Bianco Fuji CS Spider Project

Very nice indeed!

 

One of my winter projects is to refresh the tired suspension parts. Top of the list were the ball joints - I was informed by a previous owner that the lower joints were changed under warrenty when he bought the car in 2005 with 9k on the clock (replaced with the crappy OEM joints). The upper joints were replaced by Shiltech with Hill's stainless ones in 2010.

Here's the state of the lower ones - they don't look too bad with a small amount of pitting and corrosion and I've certainly seen a lot worse. However, there was play that could be felt by hand so they had to go.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

The first problem I encountered was that I didn't have a suitable socket to press them out with - so I decided to make my own from an offcut of alu.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

A little turning on the lathe...

Image Unavailable, Please Login

And here's the finished item next to a brand new Hill joint:

Image Unavailable, Please Login

I also turned down the rest of that offcut to help with the shock bush (more later).

Image Unavailable, Please Login

And I made a tool to press out the upper joints just in case I need one in the future...

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

To press it out I used the tool I made, a big socket and my 60 year old vice.. plus a little heat to break the glue bond.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

The old circlips needed to be removed from the boots...

Image Unavailable, Please Login

... and installed in the arm to prevent the glue from getting in the slots.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

I used the correct Hysol glue (bought from Hill).

Image Unavailable, Please Login

Image Unavailable, Please Login

I didn't want to use up a nozzle as I was only doing one joint at this moment in time so mixed the glue on a bit of clean cardboard.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

And applied to both the joint and arm. I put far too much on - in the future I will use less and warm it up so it spreads more easily. The glue dissolves in isopropyl alcohol so the excess was easily mopped up.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Joint in...

Image Unavailable, Please Login

...and boots on. I left the arm in my low bake oven* overnight to set.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

[size=-2]*I haven't really got a low bake oven (yet) but simply put the arm in my airing cupboard which contains both the hot water cylinder and boiler so it's very useful for drying/setting stuff - much to the dismay of my other half.[/size]

 

My lower shock bushes were totally shot. These were able to be pressed out with a 22mm impact socket but I used the machined alu ring I made to sit against the shock itself as there is hardly any material at the bottom.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

I bought the Superformance pattern bushes - guess which one is going back in!

Image Unavailable, Please Login

The inside of the shock was amazingly clean..

Image Unavailable, Please Login

And here's the new bush installed in the shock.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks mate. Yes I am most likely to change the arm bushes. Powerflex didn't come through but I saw some kevlar GT2 bushes the other day (the guy needs to find the lower ones). I'm also waiting to see the Superformance bushes before making a decision.

Thank you!

 

I managed to grab a few mins in the garage today - I wanted to take a look at the anti-roll bar on the corner I've got stripped down.

The drop link came off very easily. There wasn't much play to be felt but the boots were split so it will be renewed.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

The main bush is inside a cast alu mount attached to the subframe by two 13mm bolts. I coated the bar with some PTFE spray to help with the removal.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

Despite being able to get it past the first turn it was impossible to manoeuvre past the second turn. I eventually prised out the rubber bush slightly which gave me enough play to get it off.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

He's the mount and bush as it came off the car and shows how much I had to prise the bush out.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

The bush came out with a small tap of the hammer on a suitable socket. It doesn't look too bad but for the price of the replacement it will be changed.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

The end of the bar itself was corroded. Ideally I'd remove the whole bar and get it shot blasted and powder coated. I don't have the space to get it out at the moment so the job will have to wait until I get my proper workshop.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

In the meantime I ground the area down with a sanding drum on the dremel.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

And then gave it a good coat of rust remedy. I will give it a coat of case paint once the new bush has been installed.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

The rubber bush is split so I plan to install it on the bar first and then push the mount over the top of it.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how different it drives after this refresh.

 

Have you got the CS flamblocs in your car? I'm more than happy to help you with your car if you need a hand mate.

Sometimes it's fun - sometimes it isn't... but I bet you all about that Enrique!

 

I received new ARB bushes and drop links today for front and rear. Big thanks to Steve @ Joe Macari - I ordered these at 3:30pm on Tuesday and they hit my desk at 10am today (Fri).
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Sadly, I get mild eczema on my hands in the winter so it's there for me!

 

I got some more garage time today. First up was to put the two flamblocs back together that I dismantled to see how they were made.

The dogbones are held in place with an external circlip. As you can see, the circlips I removed were bent and distorted - they shouldn't be reused. Ferrari don't list the circlips seperately so I headed down to a local engineering supplier, Fiveways Belts and Bearings, in Eltham and bought some 18mm and 20mm external circlips - they were a perfect fit.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Next up was to fit a new track rod end to the offside. I had replaced the nearside one back in May when play was detected at the HR Owen open day. The offside TRE didn't have any play but the bot was torn and the joint very loose. Seeing all the effort I'm going to it seemed churlish not the switch it out.

I always lube the threads with copperslip to make future adjustments easier - as long as the locknut is done up properly it shouldn't have any adverse affects. Once I'm done with the suspension refresh I will get it to Wheels in Motion and have Tony check the settings.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I then turned my attention to the nearside. First out was the drop link - I was disspointed to see it had been fitted without one of the washers and since they are a seperate part number I will have to order one!
Image Unavailable, Please Login