My new daily driver - Juliet

[AR4me]

Quote:

Originally Posted by superloaf you might be interested in these if your 17's are too much: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...125332959&rd=1

[AR4me]

Beside getting Roxanne ready for Oct WISR I have also been busy rebuilding the suspension on my daily driver. With JJ's help I did a Dedion + gear-box swap last week. The plan is to have the original gear box rebuild (bad 2nd gear syncro).

As part of suspension rebuild I put on, well, the RSR kit:
- coil overs
- watts linkage
- front DeDion ball bearing
- 30 mm front sway bar

I also added the Group2/GiroDisc brake kit as well as ANSA center and rear exhaust.

I just finished the front suspension:
- new ball joints
- new bushings on lower A-arm (pic 1)
- new poly upper control arm bushings (pic 2) used the ones from Performatek that comes with the "washer"
- castor rod ball joint conversion (pic 3) from Performatek
- new wheel bearings
- new power steering rack (as of 1 month ago)

Some pics of the front suspenssion work below. This has pretty much become my standard suspension rebuild. Although the car only had about 70k original miles many of the stock rubber bushings were partly worn out.

Back to working on Roxanne...

Jes

[AR4me]

And a few more pics:
- setting ride height by measuring as opposed to counting splines - by measuring you get what you see
- front suspension complete
- new wheel bearings and brakes installed

I'll get some pics of the car on the ground during daylight tomorrow.

Jes

[Grant]

Are those the brakes that you had on your 3.2 liter, or do you have 2 sets of Giro Disc now?

[Echo Leader]

Hey Jes, timely posting about the Castor Bar Ball Joint upgrade on a street car as that's what I'm looking to do....

What has been your experience with this upgrade in street applications? Some people seem to think it has no downsides, while other say it adds too much vibration. I don't like the thought of rubber or poly in the castor bar as the material will naturally resist normal suspension movement and thus would contribute a non-linear (and uncalculated) amount of resistance...

And did you invert your outer tie rod end?

[bobsiopener]

Hi Jes,
Can you comment on the uniball bearing at the front of the dedion. I have the uniball and am about to install it. Also have you driven with one installed and whats it like.
thanks

[AR4me]

Yes, I have driven many miles (thousands) on the street with the front DeDion spherical bearing and the castor rod ball joint conversion and neither bothers me. The streets around my usual driving area in SoCal are well maintained - perhaps that makes a difference. I wouldn't hesitate to do on another daily driver. The joints on the Watts linkage make some clunks from time to time, but nothing that is too annoying IMO.
Jes

[AR4me]

Here are some pics from this morning with the car on the ground. It is low but ground clearance is ok - exhaust is tucked up high. It needs a wash...

Now, what's next? Hmm...

Jes

[Echo Leader]

uuuhh.......wow.


I might have to get me one of those. Are those TD ProRace 1.2s?

[Potenziato]

AR4ME,

Lookin good. I still think red is the best color. Needs Euro bumpers or EVO!

[AR4me]

Thanks guys. Those are Pro Race 1, 17x7 with 205/40-17.
Jes

[75evo]

looks great, I'll lower the front end of my car today.

BTW, is the daily driver going to run GoTech PRO-X?

[ToonRboy]

Very nice indeed! My favorite Alfa in my Favorite color (for that car)!
I'm into tasteful mods myself. Though, IMO the RSR and Giro are a waste of $$ on a street car. 'Course, you obviously have more disposable income than I and you have to do something w/17's or the stock brakes will look tiny- hehe! I love the new stance but STILL too much space in the rear wheelwells (offset). Your pipes would last about 2-days here in the midwest, or your first visit to Blockbuster...

For around $150.00 you can get the 20mm spacers from Charlie at Serpent. That should really make it look filled-out in the rear! Like we like it! http://www.serpentautosport.com/whee...ories_lugs.htm
I bought these but the extended lug nuts just dont make it through the wheel holes - yet.

FYI - everyone else, Performatek also (assuming you got your Giro's from them) makes a nice front brake kit for just over 1k with 4-puck calipers and a beefier rotor. I'll post the links when I get home. Probably the best budget kit I've seen. RSR makes the other but they keep the stock caliper & it costs $780 + shipping those heavy rotors from Europe. http://www.alfaromeo-performancepart...duct=BUDBZQB95
Looks basically like 164 rotors and special alum blocks to re-mount the calipers further up.

Anyhow, you have a real keeper there Jes! Jealousy is free!

[ToonRboy]

I had inquired at Outlaw about calipers for the 116 (they make 'em for the 115) cars. Todd over there forwarded my inquiree to Andy at Performatek and he sent me a response with some pics of their kit. Runs $1300.00.

[75evo]

Looks like my old setup.

Toyota Supra Rotors
Wilwood Dynalite billet with bridge bolt.