It started out that I needed to replace my calipers, 2 years of track days and they were done, so since I'm already replacing, why not upgrade, right, so I get the LG/Wilwood kit. All is good.

Go to install it 2 weekends ago and it's a no go, front wheels didn't clear it like I thought they would, so I measure out how much space I need and order spacers and longer bolts.

So last night, I go to install the longer studs, pop them out no problem, go to put the new ones in, no go again, not quite enough room to fit them through. Okay, I've replaced the wheel bearings before, no big deal, i'll just pop the ball joint off and take the bearings out and all will be good.

Well, the damn thing didn't want to come off, so I took the only know course of action when parts to want to move like they are supposed to

Well, the thing pops right out, I take the bearing out, press in the new studs, install the LG spindle ducts while I'm there and all is good again...almost

I go to put the ball joint back on, and apparantly I damaged it a liittle when i hit it, so the hex bit won't fit in there and *&^$ won't go back on, and I'm trying to figure out how to fix this or part 2, how I'm going to get to work on Monday

Any suggestions?

 

"part 2, how I'm going to get to work on Monday"

Banhof??? J/K Good luck finding a solution.

 

wait, I got it

forced a slightly smaller allen wrench in and it was just enough.

now to see if I measured the spacers right

 

and?

Went to load my car so I use the jack on the tilt bed and it is rusted and bent the hook at the end of the piston which makes it work Since I cleaned and organized the garage in the winter it took me 1.5 hours to find the straps to tie the car down. Simple things turn to nightmares.

 

Just need some food in my belly then I can button everything up and get to work on the passenger side. Looks like I'll probably finish this up tomorrow morning, but I'll at least get the ball joint put back together after supper.

5/8" Spacer works fine w/ the Z06 motorsport wheels. I'll check the AFS wheels after I eat. I measured 1/2" with those wheels, but wanted to be able to use the same spacer on both sets of wheels so i just oreders 1 size. If it doesn't work, I've got plenty of time to order another set before I need the wheels. At least the ball joint nightmare is over.

Lessons learned
1. The ball joint is torqued to 52ft/lbs (not 130 - don't know if I miss read the how-to I downloaded to replace the wheel bearings last year or if it was just wrong, either way that sucker was on there good)
2. use something to protect the ball joint before you break out the BFH
3. Doing mods can be frustrating, Add in the time it takes to ship parts from the states to Europe through the MPS and it's just gets worse.
4. On the same note, I've thought about trying to stay over here longer, but problems like these are starting to out-weigh the benefits. It's time to come home.
5. The day I win the lottery, I'm going to hire a full time mechanic to do all of this stuff for me.

GOAL
1 Just once before I die, complete a project on a car w/o any problems

 

It's time to just get drunk

ball joint is back together, calipers are on, everything is ready to go, just need to bleed the brakes.....wait, why is fluid dripping from the brake line...yes, that's right...i've got a bad brake line from wilwood.

 

It's an ultimate case of "Murphy's Law #666", which says, Aftermarket parts that are supposed to fit never do and trying to make them fit always creates more work then ever planned.

 

Any sealer you can use to stop the drip?

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of DIY.

 

Good to know I'm not the only one that fks up everything they touch.

Example #813454786123412390756
Wired my trailer lights 4 times. Finally have all the lights working on the car again, still a roll of the dice which lights are going to work at what time on the trailer.

 

inside the fitting, there is a crack all the way down the cone part, not even close to getting a good seal.