a new one and that sort of age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted January 11, 2023 Leadership Team Share Posted January 11, 2023 What is the difference (other than around £100) between the standard and race versions currently being sold by Caterham? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 #7 Just to put my Arch comment into context, when I rebuilt the car in 2007/8. The chassis and everything and anything that could be re-powder coated was given to them at the same time so maybe they treated it as part of a job lot. The refreshed items can be seen here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 #8Additional support fillets around the end plates for when the track boys start bashing kerbs,helps keep the rear alignment in place for longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan c Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 At some point they also changed the location of the damper mount so depending on age of current one that may or may not be an issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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