*MAXXD* Clare's Rieger F40 Escort Cabriolet "BigCab"

[Alanman]

A little premature, but it looks like BigCab is done for this year. We was in London last weekend and the rear wheel baring collapsed. We were travelling round M25 and I had a little wobble action goinging on. Looked through door mirrow to see about 1 inch of the wheel sticking out at the top. Oops.

Pulled over and the rear wheel was smokin'. lol. Removed the hub cap and wheel nuts and the bearing nut were still on so looks like the Cab has ate yet another bearing. It seriously has a big appetite for bearing. lol. 20" wheels = lots of bearings.

Normally I'd simply just put a new bearing on, but the last time the bearing went, it damaged some thread too. To temporarily solve this I used 2 washes allowing the bearing nut to have some good thread once again. Doing this however caused another problem, the split pin would not go through the shaft. As the shaft was already bolloxed the easiest answer to replicate the split pin was to simply put a couple weld spots on the shaft after the nut was tight. This actually worked fine, it was just the bearing that failed again a lot quiker than planned. lol.

If it was any car other than BigCab, I'd just get a new hub from the scrappies and start again, but BigCab's rear hubs are not normal. They've been altered and made wider to avoid the use of spacers.

The temporary bodge was only done to get to the end of 2010, because we have big plans for 2011.

So, do I think fuck it and start the conversion now ready for 2011, or do I replace the bearing and bodge it again for the rest of 2010?? Its defo not worth getting another hub made wide and I recon I'd be struggling to get that done in time anyway.

We have 1 more shows left (about 250 miles) and to be fair, the bodge would easily last this but it seems like effort. lol.

I think I've answered my own question.

People dont realise how hard it it to look after that damn car. lol.

To be fair I could quite happily park it up now, we've done really well this year with it, we cannot complain. 3 trophies added to the cabinate is not to be sniffed at.

Anyway bring on 2011 and hopefully even more trophies. woop woop.