RE: Newbie Spider driver needs advice

["Brian Shorey" <bshorey@domain.elided>]

> I am brand new (1 week) to Alfas, with an 88 Graduate (65k mi., garaged,
> well maintained).  I have only owned British American and Japanese cars,
and

<snip>

> All in all, I expected a tight, powerful, in-control kind of experience,
but
> feel like I got a kind of scary one.  My seat-of-the-pants analysis said I
> need wheel bearings, shocks, springs and a brake flush, minimum.

Well, either it's been well maintained or it needs a lot of work ;)

Did you test drive the car before you bought it?

> Took it to a highly recommended Alfa mechanic yesterday who gave it a
> thorough inspection and literally laughed at me.  He said he'd take my
money
> if I wanted but that the car was in great shape, didn't need anything.
Said
> that everything I complained about was supposed to be like that ["steering
> play is an artifact of gearbox design and only occurs at the locks, front

Huh?  Steering play is an artifact of gearbox design?  I assume he means
steering box, not gearbox, right?  Either way, the steering box was not
designed to make the steering feel loose..

> wheel bearings need to be a bit loose for expansion during braking, the
> clonking in the rear wasn't bearings but an inherent part of the axle
> mechanism, springs and shocks are fine"].
>
> Said I needed to get used to the cars, that unlike almost all other cars
> they are closer to racing machines than taxis; that their radically
> different design goals result in the things I noticed.  Said that lots of
<snip>

I can't take any more.  It's designed to be similar to a racing car,
therefore it should have a lot of play and make you feel uncomfortable at
highway speeds?

The rear diff may make a little noise here and there, rear wheel bearings
shouldn't have much play.  The fronts shouldn't have much play either.

The Alfa should inspire confidence at high rates of speed - if it feels
loose and uncomfortable, there is something wrong.

Where are you located?  I'm sure somebody on this list could either drive it
and give you a proper evaluation or recommend a competent mechanic close by
to you.

bs

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