by camper extraudinair » Tue Oct 23, 2012 6:52 pm
Hi Transiteers
Went to newlands corner on saturday morning it was
very misty almost foggy as i made my way there, it
was so bad at one point i had to use my rear fog lights.
The camper started half a turn as usual & off we went
that is Bill & i.
I took it easy to start with as i never put my foot down
hard until the engine is warmed up to normal temp but
also i had to gently break in the new brake pads.
The traffic was very light at eight o'clock on a saturday
morning so we just cruised along at the speed "limits."
The engine just purred as we ambled along the winding
country lanes the minor nigles now way behind us,
We turned into the carpark at newlands corner but alas
there was no one to greet us apart from some workmen
who i have met there several times before who are inter
ested it the conversion i am doing to the camper.
I explained i had just fitted jaguar xjs front brakes to the
front Transit crossmember & the new wheels & tyres the
all agreed they looked super,
We had a cuppa & took some pictures in the mist but as
you can see they came out quiet well considering.
We then drove a little faster on to Rykas cafe where a lot
of bikers meet at the bottom of box hill as i started to turn
i stopped & said to my friend Bill i am going to try out the
new wheels & tyres with the line locker,
Before i fitted the new wheels & tyres if i used the line lock
er the rear wheels with the limited slip diff would just push
the front wheels forward,
So i put the locker on & booted her the rear wheels spun as
it was damp & the rear of the camper spun round like a pen
dalum with a great deal of schreeching of the tyres.
It attracted a large audience one man said they did not fit
engines like that when they were built.
After a very large cheeseburger & a cuppa we continued on
home.
The brakes seemed to have bedded in nicely, now was a good
time to try them out as there was no traffic about on a clear
road so i said to bill when we get to the speed limit sign i
am going to try out the brakes, unfortunately i must have pre
sted the pedal a little to hard as all the wheels locked up just
for a second as the road was still a little damp.
but it was not a problem as i stayed in a streight line,
I said we will do the same again at the next speed sign
but not so hard this time the camper slowed very quickly but
did not lock this time as i am getting the feel of it after all
this time,
the rest of the journey home was very enjoyable albiet slow
as the traffic had now woken up,
look forward to meeting lots of Transiteers in the future.
The brake conversion was worth all the effort & sleepless nights.