:: Wednesday, June 6, 2018 ::
The UNF Locknuts arrived today so it's back to the car!
I put the nut on the bottom balljoint and start to tighten it up - but the whole ball is turning in the joint. So I stick a jack under it so that the weight of the car helps to hold it in place - except it doesn't, the car weight is mainly supported by the lower wishbone so it doesn't add much weight to the balljoint taper.
So... remembering my dad's old trick of "a bit of rope and a bar to use as a tourniquet", I wrap a ratchet strap a couple of turns around the hub carrier and the bottom wishbone, and tighten it till I can't tighten it any more without breaking it, or my fingers (whichever breaks first). That does the trick - locknut on and tightened!
On to the brakes: I fit the brake disc and then the calliper bracket, and bolt it in place.
Then I fit the calliper and brake pads in place for now, and connect up the brake hose through the hub bracket - remove the plug I had fitted, push the hose through the bracket and slip on the locknut, and then fit the brake line to the hose and tighten that too before too much fluid escapes.
Then I can tighten the pinch bolt holding the brake hose bracket in place.
Next step is to fit the calliper slide bolts with a 7mm allen key.
Then I fit the track rod end to the steering arm. Done!
I bleed the brake with a vacuum pump, and then start the engine and press the pedal - seems ok!
Refit the wheel, lift the car down off the axle stands and the jobs a good un!
Then I spend ages tidying away tools - I'm not a tidy worker and everything gets left where I last used it, so I need to tidy up because my memory can no longer remember where stuff was last used!
Now to book another MOT and hope it doesn't fail on something else - I'm well out of "free re-test" time!
:: Thursday, June 14, 2018 ::
Bit of a delay getting the TVR in for its MOT, as I've been busy with other stuff - partly to sort out the Range Rover. Its autobox has been a wee bit juddery under acceleration recently (erm... maybe 9 months worth of "recently") and the Land Rover dealer suggests a replacement autobox, which involves a general anaesthetic and open wallet surgery.
The wee independent guy who services the car suggested a "mega flush" by a guy in Edinburgh. Nothing to lose, so I booked it in for yesterday. It cost £280 but the autobox is like new...
It also needs 4 new tyres (booked for tomorrow) and a service and MOT (booked for Monday).
Anyway, back to the TVR... I have it booked in for today, so I take it along bright and early, after a half-hour Italian tune-up to clear its tubes. After the normal check of lights, etc, he sends me back to the waiting room while he does the rest. It's a pass! I drive back home from the garage, with another Italian tune-up just for giggles.
So that's it's 16th MOT pass with the same tester!
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