The Red Green Machine

[greenMachine]

Car is on the hoist, to fix the leaking diff seal, finally got sick of the smell of hot heavy gear oil. Took me an age to find the seal, thought I'd have to get another , but eventually it turned up.

However, on pulling the wheel off ...



Looks like the MCA sleeves are cactus already. I'll send them the photo and see what they say. Both rears are cactus, the fronts aren't far behind.

While it is in the air, I am going to start on the cooling mods, beginning with (re-)sealing the ducting. I also need to seal the lower front wheel wells, I have the top section but not the lower, I might need to improvise.

Also replaced the 15x7 6ULs with the 15x8 Storms, they are looking tatty but I feel like a change. All of them are running the RS-RR Falkens(?).

[The American]

Is that Skid Factory preference for MX5s?

No, they seem to use them on various vehicles that need an e-pedal.

[ManiacLachy]

What are those MCA sleeves made of? They look like a rubber? I have a set from Inertia Labs on my Xidas, and they're holding up really well, they're a nylon material. I think 949 now sell the same style direct, maybe consider those? They should fit.

[KevGoat]

Kinda looks like leather in the photo, but surely not ...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[greenMachine]

They are neoprene. https://mcasuspension.com/mca-suspension-shock-shield-dust-cover/

I sent a couple of photos, they got back straight away, said that one was upside down. Probably all are if so. I need to re-measure them, they said that they would send new ones - good service. Supposedly the 'laccy goes on the perch. I will be asking, then what holds them up? And why not say that on your web page? The illustration shows it, but you have to know to look.

The car is not going anywhere in a hurry, I am committed to grandie duty this weekend.

[Roadrunner]

When they launched I wondered how long they would last with rubbing against the constant moving spring. Having said that, yours is the first one I've seen fail.
Personally I would much prefer inner covers, as its the piston your trying to protect anyway. They just don't seem to exist as a quality aftermarket product.

[Roadrunner]

My original MCA X-R came with inner covers (the ribbed part on the below image) however when I sent them back for the Vosten upgrade they didn't come back with the covers and didn't get a response when I enquired.

[ManiacLachy]

They are neoprene.

That was the word I was tyring to think of, but wouldn't come!

I don't think the wear is from being upside down, I just don't think neoprene is the right material for the use. Glad they're prompt on reply and sending out new ones. When the replacements fail, get a set of the 949 nylon ones

[Okibi]

I know i've been pretty much out of the MX-5 game a few years, especially now my car is in storage but that's the first time i've ever seen those sleeves.

[greenMachine]

Car is back on the ground, new diff axle seal in, put the Storms back on, because they were feeling neglected. Reason they are feeling neglected is that they look a bit crappy, certainly the fronts - which is what you get after not cleaning the R12 dust off because you thought it would come off as easy as the R10. Stupid.

Was going to take if for a run, but decided that overnight on the battery charger would be a good idea, it started but the battery was low and I prefer a programmed boost from the Ctek rather than just feeding it cubic amps from the alternator.

It may not be entirely coincidental that Boring aka The Barge has shat its power steer pump, turns out the PS switch on the HP side of the pump has a big leak, all the PS fluid gone, pump making so much noise it cleared the place of the roos . I was going to cannibalise the pump and switch from the gold car, but remembered it has 350k kms, and this may well be the original pump - maybe a new one would be the smart move. If the RGM had had a problem on startup (unlikely) it would have been a different story, any port in a storm ...

Better get on the net and see what I can find in the way of PS pumps!

Oh, before I go, I did a thing ...

[greenMachine]

[ManiacLachy]

That wang-thang!

[greenMachine]

Yes, bit premature but it will help me sort out the mount.

I don't want to drill the car, or trim the bootlid. The bootlid is almost OK, as it is still sealed, and the trimming pretty discreet, but no, just no. The holes in the gutter are inconspicuous, and can be sealed with shiny bolt heads when it is not mounted, but again, no.

So, I got this spare bootlid, to swap them as required. I plan on bolting a suitable piece of aluminium angle to the edge of the boot, the options are trim it like they say, but maybe a sliver more, mount the angle into the gutter, proceed as per the 9LR script. Or, mount it with the angle up, but that will (probably) require shortening the mount to keep it withing the regs, or angling it more. Angling may be doable, and that might get it further back, giving greater leverage to the DF, but again - too far back? - will there be sufficient AoA adjustment at that angle of the mount? I need to read some tech regs for WTAC and CAMS, and get out the trusty tape measure ...

It is also going to need some serious front aero, have some plans for that too.

Looks like the recent high workload task might be easing off, so GF, house, cars, and other inessentials can come back into play - hopefully!

[PaulF]

Maybe it's a Monday morning problem, but I read that paragraph about wing positioning 3 times and I still can't figure out what options you're considering...

[greenMachine]

Maybe it's a Monday morning problem, but I read that paragraph about wing positioning 3 times and I still can't figure out what options you're considering...

My secret is safe ...