Rubber components degrade over time and as my 348 is 12 years old, I'll be replacing them over Christmas. I'm replacing the following. - Brake pipes - Coolant hoses (with silicon hoses) - Suspension bushes (with OEM rubber ones) Is there anything else I should change as well? I read somewhere that rubber components in the steering wheel should be replaced as well.
Sy there is also the engine mounts that can go. But its hard to tell unless they are removed. They just sit there all split ready to fall to bits when ya remove the engine or allow the engine to rock when cornering. Also arnt the brake hoses on the 348 braided? If not is there a braided steel hose set for them? This will give ya a firmer pedel over rubber ones. Isnt there also radiator mounting bushes? As well as checking all ya drive shaft and steering rack gators, which often go. I will be changing my steering rack gators during the next few months while the spiders layed up. As well as the brake duckting, and new undertray/ground FX. Other things to look for are the rubber boots that cover the end of the wireing in the hot engine bay that also split or perrish.
You've got rubber fuel filler hoses going to the gas tank, some rubber drain hoses in various places, rubber/silicon door/window/top/bonnet seals, and rubber boots covering the bearings at the ends of the axle half-shafts. If you can find some transparent coolant hoses that can handle the heat/pressure/chemicals, then you might consider going with those so that you'll always be able to easily see the condition of your coolant (e.g. not brown) as well as any air bubbles in the lines (to let you know that you need to bleed the system). This man may be able to help in such a quest: [email protected] http://www.newageindustries.com
