Chapter 9 – Wheels Installed

I started off today by test fitting the right heat shield onto the gear leg.   The foam of the lower gear fairing extended out enough to make it impossible to mount the heat shield in its correct position.

Test mounting right heat shield

I marked the perimeter of the heat shield onto the lower gear leg in preparation to cut the glass & foam away from the lower gear leg.

Right heat shield gear leg notch marked

I then used the Fein saw to cut away the glass & foam away from the lower gear leg to allow the heat shield to fit correctly in place.

Cutting right heat shield gear leg notch

Here’s a shot of the trimmed lower right gear leg.

Right heat shield gear leg notch cut

I then remounted the right gear heat shield, which fit fine.  I held the AN4-22A bolts in place with spring clamps.

Test mounting right heat shield again

I then repeated this process on the left side to clear the lower gear leg glass & foam (and micro) to allow the left heat shield to fit correctly.

Left heat shield gear leg notch cut

I ran a line down the fuselage CL to double check the toe-in, and even sanded the gear axle mount pads, but after dialing them in as best I could I realized that I was about as close as I was going to get at this point.  I’ll do some final checks with the fuselage actually sitting on the ground.

After messing about with the toe-in and dialing it in as best possible, I then mounted the axle, brake mount assembly and the heat shield onto the right gear leg.

Mounting right axle & heat shield

I then mounted the right brake rotor and brake caliper assembly.

Mounting right brake assembly

Here’s an inside view of the right brake caliper assembly.

Inside right gear brake assembly

I then installed the wheel & tire onto the right side gear leg.

Right wheel & tire installed

Here’s another shot of the right wheel installed.

Right wheel & tire installed

After installed the right wheel, I installed the left axle, heat shield and brake mount assembly.  Unfortunately, after tightening up all the nuts on the AN4-22A bolts and then attempting to mount the rotor & brake caliper assembly I realized that I had mounted the brake mount assembly upside down… doh!

Left brake mount installed incorrectly

This is how it should look!

Left axle & heat shield installed (

I then mounted the left brake rotor & brake caliper assembly.

Left brake rotor & assembly installed

Left brake rotor & assembly installed

Here is a shot that I’ve been wanting to take for a long time: both wheels mounted!

Wheel assemblies installed

I then mounted the 9.5″ braided stainless steel Stratoflex brake lines that will connect the brake caliper to the stainless steel brake line tubing.

Right stainless steel brake line installed

Here’s an inside view of the right (top) and left (bottom) braided stainless steel Stratoflex brake lines.

Right stainless steel brake line installed

Left stainless steel brake line installed

I then mounted the wheel axle nut sleeves to both Matco axles. These are sold by Van’s Aircraft for mounting the outboard side of the wheel pants.

Van's threaded wheel pant axle mount

With the gear fairings finished and the wheels now mounted, I will start the process of installing the wheel pants.  After I get the wheel pants installed, I’ll then flip the fuselage back over, finalize installing the brake lines.  Finally, I’ll then work on the RAM air scoop and aft fuselage extension over the hell hole area.

 

 

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