My New Toy

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:14

I made really good progress on the installs but it took longer than I planned. Old cars are a pain to work on sometimes. I finished the bearings and brakes all the way around.

I now have new outer bearing for the rear and new inner and outer bearings for the front. I also have seals front and rear and Royal Purple oil in rear. The brake rotors are replaced both front and rear as well as new wheel studs for the front rotors. The pads and hardware are new all the way around and the front are Hawk HPS pads. Stainless steel brake lines and speed bleeders are now installed all the way around. The ball joints are replaced as well and I would say that was probably the hardest part of the project.

I still have to replace the tie rod ends, pitman arm, and idler arm. The OMP still needs to be rebuilt as well. I plan to get this done this Friday. When I get this all done I plan to rebleed the brakes one more time.

Website · Postby **Shadowden** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:14

Weere the stainless steel brake lines a kit or did you build them yourself? I haven't bled car brakes yet. Seems like something you would want to get right the first time.

Big difference with the Hawk pads?

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:14

Shadowden wrote:Weere the stainless steel brake lines a kit or did you build them yourself? I haven't bled car brakes yet. Seems like something you would want to get right the first time.

Big difference with the Hawk pads?

The stainless steel brake lines were a kit. The cost $95 for all 5 lines. I actually had these from my old car. I wouldn't trust custom making something like brake lines.

I like the hawk hps pads. Like most performance pads, they are a little weak the first time you hit them but once the heat up a little they stop on a dime.

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:14

It looks like tomorrow will be a great day to get this car done. So new steering, OMP rebuild and rebleeding the brakes is going to happen. I'm hoping to take it in for an alignment either tomorrow or Saturday.

Website · Postby **Shadowden** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:14

RX-7 Chris wrote:It looks like tomorrow will be a great day to get this car done. So new steering, OMP rebuild and rebleeding the brakes is going to happen. I'm hoping to take it in for an alignment either tomorrow or Saturday.

Good luck with finishing off the installation of the rest of your parts. Should be a good time! (not sure what an OMP is...going to google)

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:14

Oil Metering Pump. It injects oil directly onto the rotors.

Website · Postby **Shadowden** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:14

Speedjunkie>Google!

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:14

I might have to use that as my sig LOL. Aaaaand that's probably the last time I'll ever see that haha.

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:14

haha eric.

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:14

The steering is done. I had a hard time getting the old pitman arm off. I tried heat, a hammer, puller, ext. on Friday. I almost broke my puller. I ended up letting it sit over night with PB Blaster on it. Saturday morning I put the puller in it and it popped right off.I finished the car around noon on saturday. I didn't get the OMP done because the wind was crazy all weekend. It hit 70+ MPH and I desided to not do the OMP when the wind was making the car sway on the jack stands.

I took the car to goodyear to have it aligned. They did a fairly good job. I'm going to have to take it back because it is pulling slightly to the left. Overall I'm very happy with the car. The steering is tight, the brakes are working great, and no more vibration or bearing noise.

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:14

I picked up a fender of the weekend to replace my bent one. The fender is rust and dent free but it is red so I'm going to have to wait to install it.

I took the car in for an alignment Saturday the 12th. After the alignment the car seems to pull to the left. I took it back in and he drove it 2 times. The car seems to drive straight sometimes and all of a sudden it will start to pull only to go straight again. it seems to pull 90% of the time. I have the print out and the guy seems to know what he is talking about. He has the car dialed in correctly. He doesn't think the problem is the alignment because of the pulling not being consistent. His only thought is maybe the gear box is binding. I've added more oil to the box since the alignment and that didn't change anything.

I've had the car for just over a year and have not tighted the box. The steering isn't sloppy at all. My only other thought is maybe the front control arm bushings and stay rod bushings are bad enough to cause the problem.

Does anyone have any ideas about this?

erod550 · Postby **erod550** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:14

Probably a dumb question, but are your tire pressures even?

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:14

tires are good and I've tried swapping the wheels front to rear with no change. What is weird is that the car with go straight sometimes and than pull. I posted it on RX-7 Club and someone was saying it could even be a bushing in the rear causing the rear to turn slightly. I'm going to have to look over everything this weekend.

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:14

I figured out the problem today. I first checked the ball joints to see if I over tightened. They were good. I had my wife wiggle the steering back and forth while I was under the car. The problem turned out to be the stay rod. The alignment guy didn't tighten the bolt on the back side when he adjusted it. Why do I even bother trying to trust an alignment guy to do his job right. Now I need to take it back in to have it rechecked because it is pulling to the left. At least it isn't changing from pulling to going straight.

kingtut · Postby **kingtut** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:14

Glad to hear you found the problem Mr. Chris. At least you have the know-how to locate the alignment guy's mistake. Kudos.

My New Toy

Who is online