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Getting Intimate with your Spridget

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DesertSprite

Jedi Warrior
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So I just spent the entire day doing a brake job on the Sprite. I'm so inept at this that it took me almost 4 hours to do just the front discs. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I spent the better half of the day trying to figure out how to get the caliper piston to compress...finally went to Sears and bought the little tool which doesn't really fit in the cramped Sprite calipers. And proceeded to bust the little rivet holding the swivel head on the thing. Oh well. Finally got everything put back together, took it for a spin and all is well. So far.

I don't think I've been covered with so much brake fluid. Of course it was great entertainment for my Wife. When I work on the car, she just goes shopping. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Anyway, don't you just love spending a weekend afternoon pulling the car halfway apart, feeling that you'll never get it put back together before the work week? Of course, then there's that feeling once you actually do get it all sorted out. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

Then you break out the brewskis.

Joel
 
Joel,

BTDT. I've found that the key to getting the pistons to compress is to apply the force as perpendicular to the surface of the cylinders as possible. I had a heck of a time with the pistons on my TR4 a couple of months ago. I was trying to use a "C" clamp, and ended up bending the thing! I finally managed to figured out a way to use the old pad and the "C" clamp, and had them going in fairly easily. I hope I can remember how I did it next time! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Good for you Joel!
And don't feel bad if it seems to take a bit of extra time...that's part of "the game" (and if you can do this type of work, you're more "ept" than 99% of car owners.

I spent the last few days trying to work our my rear brakes and the never-ending "gear oil on the brake shoes problem" (common in race-Sprites). At one point, I hit my thumb with a hammer causing it to bleed while it was covered with brake fluid and gear-oil. Oh joy!
I use a small, wooden, double-screw woodworkers clamp to compress most calipers, although on the race car, I often just use a large screwdriver
 
Joel, try to avoid hitting the thumb with hammer. We all have one of those stories, though. I've found a good ale will help the thumb thing, maybe it was the cause?
 
Well I managed to avoid hitting my thumb with a hammer, but when I went to loosen one of the bleed nuts (which felt like it hadn't been loosened in a decade) it gave-way real quick causing me to slam my hand into the edge of the fender well. The left a nice little bruise/gash right on the thumb joint. Proper care and treatment? India pale ale.

Next weekend I'll tackle the rear brakes. I'd like to flush out the whole system, but I think I'll wait on that until I put in braided brake lines.

I also got a nice good look at all the rubber bushings on the front end. They definitely need replacing. Pretty sure cracked and dirt coated bushings are no good for proper suspension operation...and they squeak like heck.

Isn't that funny? You get in there and take care of some maintenance only to discover 10 other things you need to spend money on. That's always fun trying to justify it to the Wife.

Joel /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Justification: Your continued safety!

Well done, man. Next time it'll take half as long. Start piling up the parts and do the whole bushings/braided lines thing at the same time. You're managing well.
 
i got tired of growing new knuckles...now i wear a big thick glove for busting loose bolts! ; ) ..works great..zzimmmmy
 
You guessed right Dr. I'm planning on purchasing some polyurethane bushings for the front end along with those braided lines. Hopefully by the end of the summer it'll all be sorted out. Might even repack the bearings.

I got a pair of old reef diving gloves left over from living in Honolulu that I think are going to be drafted into LBC service. That and I need to find a place that sells nitrile/laytex gloves on the cheap.

Joel
 
If you find a good way to stop the "lube on the brakes" thing. let me know. I don't race mine, but last year had a little trouble with this. Rebuilt My whole brake system over the winter. Do not know if I have solved the problem or not. With all the rain we have had I have not driven the car to much. I am going to try and go to Beaver Run for your race. Maybe I will see you there.

Carl
 
The rear seals are are a great great area for leaks. The only advise I can give is clean clean clean then clean again before you install them. The seal and the O ring are kind of obvious but the paper gasket needs a bit of sealer when it is installed.
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you find a good way to stop the "lube on the brakes" thing. let me know......I am going to try and go to Beaver Run for your race. Maybe I will see you there.
Carl

[/ QUOTE ]

Carl:

My run at BeaveRun will be the first trial of my latest sealing effort. I've got my fingers crossed that it is solved (I hope, since I'm running a two-hour enduro and two 20-lap sprint races).
There is a racer's trick that involves pulling the diff and pressing seals way down into the axle housing from the center, that I will try if all else fails (if you do this, the wheel bearing don't get any gear oil lube and must be greased regularly).
And who knows? Maybe my thumb will be healed by then! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

If you come to the Beaver, don't forget to stop by #11.
 
I've known fellas to use two seals at the ends, one facing each way. Can't see that'd help any better tho: Same problem with the bearing getting less-than-adequate oil.
 
Yeah...I got a whole handful of little rubber seals that came in the VicBrit brake package that I ordered. Not exactly sure where they go. Haven't done the rear brakes yet...so...maybe that's where they belong.

Are these what you guys could be talking about?

Joel
 
Little rubber seals? One large rubber seal goes around the axle, cup side in, important. One rubber seal/o ring goes in slot in rear bearing hub, gasket goes between axle and bearing hub.

Now that said, look at your Moss or VB catalog and see how it goes, that is correct for a Bugeye and must be same for all spridgets. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
Wasn't it nice of the designers to put a weep hole and a cute little trough under the Sprite hub?

(So they can pee on your rims)

[ QUOTE ]

If you come to the Beaver, don't forget to stop by #11.

[/ QUOTE ]
Are you going to the 3/4 June thing?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Are you going to the 3/4 June thing?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep.

I have to go...I'm the RaceChair (In EMRA this *really* means that I'm the guy who makes sure the beer gets there...a critical job!).
I think you contacted our F&C guy, Kevin, to flag (am I right?). If so, cool. I'll see you there.
I'm running both days with #11.....I'll try not to spill any axle-lube near your flag-station. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'm the guy who makes sure the beer gets there...a critical job!

[/ QUOTE ]

Beer is critical to the proper maintenance of classic automobiles, as well as to the job of being a spectator at a motorsports event.

Your job is on par with national defense, the common good and preservation of the peace.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

Joel
 
[ QUOTE ]

I think you contacted our F&C guy, Kevin, to flag (am I right?).

[/ QUOTE ]
Kevin Lindenmuth is the one that contacted me about F&C.

I have never flagged for EMRA before so I'll have a few questions for him when I get there.

BTW....I drink wine /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif & I BYOB(ottle)
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have never flagged for EMRA before so I'll have a few questions for him when I get there.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh wine is fine! (But beer is dear!)

I'm sure Kev will be able to answer all your questions, but basically, our flagging is the same as SCCA.
And we do not have a 13/13 rule (yet).
An outline of our flagging process can be found here:

https://www.emraracing.org/emra_flagging.htm

If you need a schedule for the day, go to this link and click on "BeaveRun(event schedule)"

https://www.emraracing.org/Emraeven.htm

Oh and Joel, sorry to hijack your thread....you're welcome to come to our event....it's only about 3000 miles from you! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
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