Still no brakes for the Z

Well, we have made the mad dash to the parts store. We tried three different master cylinders, we have bled the brakes several times. And yet the problems with a soft pedal continue. It has been a rough afternoon and evening scratching our collective heads and trying one thing after the other.

There were some high hopes when we found the rotted out vacuum line, but that didn't fix our woes either.

We have stopped for the night mainly because we are out of brake fluid and the parts store doesn't open till 7:00 am.

The D is ready to go and all of its problems are solved. We also got a higher roll bar mounted in the Z so that problem is solved too. We'll at least have 1 car on the track at the green flag and may send the Z out to turn slow laps while we try to find another brake booster or whatever part we decide to change next in the morning.

On a different note, dinner was some fabulous burgers and my current favorite beer. Lots of happiness there.

-Sparky

Master cylinder

The diagnosis is the master cylinder. We at now tearing into the hood.


- Sparky

Location:Sears Point Rd,Sonoma,United States

Brakes, brakes, brakes

The theme of the weekend is clearly starting out as brakes. Muddy had troubles and so we gave the car a once over before I went out.

The car was driving very well, except it doesn't like to stop. I gave a ton of extra room and still overshoots a corner or two once the speeds got up a bit.

Once in the pits, we had cracked front rotors so it was time to change them and bleed the lines. We put Tony in the car for the next session and the pedal is on the floor.

Time to bleed the brakes again.

The D is on the track, but very light in the back so all the drivers are complaining about rear stepping out while breaking.



- Sparky

Another long pit stop

Rod came in from his stint and the driver change was going smooth until we realized we have a cracked front rotor. We do have spares this time, but we woke the crew up and Rod jumped from the driver's seat to the mechanic seat. He swapped both front rotors in 30 minutes.

We also have an issue where we are bottoming out the suspension and the right front tire has an extra groove in it. A sledge hammer made some more fender space so that was a quick fix.

Just as we finished though, they announced that they were black flagging the track because of a timing issue in HQ. Big bummer for us to be off the track for 30 just before they closed the track (and it was killing Claus who has waited ALL day for his turn).

At this point we are past the half way mark and at last check we were in 28th place. Spirits are high.
They just announced the track is live again, so Claus is off for his first stint.

Brake issues

This was the shape of our rear brake when Claus came in on Saturday.  Changing the rear rotors is an easy job if we had spares, which we didn't.  So this launched the race to the cell phones to search and find a pair of 1986 rotors in stock somewhere within a reasonable drive from the track.  After a dozen or so calls, Oakland was seeming like a it wasn't too far and might be our best option.  The front rotor's also had issues, but the guys in car 20 (another Z parked next to us) has a spare set of fronts.

I'll attempt to get some more pictures from the weekend loaded as I get a chance to look at them.  So keep watching.  I'm sure Muddy will also start the work plan for Reno.

Day 1 completed

Claus just took the day 1 checker and everyone ran clean. Checking over the car now seeing what we'll do tonight to get ready for tomorrow.

Oil level has been fine all day so that fear seems to be over.

Break check turned up a cracked rear rotor so look like the biggest job for tonight will be finding a new set.