[TR] Spring Prep

[TERRY SMITH]

In the dead of winter, even the garage furnace leaves it a bit nippy, so am doing spring maintenance now to get ready for snowmelt.  Curious what others are doing now?

Yesterday I replaced the rear e-brake cables and the aging rubber flex lines for the brakes.  Put new rotors on, replacing those that were original to the car, which must have had over two hundred thousand miles on them by now.  New brake pads and shoes too.  They still had wear because who uses brakes anyway.  They only slow you down.  Thanks Randall et al for reminding me how to replace the hoses.  

Also replaced the front wheel bearings, complete with new tap-in housings.  The tap-in housings didn't look too bad but were after all original to the car, though bearings were not.  Had the machine shop replace the wheel studs that I had originally sawn off with a hacksaw to fit the wire wheel adapters.  Replaced rear axle everything (mostly machine shop stuff):  bearing, inner and outer seals.  Couldn't quite finish the passenger axle since there was a bit of a glitch ordering one of the shims.  Couldn't be happier with how the Roadster Factory responded.  Changed oil.  Greased everything.  

Next up:  tune the horns so they actually do more than squeak like an anemic mouse.  But...I'm going to let my inspection mechanic change the oil in the Overdrive.  I have the half-inch socket for the drain plug, but am getting to danged old to crawl on my back under the car trying to get enough leverage with the ratchet to force the plug off and on.  They'll have it on a rack, easy peasy.  Or is it peazy?

Last up, sand blast the wire wheels when it stops raining, then use a better primer and paint than  last time.  Should be ready to drive next week.

Is it that time of year for anyone else?

Terry Smith, '59 TR3A
New Hamsphire