Bent upright?

[skydragon]

I've just fitted a CC front big brake upgrade kit (AP racing calipers) and AP race master cylinder and noticed that although the right hand side front caliper went on a treat, nice and straight with reference to the disc. When I fitted the left hand side front AP caliper I noticed two things...

 

a) The AP caliper was not straight/parallel with regards to the brake disk, unless I omitted one of the 'penny' washers that go between the caliper and upright bolt point ( with one washer omitted and the caliper bolted on, it was then straight with respect to the brake disk, or as straight as I can tell)

 

b) The steering track rod end is only a few mm away from the brake disk surface. Not a problem as such, but I notice that the right hand side has about double this gap between the track rod end and the brake disk.

 

I've done a few hundred miles of hard driving with this new setup and everything works just fine, but I'd like to ensure any 'misalignments' are rectified over the winter.

 

My car is a late 2003 ex-academy/Supergrad car, now modified a bit and I know with previous owners it's been pranged/rolled/T-boned and tyre walled.... and then straightened a few times (I view it as being the opposite of a 'polishers' car 😬 )I'm guessing that the left hand side front upright and possibly the left hand steering arm is bent slightly (past crash damage?) and ideally needs replacing??

 

Any views/comments?

 

1.6 K Series EU3, 2003, with DVA K05 and a few other goodies...

website here

[The Pikey]

I wouldn't take any chances in that area so I would be replacing it asap.

 

 

Jason

 

 

[skydragon]

It's held up for at least 2 years of hard use, so I've little/no fear of a failure.

 

The question is - Before I start ordering parts and rebuilding, is this a sign of the front upright or the steering arm, or both, being slightly bent? Or something else?

[6speedmanual]

Could be a bent stub axle.

 

Take it out and try rolling it along a table.

 

Peter

 

 

 

BRAWNGP green SUPERLIGHT

FCITW 2009 😬

[rj]

I would recommend replacing both stub axle and upright if either of them is bent.

[skydragon]

Thanks chaps

[Peter Carmichael]

The steering arms are "designed to bend" as a sacrificial component to save the upright. This doesn't explain the caliper positioning, but may be contributory to the gap between the steering arm and the disc.

[jonboylaw]

Canley Classics are a great source for these items...

 

Caterham Catalogue

 

 

 

Jonathan

=========================

My Flickr Gallery

 

92 Supersprint, Ford LSD LA, RK AX Crossflow. Stealth model (Matt Black and Ali), rebuild completed.