Test Drive

[Three Dee]

Boy, it has taken a lot longer than I thought it would before I could get the eta I'm resurrecting roadworthy enough for a real test drive. However, I took it out for about 15 minutes today - down an appropriate rather twisty country road - for what is actually the third test drive, but the first one where I got the car up to speed.

It has squishy brakes. It feels like there is air in the system. I have heard conflicting stories on how easy/difficult the ABS brakes on the E30 are to bleed, but I'm going to ask anyway: Is there anything peculiar that I need to take into consideration when I bleed the brake system?

The car has a shimmy above about 45 mph, but I still have the tires that were on it when I trailered it home, and they are pretty flat-spotted. I also suspect a thrown weight on the front left rim.

I have to say I LIKE the automatic transmission in that car. Today was the first time I've tried full-throttle acceleration, and once I got past the rough idle, she smoothed out and took off. Nice, crisp shifts up until I decided I didn't want to meet a John Deere at too fast a speed for the squishy brakes.

Yeah, I'm having fun.

[geezerman402]

Originally Posted by Three Dee

I have to say I LIKE the automatic transmission in that car.

I think you've been inhaling too many eta fumes.

[Three Dee]

Well, maybe I should qualify the remark: As automatic transmissions go, that is a nice one. It is definitely not like your average American slushbox, like what our Taurus has. The only car I have owned that shifts anything like our E30 is my '65 Mercury Comet, but when I rebuilt that transmission I made some internal modifications to make it shift better.

Of course I'd rather have a standard. What kinda guy do ya think I am, anyway??? It's my teenage daughter's car, so it doesn't matter as much (to me) if it has an auto in it.

[moberg12]

Having had the entire ABS unit out of the car twice and then bleeding the brakes the process is the same as on any other car. Start at the fartherst wheel from the master and work forward.

Greg

[Three Dee]

Originally Posted by moberg12

Having had the entire ABS unit out of the car twice and then bleeding the brakes the process is the same as on any other car. Start at the fartherst wheel from the master and work forward.

Greg

Cool. Ami needs to learn how to open and close the bleeder valves anyway.

While driving it today I had hoped to find out whether or not the ABS was working. However, it's really hard to get squishy brakes to lock up.

You guys are great. I love messing with old cars (when I was a kid I used to hand Dad wrenches) and I'm pretty sure I could figure out a lot of this on my own, but when I know there's folks out there a lot more familiar with the particular quirks of these cars I'd be a fool not to pester you all!