I'm baaaack!

[garion]

So after a rather eventful summer, and several different projects on the Spider, I finally got her back up and drivable...

So initially, I did the typical timing belt stuff... Then it was to fix up the steering, where I replaced most of it (steering box, center link, tierods, and idler..).. Then I moved onto the brakes.. I ended up buying a rebuilt front driver caliper, and SS braided lines, some new brake lines, new rear brake T and compensator.. So all thats replace.. Finally got all that in and buttoned up today...

Since the car sat so long, it took forever to get her started.. As soon as fuel hit the carb, she fired right up..

Take her for a short drive..... The alignment I did by hand, well, it pulls left.. Ok, I'll get it professionally done.. Then the brakes pull to right..I suspect that I may need more brake bleeding, but I can deal with that...

Next up, the driveshaft rebuild kit I bought.. guido, bearing and ujoints.. I found a local tuner shop that might be able to help be press the bearing on.. Might have them do the alignment too..

After that, a new exhaust (maybe the AR performance exhaust? Will that fit a 79?).. Mine currently has holes.. Then I can start on the cosmetics...

Its been a long adventure, but at last I see the end of the tunnel..

[azruss]

You picked a helleva day to go for a test drive. Hope you didnt drown. I took the spider out late morning and made it back to the garage about 10 minutes before a downpour.

[4uall]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVS3WNt7yRU

[garion]

Yeah, I went inbetween the storms.. Plus I'm further south (Maricopa), and we didnt get quite as much.. I only went for a mile or two, considering the alignment and brakes, and well, wet roads... Probably next weekend I'll bleed the brakes again.. Now that it below 100, its not as bad..

[garion]

Had a weekend day free to do some work... I'm still trying to figure out the brakes... So what I decided to do is take the calipers off, and make sure that they were lubed up... The rear two were painted, including the slides (damn PO)... So I clean the paint off with some sandpaper, and lubed them up... The front driver caliper was already replaced by me, so I know that was lubed... So onto the front passenger... It wasn't painted like the rest of them were... I don't think this thing had been lubed since Carter was in office... So I lube it up.. All brakes back together..

Braking is much more consistent, but still pulls left, it actually pulls the steering wheel... And now the front passenger is grinding (didn;t notice that before..).. And there's a grnding in the front passenger.. So I suspect I need a new caliper there..

Another week.. Good news that she starts right up each time

[baltobernie]

What's with the mosquitoes out there? Little buggers, too; impossible to see.

[garion]

Bah... My house in NY was next to a swamp (literally, my back property line was the swamp).. I barely even know we have mosquitos here..

[garion]

Got a new passenger caliper installed today.. The old one was definitely FUBAR.. I should have paid more attention when I took it off in the past, as it was pretty damn obvious it was toast. The outside boot was gone, and there was a bunch of red rubbery sealant like stuff around, like they tried to fix it that way.. Anyhow... Its replaced now, and bled..

I also tweaked the alignment with the string method, getting it dialed in.. Also tightened the steering up..

Brakes are *much* better, consistent.. And she travels straight now.. But when I step on the brake, she pulls left.. Not nearly as bad as it was, but still pulls.. I wonder if its just cause I'm a large guy (270lbs)... But at least now, i feel she's safe enough to take on some trips..

Another thing I did: Reversed my dizzy... Mine was adjusted so that it pointed nearly straight up, which was causing the wires to rub on the insulation... So... I swapped 4 and 1, and 2 and 3, and rotated the cap 180... Works like a champ, and no more rubbing..

[azruss]

Pulling while braking comes from only a couple of things. First and foremost, your brakes are not applying equal force on each rotor. Easiest way to check this is with an infra-red gun. Make sure you are aiming it at the same location on all rotors. The alignment being off will cause this, but you should also feel it without the brakes as well. If you have worn front suspension bushings or tie rod ball joints they will cause pulling under braking as well. Have you checked camber and caster. They do give different setting for laden and un-laden. If you spend most of your time driving alone, you might consider using the laden settings with just you in the car. I wouldnt expect anything more than a microscopic change in braking doing this. I would expect a more obvious change in how it corners left or right. Also, you might want to look at the contact pattern on the rotors to see if there is any obvious difference. I went with new rotors and pads to get mine all true.

[garion]

Well, I just put new rotors in (I had them already), but the pads are older, with tons of meat (might as well be new)..

The car without braking goes straight, or close enough to not matter.. Applying the parking brake (15 mpg or so?), it stops straight, no pull..

When I use the brakes, it definitely pulls left, as in turns the steering wheel.. I could easily see it being the front suspension.. I replaced the tierods (during my steering adventure..), so its not them. The ball joints look like they've been replaced in the past, but as with everything else on this car, it could be suspect... Whats the best way to test the ball joints? I plan on doing the front suspension anyways, I might as well go ahead and do it.. But if the ball joints are bad, I probably dont want to drive the car in the mean time..

As for camber and caster, I haven't adjusted or measured those..

[azruss]

It can be the A-arm bushings as well. Anything that would have play enough to alter the alignment on braking. You may not want to mess with anything until you get the pads broken in. With new rotors and not-new pads, you could have the break in be different. Also did you get your sliders on the caliper all cleaned-up. Also may want to get the calipers to seat again by driving in reverse and slamming on the brakes. Do this a couple of times and see if it helps.