Mazda-Menders

Some more action shots

saltire-4 by Ian X, on Flickr

Saltire-Pylon by Ian X, on Flickr

Once Dad started on the front end he didn't know when to stop!

IMG_0687[1] by Ian X, on Flickr

We needed to take the front bumper off to fit a grill and there was some rust patches on the towing eyes that was annoying me. The bumper needs some TLC as well as it seems to have collected scratches and chips but I am reluctant to fix those because no doubt it will get scratched again when Dad clouts some more cones.

Window shopping for shocks.

I am afraid the Nevada got turfed out of its comfy garage to let my rumbling 217k mile BMW 330d in. For some reason and I have yet to establish why the driver side rear caliper had worn down the outside pads to the metal and not use anything on the inside! As the caliper just has the 2 slide pins/bolts and can't see how that can happen. Anyway I had to replace the disc as it had been damaged.
The Bar Steward fought us every single nut, bolt and spring! We couldn't get the caliper carrier bolts out and when we damaged the bolt heads putting silly force on them we ended up cutting the carrier off, removing the disc and drilling the bolts out from the front. That was a nightmare of a job but Dad got it done and blunted 6 drills in the process.
BMW calipers by Ian X

Bolts by Ian X

Note how he got the hole right down the middle of the bolt! I think he ended up using a carbide burr when he ran out of HSS drills. Anyone know of a source of cheap carbide drills?

The backplate had rotted away and the shoes had got loose so they were damaged when we got the disc off so I had to order some more. Hopefully reassembly will be much more straightforward than the strip down.
The moral of the tale is to strip your brakes every year to avoid these issues. i have only had the car since september so I am still working on other peopes laziness.

viewtopic.php?f=131&t=4959

M-m

No MX5 updates because the 330d is still hogging the garage! I bought a bunch of parts that don't fit but ebay said that they did. hopefully I can get a new caliper carrier in the next day or two and drive that sucker out!

That article that M-M has is pretty much spot on and it applies to all car brakes

Next job is new discs for the Nevada and handbrake adjustment.

Got the 330d out on the road with half a handbrake as the replacement backplate was taking too long and I needed the car for my new job. To be honest I could have used the MX5 as the weather here in East Scotland has been perfect for topless motoring. While I have been training for my new career Dad fitted new rear discs and got a new set of tyres for his newly painted 15" wheels. He got a deal on 195/50/15 Toyo Proxes. They look the biz on the newly painted and laquered wheels.

New boot on newly painted wheel? by Ian X


Handbrake is still not where we want it. Seems to work well off the ground but lacks the sharpness when on the ground. Any tips?

Hydraulic handbrake is next on the list of things to do as it is essential for the type of events that are going to be planned.

How are you setting the handbrake?
M-m

Haven't got back to it yet. I may get at It tomorrow

New job has been taking all my time so no updates that involved me. Dad has replaced the rear brakes and pads and I took the car out for a wee test run. The handbrake worked fine when I spun it round.
Autosolo next Sunday!

I have been way too busy to get back at the Nevada. I have changed jobs again and I will be working in a brewery from now on. :)
Dad has it ready for the Autosolo at Knockhill tomorrow and i will be giving that a go. I have been told that there are a few MX5s entered and that there is room for a few more. If anyone fancies a go then get there at 9am. Cheap fun for road legal cars as no helmets or suits required.

Come and have a go for 20 quid.

Yesterday's autosolo turned into a MX5 challenge with 1 NA, 3 NBs and a NC.

Life has a way of taking up all your time!

Off tonight to do a road rally up Perthshire way with the Nevada. It has been having some minor issues dealt with. (Leaking expansion tank, squeaky alternator etc). I have been flat out busy with job, college and a sick wife while Dad has had some issues with his back. What the hell!

Geein it laldy tonight!

Been a bit lax with updates.
The navigational rally was a real chore for me as I starting throwing up 30 miles in and puked continuously the rest of the way round. Dad was driving briskly but not near 100% as i couldn't keep track of the slots due to shouting for Huey. We got the correct route but dropped time and that put us out of the good places. The Nevada ran faultlessly and dad said the brakes were superb. The rally started in Dunkeld and wended its way into Angus (very bumpy roads) and then back west into Perthshire. A well organised event from the Saltire rally Club.

We did a Glenrothes MSC autosolo at the Leuchars former RAF base. It is now run by the army and it has huge amounts of room for fun. An army charity was running a Vmax event on the main runway and there was some serious exotica out on that. We did our autosolo and it was a battle between the NBs as the Wilsons had there red 2001 NB out. I am improving and only spun once. (You have to find the limit) A couple of Mclaren owners decided to have a go and it was something seeing those beasts understeering round the cones. Someone remebered to switch on the sport mode and they promptly started spinning. It was a hoot!

Over the winter the Nevada has had a new radiator and some repair work to the front chassis. Just a bit of rust removal and welding.
I have put the entry in for the 2018 saltire targa in March and hopefully we will be a bit faster this year.
There will be 5 autosolos run by my clubs for skidz and i am training up a new navigator for road rallies.

M-m