Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted June 14, 2006 Leadership Team Share Posted June 14, 2006 I've just heard that the slightly vague handling on my car is due to a cracked De Dion tube. It didn't feel quite "right" but I'm gobsmacked that it was something as serious :-( To make matters worse, Caterham are out of stock and we're meant to be going away in 2 weeks. Does anyone else have any ideas? Will try Redline. P.S. I understand that it's the Narrow Butress version that I need. I didn;t realise that there were different versions, just that the more recent ones had been beefed up? Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Bl%%dy hell Mike ❗ Hope you get that sorted sooner rather than later. What a bummer ☹️ Chris Alston 1800 Supersprint here Drive it like you stole it! but don't tell my pupils that 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxseven Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Try Arch direct Caterham Fireblade here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 You could try Charles Elliott. He has a spare one which has a *slightly* bent end-plate. Not ideal but might do if you're desperate. Don't know if it's "narrow butress" though - would be from a 2004 car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Mike, What car vintage is it from? There are several variations of De Dion although I did think that the latest version could be fitted to all cars (although you have obviously been told otherwise). I do have a De Dion with a bent end plate which I was going to get Arch to repair. I also have a second De Dion which has got to come off my car when it goes to Arch for a new long front/rear basket . Let me know if you can't track one down. Unfortunately, Arch won't supply direct. Charles --- My SuperGraduates 2006 diary My SuperGraduates 2005 diary, My Caterham Academy 2004 build and race diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Thanks Charles The car is a 1991 vintage if that helps......... Neither of us know much about the variations in di dion tube but we can check with James Whiting. Tam (Mike's co-driver) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 If you speak with Darren/Tony at Caterham Parts, they will tell you what you need. Charles --- My SuperGraduates 2006 diary My SuperGraduates 2005 diary, My Caterham Academy 2004 build and race diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Michael/Tam I have a dedion tube that I removed from my R500 prior to Longcross. It is of 2000 vintage, covered 6,000 road miles and shows no sign of failure or corrosion. I'm in Sutton, Surrey so not too far away Mark D Comp Sec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Mark / Charles Thank you both, but Caterham Parts tell me that it needs to be a 1991 - 1994 vintage. Even the 94-96 are unlikley to be narrow buttress, and post-96 defintely won't fit ☹️ I'm not techy enough to know if a solution can be bodged on this, but it doesn't sound hopeful. Thanks again guys. Tam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 If its failed at the buttress then I would suggest that any competent welder should be able to repair it, there is a lot of metal in that area. Also welded repairs on the other parts are not impossible if done properly Edited by - Graham Perry on 14 Jun 2006 16:02:21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Howe Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Tam I have just had to have mine replaced... having looked at the problem area on the out going tube I have to agree with Graham, that there is more than enough material in that area to allow for it to be repaired by welding. JH Deliveries by Saffron, the yellow 230bhp Sausage delivery machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Thanks guys. Michael is going home via James Whiting's this evening to see where its cracked and how badly. A weld may be a good temp fix for the holiday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irrelevant Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Mark: I'd be interested in your old DeDion if Michael/Tam decide they don't want it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted June 15, 2006 Author Leadership Team Share Posted June 15, 2006 Thanks All. I've just been to James Whitings and for the 1991 chassis it looks like there's no way that a wide buttress later model would fit. Thanks for all your offers - I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that Caterham come through. Having spoken to most 7 repair outfits, it looks like they all have De Dion tubes on back order :-( Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Payne Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 Michael - Have you tried asking some of the race teams, like McMillan or Hyperion? They normally hold DeDion tubes as the racers break them, but they might not have any narrow ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted June 15, 2006 Author Leadership Team Share Posted June 15, 2006 This is the problem. According to Caterham, the Narrow Buttress version was fitted to all cars from 1990-1993 and some cars from 1993-1996. The race support guys all look after more recent cars ☹️ Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrigsby Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 Ermm I don't want to cause confusion but I have a 1992 dedion car and have managed to break the dedion twice, the first time it was replaced with one 2nd hand from a 1999 SLR the second time it was replaced with another second hand one from a K race car so I don't understand why a current vintage dedion tube won't fit?? What does the "narrow buttress" bit mean?? Rob G www.SpeedySeven.com Edited by - rgrigsby on 15 Jun 2006 19:16:52 Edited by - rgrigsby on 15 Jun 2006 19:28:02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted June 15, 2006 Author Leadership Team Share Posted June 15, 2006 I believe that it's down to the different versions of A Frame used and that the butress (the triangular protrusion on the tube to which the A frame is mounted) comes in narrow or wide. Happy to take any input from anyone else... Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnty Lyons Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 *idea*WARNING *thumbdown* Be very very casrefull with a welded repair been there done that ☹️ ☹️ ☹️ When the de-dion splits at the shocker mount it starts to deflect and the rear tracking goes out ☹️ ☹️ ☹️ Unless you have a jig to set the end plates ARCH you will NEVER get it right *confused*and you will have not only handling problems but severe rear tyre wear., *mad* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrigsby Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 Hmm intereseting, could you take a picture with a ruler in it or maybe just some measurements? and I can compare with mine which I know works with the later tubes. Rob G www.SpeedySeven.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molecular--Bob Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 And just to add confusion, my A-frame isn't. It is two seperate lateral links . My car is a '91 dd. Any one else got this. I ordered a replacement and got a regular A-frame that doesn't look to be wide enough at the chassis end and looks too narrow at the tube end.Will know for sure on Sat, when i try to bolt it all together. but what do i ask for if it doesnt fit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted June 15, 2006 Author Leadership Team Share Posted June 15, 2006 Bob - I have exactly the same - I balieve that for a limited period, Caterham made the "A" frame without the cross part. I understand that a regular upgrade was to have the 3rd tube retrofitted. Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 Michael Could you fit a later type De Dion tube with a matching A-frame 🤔 Mark D Comp Sec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 Only if it has the drop down version, i think. R500 Mango Madness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 For future reference, I have been stockpiling post '96 de diob tubes. I have 3 at present. I have also previouslyfitted a wide butress dd tube to a narrow buttress car. You have to run a very low ride height by using the wrong damper mounts and the car understeers a lot... For emergencies it doew work though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now