Axle Not Cured

 ARSE!

It was dry - then when I returned home from my Girlfriend's house, the off side very much wasn't. A brief investigation revealed that I'd caught & cut the O-Ring when I pushed the halfshaft in.

I measured & ordered new O-rings, but the closest size I could get was reluctant to go into the housing, so I drew up & printed one & a seal for the end of the housing. will this work? Well it fitted together nicely, but only time will tell if it seals or hardens & as the car is now on a SORN (again), that may be some time.

While fitting this all back together I noticed the end of a chassis tube was wet, the last time the car saw any water was almost a month ago. I poked a screwdriver between the floor & the GRP sill & water came out - quite a lot of water. That in the bowl plus all the water that ran out while I was looking for that bowl. It seems to be coming in at the front & getting trapped, so I'll need to put some drain holes in the sill.

Also while I was round there I made the mistake of poking the inner wheelarch & some paint came off. It turns out that what appears to be paint is in fact a waffer theen smear almost - but not quite - in contact with some rusty steel. I've peeled off a fair bit of it, but it'll need many more unpleasant hours under the car with a selection of wire brushes before it's all ready for a re-paint (sigh).

The main area of concern is right at the front with the trailing arm bracket, it's not in any danger of failing - it's not even pitted, but it's going to clog up with mud again, the passenger side has a sizeable gap for water, mud, sheep doodoo etc to escape through. I need to cut something similar on the driver's side.