September 6, 2003

Day 3

EDIT: Don't look too closely at the supposed SVA covers on the track rods - they are totally wrong!

So, back from holiday and the build can progress more quickly hopefully! My ECU, batter master switch key cover, assembly guide, windscreen stantion screws and gear selector had all arrived, as had my deep imperial sockets from machine mart and my 7/32" bit and bit holder. Unfortunately I'd ordered the wrong size bit holder though :-(.

Started by undoing all of the LHS front suspension so that I could check it and put copper slip on everything. Put on both sides with dampers and uprights in around 2 hours! Getting the top ball joint in is a real pain and I had to jack up the suspension to compress the spring and stand on the ball joint so that it gripped whilst I did it up. If you have an F-clamp then you could probably do it more elegantly - but I don't. I also adjusted the springs (I have adjustable platforms) to their most soft to help the compression.

I'd torqued the upper and lower upright bolts as it specifies in the manual (54Nm bottom/61Nm top) but the uprights seemed a bit tight. Oh well, time to move on and fit the ARB. Managed to break one of the balls by overtightening it so that put's an end to finishing the suspension until I've got a new one from Caterham.

Got the steering rack in and attached the rod ends to the uprights, but not before cutting the wrong piece of sleeving thinking it was the SVA cover. The manual says the SVA cover is in the SVA bag but it was actually on the rod end bolt! Another mail to Caterham.

The steering now seems really tight and I don't think it's right but time to go to a wedding.

5 hours today, 7 hours total.

Posted by charles at September 6, 2003 12:45 PM