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Old 02-23-2017, 06:09 AM   #87 (permalink)
Nautilus
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Romania
Posts: 45

Simba - '05 Seat Leon FR
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Thanked 29 Times in 17 Posts
PS Had the starter motor professionally overhauled: new brush set, cleaning, lubrication. Plus brass fasteners on the electric connections, to prevent oxidation and get better conductivity (3x that of carbon steel).

Amp draw decreased and is now 100% reliable.

Also got an overhaul of the front axle, and eccentric bushings fit for better caster, about +0.5 degrees. More positive caster increases front axle stability at the cost of heavier steering. This brings back the slightly heavy steering the car had from factory (at slow speeds) as the steering rack had been designed to give the easiest steering at motorway speeds. Had the wheel tracking done as well, to bring the toe-in to factory setting (nearly parallel).

Starter motor has a planetary-type reductor gear inside, to allow good starting torque in a small package. This way it can be made very small, the motor itself is close in size to the solenoid and the full assembly weighs 7 lbs, yet reliable.
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