. 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