1987 Testarossa suspension and brake refresh. TR #71387

Well I took one shock apart when I got home. Turns out the spring compressor I ordered was a few inches too short when the spring is fully extended. So it shot the bottom clamp of one of the compressors down a hill when it ran out of threads. I am so happy I did that outside.

So....... I have a 5" longer compressor set coming in on Friday. Not my finest moment, but I got one apart and didn't break anything.

But to let everyone know the Koni sticker is 1.4"x1.4".
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I am still deciding if I want Koni to rebuild them or not. The first one didn't feel too bad, but it had been 30 years. So I will ask them for a quote. I wish I had a press to take them apart with. Sadly I don't have the space for one. For now the spring compressor works.

 

I spoke with Performance Shock Inc in Sonoma CA. They can rebuild, sandblast and paint, and press in my bushings for about $260 each. That is pricey but I only want to do this once. So I will strip down my shocks and see if they need rebuilding. It's a 3-4 week turnaround time currently.

The costs are adding up, but I need to do this right and fix it the first time.

 

Thank you everyone for the support. I feel like I have a true collection of fans now.
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Note: Those aren't my fans.

 

Yea I need to get around to that. I'll do it when I get home.
I wish that I had picked a different username, but oh well.

 

I have sent out my master cylinder and a brake line to Karps power brakes to be rebuilt. They will rebuild the unit and make 4 rubber brake likes. Eta is about 10 days.

I did not know that they are adjustable. I will research them once I get home. If I can rebuild them easily then it could be fun to do.

Yea working outside isn't the best, but I needed room around the car to take it apart and to sand off the rust. It has been in the 65 to 75 degree range and sunny. So it has been pretty nice. I have been looking for a workshop or a large garage to rent around me. So if anyone has any leads, I am open to them.

 

Because I like lists, here is a picture of my current Excel list of everything left to do. I am still adding more to it as I think of it. It's a slow process but it's coming along.
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Like everything Ferrari related, I am going to go way over budget. Spoke with a shock guy here at work and he says that I should rebuild mine. So I'll be shipping them off to get them rebuilt. I was quoted about $500 a shock to make them brand new, replating hardware, painting, powder coat springs, press in new bushings. So I'll be spending $3000 on that it seems. That is the max price I could pay, it could be a little less, though not by much.

I have to keep telling myself that I have to do this right, and only do it once.

 

The shock people said that they could completely rebuild everything to a like new state. A new shock alone is $500 and that doesn't include cleaning up the hardware and spring. I will research the shocks some more. I will take them apart and inspect the for issues. But tomorrow I am going hiking, so no update then. I will be working on cutting the suspension bushings out on Sunday.

 

I want to be open about this whole process. I want to show people he work that can be done, how much it should cost and the work performed by shops. My car is a 1987 with 60,xxx miles on it. I plan on fixing everything slowly over time.

 

That makes sense. This car may have seen some track use by a previous owner. So zip tying air ducting to the brakes would make sense for them to do. I won't rush out and get new tubing then.

 

No real update from this weekend. I painted the front swaybar brackets. I also tried removing some bushings with very little success. So if anyone has tips, or can help be please let me know.

 

Time for an update. I received my brake calipers back today from pmb brakes. The one that I pulled out of the box looks great. Two others are still being shipped but I received two. Can't wait to put them on.

I received my front brake rotors today, I figured that I should put new rotors on it.

I also bought a vibratory polisher, so I have been testing it out on some parts to see how well it works. Seems to be doing a decent job. I'm impatient, so I need to learn to let it run for a few hours.
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