:: Diary - October 2020 ::

:: Sunday, October 25, 2020 ::

2020 - the year that time forgot.

We've been in lockdown, out of lockdown, back into partial lockdown, can't go anywhere, you can go some places including restaurants, but not restaurants or pubs, just cafes, what's a cafe anyway, meeting people at home until you can't except in the garden but even then only a few at a time...

No car shows, no public gatherings at all, can go where you like though until you can't go outside your own health board area, unless you're a politician in which case you can drive 300 miles to test your eyesight looking at a castle, or get a train to the other end of the country while you're waiting for your Covid test results.

Anyway, the net result is that I think I've used the TVR once for a wee run to myself, the Porsche for one longer run, and then for its MOT, and the Chevy once to give someone a lift (during the free days when this was permitted without threat of execution by media) and twice to go to the shops, and. That's it.

The one thing that's obvious is that the Chevy really needs a garage - the paint is literally falling off it. I'm not re-spraying it then leaving it outside again, especially since I suspect that it will need some metalwork to door bottom etc when the old paint is sanded down.

I've also noticed that the front brakes are sticking slightly - when you brake, the cars steers slightly to the right. This has been getting worse each time I take it out. It's usually only for a few miles then it seems ok. I think that the left-side caliper is maybe sticking "off" slightly and is taking a while to free up - so the right side front brake works, tries to stop that wheel before the left wheel, so the car steers in that direction. I'll need to have a look at that before it gets too bad.

Problem is that the car had drum front brakes originally, and somebody has upgraded them to disk brakes. I have absolutely no idea what parts they have used, so I don't know how to order a new caliper of pads or even a new seal kit, if I need them. I'll take the wheel off and have a look to see if I can find any part numbers, for future reference.

:: Monday, October 26, 2020 ::

I decided to have a look at them there brakes. So first I jack the front of the car up onto stands.

First, I check that both wheels spin freely. Then, with an assistant to press the brake pedal, I turn each front wheel to find out where they "catch" - not seem to the the same. Then press a bit harder to check that they both have the same resistance, then finally, that they both lock up at the same time. Seems to be ok...

Then I take both front wheels off to check what the disks and pads look like.

They look like this! They both seem to be working ok, although they could maybe benefit from a strip and clean.

A bit of online searching shows that they look like the same calipers and brackets etc that are sold as "brake upgrade kits" by Chevy specialists in the in the USA. I narrow it down to a "metric S10" caliper with "D154" pattern pads and 11 inch disks (that's information for me, when I come back to look this up). I don't think I need to change them yet though!

So - it doesn't look like that's the problem... So while the car is in the air, I decide to check all the steering joints. With the same assistant waggling the steering wheel, I feel all the joints, but they seem to be ok - there's maybe a bit of play in the idler arm, I'm not sure, but if there is, it's not too bad.

Every steering joint and suspension ball joint has a grease nipple - there are 12 grease nipples in the front suspension and steering system! I go and dig out the old grease gun that I haven't used for years (I can't even remember what car I might have used it for!) and pump a little grease into each of the nipples that I can reach (it's a big wonky-handled grease gun!).

Next - I check the tightness of all the suspension bolts - I read recently that they can come loose, especially in the lower A-wishbone. They are all ok though.

Last thing - I check the front tyre pressures - there's 7psi difference between left and right - would that make the car steer to the "soft" side when braking? I suppose it depends on the steering geometry eh - and I don't suppose a '57 Chevy has the latest F1 suspension setup. So I pump it back up to the right pressure.

No time to try it out today though, I'll have to wait until there's no rain either.