Friday, June 19, 2020

Some Small Improvements



Being stuck at home by the dreaded virus has allowed time to create some improvements.

The first (and most expensive) was a complete brake overhaul. The car has always stopped well, but I began to notice some juddering through the pedal with sustained heavy braking, such as the descent of the Toowoomba range.

Pedders (No Bull) did a comprehensive, if expensive job of completely overhauling the system, including replacing both front and rear rotors.

They also aligned all four wheels, and replaced the clutch fluid, jobs which didn't leave much change from $1000.

It's been worth it, as the car is much more pleasant to drive, as a consequence of the alignment settings. The appearance has also been improved by the new rotors.



I had, for a long time, intended to mount a fire extinguisher in the cabin, but hadn't been able to source a decent mount. Eventually I found one for $40 from MX5 Mania, and installed it without too much trouble, although I had to source slightly longer bolts to attach the bracket to the passenger seat mounts.



Finally, the gear lever boot had cracked, so I found a replacement at Automotive Plus in Aspley, and installed it without hassles. You'll note the re-covered gear lever knob, which cost me $50 at a local bootmaker.

I'm still trying to source a factory cruise control from the USA, but no luck so far.
Watch this space.