. March 2017
DIARY OF DAVID ARCHDALL ’ S UPGRADE ON HIS ‘ A ’
T his project started back at the
September Register Meeting at Cardnells When Dave was leaving , we could smell petrol , and Dave opened the bonnet which revealed a petrol drip on to his motor . He also had a problem with the rear brakes binding . This was solved with a screwdriver , but the following is diary of his work on the car , brought about initially by the petrol leak .
“ Over the last few months I decided to look at the front end of my MGA as the steering rack boots needed replacement . I bought these in September 2015 , but never got round to installing them . A simple job as we all know . Let the fun begin .
Disconnected the rack from the king pin steering arms and I chanced a look at the rotors as I noticed they were very blue and cracked ; so I then bought new rotors and new brake pads and pistons – oh and a new brake hose for the passenger side . Then I thought there was no point in doing that if I didn ’ t do up the master cylinder as well – so I did . I made up some pullers to remove the whole assembly for left and right hand discs but the inner bearing on both sides was a bugger as it got left behind in both cases . Anyway , got down to the stub axle , then pulled all that stuff off and put in new distance tubes and pins and went right over the whole kingpin assembly which was in good condition – put in all new rubber cups as well . Haven ’ t got to the steering rack boots yet !!! – one front spring was taller than the other , so I got a donated coil from Mr Goode – Very Good Mr . Goode .
While I was there I took off the front shockers and cleaned them all up , repainted them and put them back on . Oh , and I got some new tie rods as well and a rear ( front ) suspension A arm and some new pads and new pad retainer springs . ( I wired them on as Geoff says and I used two pieces of wire on each clip and I was very proud of my effort and specially told Geoff – he told me I only needed one ), I added a new inner bearing seal runner . Then I was in Rod O ’ Malleys and I saw a competition ¾ ” sway bar and I KNEW I NEEDED that
33 Continued overleaf