Ready to drive out of the garage... what to check???

[jason61c]

Major milestone in my build

My propshaft has arrived, clutch/gearbox back together, brakes and clutch all bled with no leaks. I've been through the gears on axle stands with no strange noises.

Before I get to the point where I can drive it onto the drive and back in the garage again 3000 times what else should I check before?

[spyder dryver]

Have you put plenty of antifreeze in?

[Milky Bar Kid]

Gearbox and diff oil levels, especially now it's back on it's wheels. Also torque the wheel nuts up properly, along with all the suspension bolts as they will now move about under the weight of the car.

[Frankthered]

You beat me to the wheel nuts comment - I could see a wheel falling off being ... upsetting ?

Enjoy your trips in and out of the garage!

[jason61c]

Its got plenty of anti-freeze in, I'll check all levels and bolts again for good measure. Better make sure its got plenty of fuel in it too!

[Milky Bar Kid]

And even when you have a full tank, go and get a jerry can too. You'd be amazed just how much fuel you can use fannying about blipping the throttle and letting it run up to temp to check everything. And just in case, make sure the steering wheel is attached correctly. I've had mine off to fix the horn contacts and forgot to tighten the bolts up. Thankfully, I hadn't put it back on straight and was a bolt hole round, so had to re-do it anyway, but it was still a bit of a surprise.

[Steve_D]

Milky Bar Kid said:

.........Also torque the wheel nuts up properly, along with all the suspension bolts as they will now move about under the weight of the car.

Re the suspension bolts.
They should not have been tightened when the car was in the air so now it is on the ground go round and loosen them all then tighten them again.

Steve

[D_G]

^^^ +1

[Frankthered]

Steve_D said:

Milky Bar Kid said:

.........Also torque the wheel nuts up properly, along with all the suspension bolts as they will now move about under the weight of the car.

Re the suspension bolts.
They should not have been tightened when the car was in the air so now it is on the ground go round and loosen them all then tighten them again.

Steve

Why's that Steve? I'm puzzled by that one. Is it something to do with bushed joints settling?

[jason61c]

I've got to loosen them all to get the suspension/geometry set-up anyway. the rear wheels are point in slightly differing directions at the minute!

[Paul Drawmer]

Brakes!

Oh and again,

Brakes!

[Steve_D]

Frankthered said:

Steve_D said:

Milky Bar Kid said:

.........Also torque the wheel nuts up properly, along with all the suspension bolts as they will now move about under the weight of the car.

Re the suspension bolts.
They should not have been tightened when the car was in the air so now it is on the ground go round and loosen them all then tighten them again.

Steve

Why's that Steve? I'm puzzled by that one. Is it something to do with bushed joints settling?

If we consider a traditional rubber bushed suspension lower arm where it joins the chassis.

The bush is made up of steel inner and outer sleeves bonded together with rubber. You press fit the outer into the suspension arm and then bolt it into the chassis.
If you tighten that bolt whilst the suspension is in full droop when you lower the car onto its wheels the rubber in the bush will be twisted. As you go over a bump the twist will be even more. Over time this will break the rubber bond in the bush.

If you tighten the bolt when the car is at normal ride height the bush will twist either way with suspension movement but will spend most of its life unstressed.

Poly bushed suspension does not have the same issues as the elements of the bush are not bonded so they can move and find their own resting place. Even so I still don't tighten up until it's on its wheels.

Steve

[jason61c]

Cheers for all the reminders, the above does make sense.

Just got to wait for the snow to clear now

[Frankthered]

Thanks, Steve!

[jason61c]

well it didn't break down on its first 40ft outing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48QIzYpA3Dw

Still loads to do.

[h4muf]

jason61c said:

well it didn't break down on its first 40ft outing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48QIzYpA3Dw

Still loads to do.

Good work Jason!

I even think it looks good on the m3 wheel's

[Yazza54]

Engage brain is always a good one. When I got my libra running I excitedly shot backwards out of the garage, clam wasn't fixed down and heard an almighty scraaaape as it dragged along the floor!!

[thescamper]

Yazza54 said:

Engage brain is always a good one. When I got my libra running I excitedly shot backwards out of the garage, clam wasn't fixed down and heard an almighty scraaaape as it dragged along the floor!!

Beat me to that one.

[jason61c]

h4muf said:

jason61c said:

well it didn't break down on its first 40ft outing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48QIzYpA3Dw

Still loads to do.

Good work Jason!

I even think it looks good on the m3 wheel's

Cheers not sure if i'm going to keep them though, I've a set of lightweight oz wheels however the bmw ones look nice but need a refurb.