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Re: Clicking wheels / good news

To: Jeff McNeal <jmcneal@ohms.com>
Subject: Re: Clicking wheels / good news
From: Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net>
Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 18:13:30 -0700
Jeff,
Sounds to me like you have a problem with the radius arm bushings or the
vertical link bolts.  The symptom sounds like you have slack in the stationary
parts of your rear suspension (maybe the front too).  What is probably happening
is: when you accelerate, the pieces are forced to the rear of the slack where it
stays until you either decelerate or brake.  The clink is the parts seeking the
front part of the slack.

What you should do is jack up the car and put it on jack stands (under the
frame).  With the suspension free, push and pull on the parts to see where the
slack is.  I found that the most common areas are where the trunnion bolt goes
through the vertical link.

Regards,
Joe

Jeff McNeal wrote:
> 
> I think I mentioned this before, but I have a bit more detail now.  I
> mentioned that I was getting clicking sounds -- single, loud clicks,
> whenever I applied my brake after driving for awhile.  It doesn't happen
> every time I brake, just when I've been rolling for a bit.  Well, I thought
> it was confined to the rear wheels, but I think I'm hearing it in the front
> now too.
> 
> I've also discovered that I can make the rear wheels click just by letting
> off the accelerator suddenly in the lower gears.  The don't click as loudly
> as when I apply the brakes, but it's the same deal that's going on.
> 
> Someone before mentioned trunion bushings.  Still think that's what it is?
> I know that I had to loosen all four slightly to fit my new shocks all the
> way around.  I'm wondering if perhaps I didn't torque 'em back down hard
> enough?  You think?
> 
> Now for the good news.  I changed over to DOT 5 for my brakes in January.
> Recently, a reputable parts dealer, who shall remain nameless, warned me
> that Lockheed sent out a warning that DOT 5 silicone will eat the rubber in
> their wheel cylinders and should never be used!!  This same dealer said that
> if I took a peek back in the reservoir, the fluid would probably be turning
> black because of the rubber that was being disintegrated.  Well, I took the
> cap off and looked in today.  The fluid is still purple and not in the least
> bit cloudy -- and the levels were exactly as I topped them originally.  Just
> an FYI. Of course, it's only been three months...  But so far, so good.
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> Jeff in San Diego
> 
> '67 RHD Spitfire Mk3 aka "Mrs. Jones"
> Jeff's Classic '67 Spitfire Mk3 site
> http://www.ohms.com/spitfire/spitfire.shtml
> home of the NEW Totally Triumph Auction
> "By Triumph enthusiasts, for Triumph enthusiasts"
> http://www.ohms.com/cgi-bin/TRauction.cgi
> 
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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