TWiR 1986 S3 TWR

[KiwiDave]

Well,I guess it's been a while. I know this because I had to go all the way to Page 2. For seems to have been the longest time, TWiR has been shivering away in the workshop looking mostly like this



It started off with a set of shiny red Racing Beat springs to fit. My tame garage buddy quite likes working on the car when he's not doing some Ford related project. The conversation is usually along the lines of ..." While you have this apart, you should do this, that and the other".

Now, this, that and the other will most probably involve removing something which does not want to be removed and also probably breaking something. This does not faze him at all. "If something breaks, we'll deal with it then..."





EEEK


ARRRGH






We should do those ball joints!


The arms didn't resist too much but the ball joints were a mission. We tried every breaker bar and torque gun. Then the air gun. Nope. So off next door to a bigger compressor.
I had to go crate diving for a pair of ball joints I'd bought off EBay US for not much at all several years ago. Listed for a CB 626 but the same part number.



A grease nipple included


Shiny new grease application device required

[ian65]

Nice work Dave... there can't be many original frozen fasteners left on your car now!I remember when I had my old ball joints pressed out, man they took some pressure.

[Hobbawobba]

Nice work aye bro. Do people tend to put a couple of tack welds on the ball joints when replacing? Those damn headlight washer bottles are SO BIG!!!!!

[ian65]

Nice work aye bro. Do people tend to put a couple of tack welds on the ball joints when replacing? Those damn headlight washer bottles are SO BIG!!!!!

I didn't weld mine but lots of people do. I suppose it depends how tight a fit they are.... mine needed one of the biggest workshop presses in the Midlands to press them out and back in so I was pretty confident they wouldn't move... a couple of tacks of weld wouldn't hurt though just to be on the safe side.... don't want to put too much heat into them though.

[KiwiDave]

Those damn headlight washer bottles are SO BIG!!!!!

I've pretty much given up on mine. Took it out, inserted a new motor and then that would not work either. So I'll just leave the bloody thing and work around it. I'm thinking aftermarket washer bottle kit mounted somewhere else and dedicated switch.

[KiwiDave]

Front shock inserts


Gland nut was very stubborn. Tried all manner of unsuitable removal devices and then got sensible with a stillson wrench.




The front springs went in and then upon inspection, the top mounts didn't seem so hot.

[KiwiDave]

Nice work Dave... there can't be many original frozen fasteners left on your car now!I remember when I had my old ball joints pressed out, man they took some pressure.

I'm sure there are more than enough frozen bolts and nuts still in there Ian.

We managed to press the old ones out 'in house' with a Machine Mart press. The pressure gauge is FUBAR but the thing was working hard.

[Casey]

Some great progress there Dave. Assuming shows are back late spring (says he hopefully), do you reckon you'll have it all finished?

[spirit r]

You will just win the hill race this year, Dave. Such an improvement in suspension upgreat.
"Quick Dave"

[KiwiDave]

Some great progress there Dave. Assuming shows are back late spring (says he hopefully), do you reckon you'll have it all finished?

It's really just a case of unfinished bits. You may remember Andy Tappenden? He changed out the suspension bushes many years ago but a few got left because I couldn't source them at the time and it was a pig of a job for him.
There's the upper arms and drop link / sway bar bushes at the rear. I ordered the stuff from RockAuto last week and it only took a few days to get here. They should be back in by the weekend and I need to book a MOT as the extension has now run out.
I need to decide if I'm brave enough to remove the rear spoiler. There's nastiness waiting under there for sure!