Today I had set aside as a 'proper work day' (i.e. stuff other people pay me for LOL), wandered in the garage as you do with my morning cupper & whilst admiring my work something struck me that was not right at all.... On the top up rights the thread to the track rod end was very different each side... I'd followed the IKEA instructions & there was no mention of this & as the top track rods arrive pre installed on the upper wish bone I'd just bolted them on to the car like the pretty picture.... bad move... The old instructions specify how much thread should be showing (8) I had about 3 on one side & about 23 on the other.... Whilst I hadn't torqued up the track rod end it soon became apparent it didn't want to come out depressing.... e-mail to Derek... response 'hit it with a hammer & a drift'... that didn't work. Gave up for a while & went into the office to sulk. Later on phoned Derek & he confirmed that you hit it from the side... ahhh... tried that... didn't seem to work & I was just about to give up when pop.. out it came... Back to the office e-mailed thanks to Derek & got on with some paid work feeling a lot happier.

So today we have:

Disaster averted but I'm glad I hadn't rushed the build & missed this

Top up rights dismantled & re-assembled correctly

Bin the IKEA instructions as a disaster area...

Replacement plastic ball arrived for the ARB, & then man handled the ARB in place with no issues at all!

So for a day when I hadn't intended doing anything I seem to have made progress & averted an expensive Caterham re-build when they spotted it!