Michael Downing

Sorry - sold late last night.

Ebay link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222224995441 Need the space back in my garage!

Managed to rotate the base, thanks DJ & Mankee. It was still jammed fast, so I soaked it in WD-40 and left it overnight; after that I was able to lever it up and remove it.

I need to remove the gearstick to fit a new saddle to the gearbox, but having removed the tunnel top and all three bolts holding it in place, the gearstick won't come out of the gearbox tail! I remember building the car, and the gearstick just slotted in and out nicely. However, no matter how hard I pull, it won't come out. I'm reluctant to pull harder as I can see the gearbox moving... Any bright ideas?

Nice work, Charles, keep the updates coming Like the idea of rivnuts for the scuttle.

You won't notice. I took my mats out when the first racing season started in 2012, and forgot I still had them in the garage until I read this thread. If anyone wants a set, let me know

I've had mine unpopper itself on the M4 at (ahem) 70mph. I managed to grab hold of the free edge before it departed, which made for an interesting drive (in the pouring rain) as far as the next services. Fortunately they were not far away... That was quite early in my time with the car. After that I just made really sure that all the poppers were 100% done up and secure - it did the rest of the journey ok. It has only happened once more since then, but that time I spotted it when only one popper had let go and was able to pull over in time. Aero screen now, so the worry transfers to whether or not my hat & glasses are securely in place.

Here's one for you. I want/need to know what changes Caterham have made to their fibreglass body parts since 2005... Only interested in the fibreglass, Series 3, non-SV parts, i.e. the nosecone, front wings and rear wings. In short, if I take a current-shape part and compare it to a part that was current in 2005, are there any differences? I've had a look on the Caterham Parts site and the cycle wing is said to be a "2009 version" but there isn't an earlier version shown for comparison. The other parts don't seem to be dated as such, although the nose cone is described as "pre-2004"? Alternatively, if anyone has a set of 2005-vintage parts for me to look at, that would be an alternative way forward! Thanks

Sorted now

Thanks Charles

As the title says, really While discovering I had the wrong A-frame and checking the car for next weekend's race, I spotted the brake fluid dripping from the rear left caliper...

Thanks all! Got started this morning, plan was to replace the A frame and radius arms as well. Slid the new A frame in to find Dartford had sent me an SV A frame. Will try again in a few weeks when I have the right one...

Excellent... time to re-plan the weekend

I'm thinking of replacing the De Dion tube and the A-frame, as a precaution after 3 and a bit seasons of racing. Being a typical lazy git, I was wondering if it was possible to do this without dismantling the wheel hubs? Has anyone tried that? With my sensible head on, I reckon it isn't possible - once the De Dion is out then the driveshafts will fall out of the diff and make a huge mess, and the brake pipes will probably rupture and add to the mess. Then it will take ages to sort out and I won't have the car back together in time for Silverstone on the 13/th/14th. There is a little bit of me, though, that says you can support the hubs, release the brake pipes from the tube, undo the bolts carefully to release the De Dion from the ears (etc), then lift it and slide out carefully. Replacement is then the reverse of disassembly, as they say, and hey presto job done in a third of the time Has anyone tried this?

Just spotted this! (I'm booked on one of the other sessions). There are a couple of us from the Graduates race series up in garage 27, do come and say Hi!