Wot no brakes, and other stories

[GreenV8S]

Spent Wednesay giving demonstration rides round Curborough as part of a friend's sponsorship deal, great fun. Cut short towards the end when one back wheel started making loud scraping noises, brake pad was rubbing against the brake bell. First guess was that the wheel bearing had collapsed and I was getting ready for a trailer home, but looking a bit closer I found that the pad had just slipped through the gap between the caliper and the rotor. Combination of very slim backplate and worn pads, very worn discs and slightly offset caliper were enough. I'll keep a more careful check on the rear pads in future. Second problem is the starter is getting a bit reluctant to engage when it's hot. All fully heat shielded and so on but I guess nothing lasts forever. Third problem was the passenger's door fell off - again! Luckily after the sponsors had gone, but the girl getting in was not amused! Refitted the top hinge bolt good and tight with grease round the moving bits and threadlock round the fixed bits, hopefully that'll hold it this time. Curiously, getting the door lining off wasn't such a nightmare as I remembered. Being a 20 deg summer evening rather than -5 deg winter night might be something to do with it I supppose.

Anyway, on the basis that problems come in threes I should be OK for a while now so tonight after I got the other bits sorted out I added a prototype front splitter. Theory being it will improve cooling by stopping air nipping under the car, so I get more pressure in front and more suction behind. Might also reduce the lift at high speed although it'll be a while before I know whether that happens.

Will let you know how long it lasts before I wipe it out on a speed hump. Will it last longer than the Griff/Chimaera ones I wonder!

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)