Maintenance checklist

[Al_C]

After having a few non-trivial components come loose this past year, I decided that I needed to follow a regular (quarterly, perhaps) maintenance check. This usually involves a trip across town to Greg's place (future FFR owner!) and his lift. I started with the race checklist in the manual and made a few adjustments to suit my needs. Below is the list I came up with, and I'm offering it here in the hope that it might actually be useful for someone else, but even better, that you guys would edit/add/improve it!

Steering:
tie rod to spindle connectors
universal joint set screws
Front suspension:
check control arm connectors to frame and spindles
front shocks top and bottom
spring collars tight
lug nuts torqued
Front brakes:
caliper bolts
rotors clean and no cracks
no leaks of brake fluid
reservoirs full
lines not damaged
Engine:
header to j-pipe bolts secure
belts OK
cooling system connectors and hoses OK
bypass valve connections solid
fuel line connectors at regulator and fuel rail
clutch cable not frayed
oil leaks
Rear suspension:
upper and lower control arm connections to spindle and frame
shocks top and bottom
spindle nuts torqued
spring collars tight
lug nuts
Rear brakes:
caliper bolts
rotors clean no cracks
no leaks
lines not damaged
Driveline:
driveshaft bolts tight
transmission mount bolts tight
no transmission leaks

There you have it. Got any suggestions that would make it better? I'm hoping to do this check in the next couple of weeks. There's still a fair amount of driving days before the season ends in Chicagoland!

[AC Bill]

Always a good thing with these cars to check them regularly. It seems you have all the important things pretty well covered, including the frayed clutch cable, which many new builders may not be aware of. I'm not sure if that is even still an issue with the new Wilwood pedal box, and the MK4's?

After torqueing the suspension components, I marked the threads, and nut, (or bolt), with a red mark. You can use red nail polish, a grease pencil would work, but I used a red permanent ink marker. A peak at these marks with a flashlight, tells me pretty quickly if anything has backed off, as the marks would no longer line up. Several components use castle nuts and cotter pins, so they just require a quick peak as well.
The first couple of years of driving the roadster, I would keep check on the torques of everything using the torque wrench. I never found anything had ever loosened off. That's when I trusted the ink marks were darn good indicators.

[frankeeski]

I seem to remember a thread like that. ;)

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?6503-Periodic-Maintenance

[Just puttering]

One thing - My list would group items by location on the car -
Engine compartment pass side
Engine Compartment driver side
under front of car
front driver tire or under driver front fender.....
etc.
then using the list I know I need to check 3 things at this location, 2 at the next ...

[magicmarto]

Hi Al,
Here is my post ride check list
See photo
I can email it to you too, let me know
Martin
153945