Accident Post Mortem

Well it appears that as the front vertical link failed on my Spitfire the suspension partially collapsed, dropping that side of the car to the ground. For about thirty yards the car skidded along on three wheels, the front anti-roll bar mount and the lower wishbone.
Because of the car running on these parts, they both have to be replaced, additionally the upper wishbone also have to be replaced as they were deformed as they hit the top of their travel. Finally the tie rod from the steering rack is to be replaced as it is bent in two places.

The day after the accident, all the required parts (which I did not already have) where ordered from a couple of regular Triumph suppliers. The following day, the first packed arrived, containing a refurbished lower wishbone, this came by royal mail, unfortunately the second package, being sent by courier (next day apparently) took another day to arrive. In the mean time work started on stripping down and refurbishing any required parts. During this strip-down I was unable to release the brake calliper, so I took the hub assembly over to a friend to use his air tools. Having made short work of the hub with the air tools, I was then produced with a second or third hand vertical link, which has recently been removed from a Dutton Phaeton - ah just the job, it meant I could carry on with more of the rebuild before the other parts eventually turn up.

While waiting for the courier to arrive, I have changed the wheels around , back onto steels, as one the alloy wheels was punctured as the trunnion dived into it. Once drivable again the car will need to have the tracking checked, having changed parts on the steering rack.