Battery & Paint

An odd combination, I'll be first to admit!

However I bought a battery, assuming the Freestyle would be designed in mind to take a "Normal" or "Average" car battery, atleast that's what I thought! Not on your nelly! It only takes the mini battery which my local motor factor graciously ordered for me.

Finally though I got round to ordering the front suspension components. I'd decided after a lot of deliberation, I wanted everything adjustable, two reasons, first being that the tie rods & track rod ends were either bent of knackered! The second is that I'm fitting standard mini wheels for now and have not planned anything in the future, so if I'm going to install bigger wheels or go 'Off-roading' in it, I'd like to know that I can compensate for the conditions and/ride etc etc. I'll be doing the same for the rear too!

I stripped the front hubs, thankfully the bearings look & feel in good condition and a little extra grease, they should be good as gold. Can't say the same for the front swivel hub ball joints, one upper and one lower were a combination of rust & grease and therefore extremely pitted. The others looked okay upon inspection, but one was pitted and the others spring had been completely compressed.

Off I went to my local Unipart dealer, who was non plussed to actually have a customer and maybe do some work! (miserable git) After claiming they didn't sell a balljoint repair kit and me insisting they do, he actually checked the computer and said "Oh, we do have them in stock!" (Duh!) Two repair kits later, I now need to dig out the grease gun which is in the bottom of my Uncles garage so I can permanently fit them!

Back to my new bits... They all arrived safely today and I set to and painted all the new and old front suspension and steering components, except the dampers which arrived looking lovely. I like the idea of adjustable dampers, should be interesting adjusting them to find an ideal ride comfort for on-road and off-road! I Still need to aquire some new front calipers but I'm in no rush for those yet since I don't have any tires for my wheels as yet! Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have the complete front suspension fitted?

Master Cylinders & Trunking

For some time now, I've been looking out for a Brake and Clutch Master Cylinder. The ones from the doner were not in tip top condition and I wasn't happy with using them.
I easily found a replacement clutch master cylinder, since nearly all kit car suppliers sell the type that will fit on my buggy, just waiting for clevis & pin to arrive.
Finding a Brake master cylinder was a bit trickier since the buggy uses the dual line type. I could have used the one from the mini donor, but I wasn't happy with having a remote reservoir or it's condition.
I'd read on a club members blog that I could use a Sierra master cylinder, and saw some fitting instructions. However I'd have to do some refabrication to allow it to fit... Ultimately, it wasn't something I was willing to do, since I'd already had the frame powder coated and didn't want to chop into it.
Having scoured the web and eBay, I eventually found the perfect fit. A dual line brake master cylinder originally intended for a Triumph Spitfire.
I redrilled new holes and test mounted the brake master cylinder and also mounted the clutch master cylinder.
Also been thinking a little about protecting the electic cables and clutch/brake pipes, so I bought some electical trunking and test fitted it, seems to look ok so far.