The work schedule for the 109 has been put off for this weekend due to the VX SS requiring attention to the left rear brakes.
I was told about 4 years ago when having a set of new tyres fitted that I might need brakes in about another 10,000km but soldiered on doubting the assessment. Here we are 40,000km later and it finally went metal to metal on the back left side.
Oddly enough, the other 3 corners still had plenty of life left in them and it appears the issue was somehow related to a sticky left rear caliper.
Rather than muck around I just fitted a full set of brand new rotors and pads as well as a new set of handbrake shoes, though the old ones appeared as new.
Got a feeling the brakes have never been done since new as the previous owner seemed like a sensible chap and as it had only covered 91,000km from new the day I bought it, it seems reasonable for them to have been original fitment way back then.
Roll forward 6-7 years and 70,000km later, and given the meat still on the other 3 corners, I think it’s had a pretty good run at wanting a full new set at 163,000km.
Blown away by the professionalism of the Ebay trader I sourced the new set through, astounding service and a whopping discount still has me smiling.
I got the lot for $305.00.
I didn’t upgrade to drilled and slotted rotors or anything flash, just stuck with standard spec rotors and the recommended ceramic pads. The way I see it, if it has in fact covered 160 ish thousand km on the originals then the new ones should take it up to 300 odd thou km and if the prices remain similarly low, who could complain about that?
Even if it had a set of pads or rotors and pads prior to my acquiring it, and only goes another 5 years or so on these ones, it’s still darn good value.
I think the low brake wear is due to it being a 6 speed manual, and the way I drive sees it slowed down via the gears normally.
Anyway, the VX SS is my primary means of transport so that’s where the priority lies this weekend.
I have visitors attending for lunch today so that does that. After a nice feed and a couple of beers I won’t be wanting to do anything.
Still trying to remember how I went about wiring everything up under the bonnet of the 109 as heaps of years have passed since that was done.
I believe there’s a probable issue with the fuse box I installed on the inside of the right wing as I remember trying to find out how stable the plastic used in its construction and had no luck, but I noticed it’s becoming brittle so that answers that question all these years later.
Interestingly, a work colleague just fitted an identical fuse box inside his camper canopy so they must be still available even today.
I purchased 2 of them so still have a spare and haven’t decided if I’ll use the spare or go to something better. I’ll determine that once I pull the other one apart.
Also looking to replace the rear diff center to get away from the Detroit Locker as I’m older now and don’t fancy skidding the tyres on every turn anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I still like burning around in it but think I prefer the problematic wheelspin issues in 1st and 2nd gear over the fully locked diff.
I recognise that I’m being lazy in addressing the 109 but it’ll get there. It’s just that once I get stuck into something I go like mad on it and it never stops at one thing and always leads to heaps of other things being done and while that’s not a bad thing, it’s about conservative use of energy for me at this stage of my life.
I’m also constrained by having to run the missus back and forth to the bus terminal where she commutes to the city each day but that’s now working in my favour as I knock off work whenever I want basically and rather than sneak home, which is just around the corner from the depot, and have myself a nanna nap, I’m now looking at the 109 and hooking in when the weather is agreeable and doing a bit here and a bit there before I have to go pick her up.
If the weather remains agreeable, then lots will get done but if it’s scorching hot then forget it. I’m simply too old for that sort of nonsense.
