Had a busy weekend... (56k no)

agw_01 · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:33

Went down to rover220's this weekend with the intention of finally fitting the lowering kit that I bought from a mate on Rovertech some time ago.

I set off from my house just after 8:30am on Saturday and made it down in about an hour. Good going methinks.

Anyway, once we had got ourselves sorted, we cracked on straight away.

The tools we used and new suspension... 50mm springs on GSi-Turbo shocks

Front of the car before lowering

Old Strut removed from hub

Shortly after this point Cableguy and benno_bro turned up to lend a hand. It actually ended up with Cableguy taking over and doing the rest of the work.

Here he is getting jiggy with the 'persuasion bar'

The fronts were done in about an hour, so we moved onto the rears... starting with the drivers side first. One of the bolts on the rear arm that holds the strut in place decided it would weld itself to the metal shielding in the bush causing the head of the bolt to snap

Errr, I think we may have a problem

agw_01 · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:34

With no way of getting this bolt out with normal methods, we had to resort to other plans. Someone had the great idea of drilling the bolt out. One trip to Halfords later and we were equipped with the drill bits needed to get started.

The offending bolt

After grinding the remaining end of the bolt, Cableguy then proceeded to drill the rest of the bolt out of the bush. It wasn't going to come out any other way!

About 5 hours and 3 drill bits later, we were getting somewhere

Mike couldn't find the chuck key for the drill, so we had to use our initiative

After finally getting the strut fixed into position on the drivers side, Cableguy then attempted to slowly and gently get the passenger side strut released. 5 minutes later, we ran into the same problem... one snapped bolt

Day Two

After another trip to Halfords and a return of some Faulty Drill Bits we were back in action. Cableguy went at the bolt a little too hard with the first drill bit... causing this to happen

In a last attempt to drill the bolt, Cableguy set out again to attack it... however we'd exhausted the drill bits and nothing worthwhile was taking place.

It was decided to return to Halfords once more (most business they'd had all weekend) and purchase a complete set of drill bits. That way we could use them to gradually increase the size of the hole, instead of going straight in with a much bigger bit hoping that it would grind through.

Attacking the bolt

After a lot of swearing, joking, crying, sweating and a trip to B&Q... we finally got somewhere. Out came the bolt and in went the new strut

The final strut, fitted and bolted into place after 6 hours of ******* about with a steel bolt.

agw_01 · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:35

So there we have it... it took a while but we got there in the end! I'd like to thank Cableguy for putting in so much effort. He just wouldn't give up until the job was done! Benno_bro for showing up and offering his support and rover_220 for putting up with me for the weekend. I owe all you guys a very big pint!!

Anyway... on with the completed pics!

Front Clearance - Rear Clearance - Side Clearance

L0rdMike · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:37

Looks much better.

agw_01 · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:37

Doesn't handle too bad either

Firestar_3x · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:38

Was Rover220 born with that hat on?

Looks better btw...

Rwac · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:39

Looking good andy.

It's always good to have someone like your mate cableguy, and sounds like you owe him a few cheeky pints! :cool:

great advice · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:39

Looks like a nice tidy motor tbh, nice looking especially lowered. :cool:

It hurt me to say that

so i gotta ask if the HG is holding up ok?

paradigm · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:40

great advice said:
It hurt me to say that so i gotta ask if the HG is holding up ok?

It's not a K-series AFAIK (T-series?), so most probably yes its holding up fine!

ajgoodfellow · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:40

Looks really nice!

Now I'm tempted to lower my next car (probably an MG ZS)

Did it affect your insurance much?

great advice · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:42

paradigm said:
It's not a K-series AFAIK (T-series?), so most probably yes its holding up fine!

T series is Turbo only isnt it?

Its a Rover so die in hell :mad:

cymatty - I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds says:
why you being nice lol
Lee says:
im in a nice mood
cymatty - I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds says:
you shold say its a rover die in hell lol

Freefaller · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:42

Good job! Looks much better now.

You seem to be a patient person

How much skin have you got left on your knuckles?

I'm far too lazy to do these things now.

agw_01 · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:43

ajgoodfellow said:
Did it affect your insurance much?

Ohh, I actually totally forgot about telling my insurance :eek:

And tbh, I doubt I will bother. I'm TPFT anyway so if I do have a smash, they won't send anyone round to check the car out to get a quote for the repairs.

I might give them a call and just ask them how much it'll be if I 'was' to lower it.

Thanks for the replies guys. The pictures really don't do it any justice! The exhaust sits about 3 1/2" from the ground :cool:

PMKeates · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:44

great advice said:
T series is Turbo only isnt it?

Nah, they did the same engine without the turbo bolted on, basically.

Looks nice agw_01 - the full side shot photo does it the best justice in my opinion. One other thing - I hear your a short guy, so do you always drive it with the seat so far reclined!? It must be hard to perceive the front of the car

agw_01 · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:44

great advice said:
T series is Turbo only isnt it?

Its a Rover so die in hell

cymatty - I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds says:
why you being nice lol
Lee says:
im in a nice mood
cymatty - I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds says:
you shold say its a rover die in hell lol

Nope, the T series was released a 2 litre NASP and 2 litre Turbo... 136 and 197bhp accordingly.

I've come to ignore cymatty now

He's started getting on my nerves with the whole Rover bashing thing. And yes, I know he'll read this

cymatty · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:46

agw_01 said:
Nope, the T series was released a 2 litre NASP and 2 litre Turbo... 136 and 197bhp accordingly.

I've come to ignore cymatty now He's started getting on my nerves with the whole Rover bashing thing. And yes, I know he'll read this

I'm everywhere.

Lopéz · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:48

Those bolts on the reas suspension almost always snap. I helped lower a 220 hatch before, right pain in the arse that was.

Vast improvement

ZG002 · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:50

agw_01 said:
Ohh, I actually totally forgot about telling my insurance

And tbh, I doubt I will bother. I'm TPFT anyway so if I do have a smash, they won't send anyone round to check the car out to get a quote for the repairs.

I might give them a call and just ask them how much it'll be if I 'was' to lower it.

Thanks for the replies guys. The pictures really don't do it any justice! The exhaust sits about 3 1/2" from the ground

id still make sure its all legit mate... i doubt it will effect the insurance that much tbh

agw_01 · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:51

Thanks Lopez

The bushes are knackered now. Actually, they were knackered even before we drilled them so I'm going to treat the car to a nice complete set of poly bushes. The front ARB-links also need replacing as well, so I'll get some replacements for those too.

Freefaller, I didn't actually do much work at all. rover220 did the fronts until Cableguy turned up, who then did the whole of the rears.

I really can't thank him enough! He's such a great guy. He even sold me an almost new radiator for next to nothing

ZG2002, yep, you're right mate. I'll give my insurers a call this week.

Firestar_3x · 2 Apr 2006 at 21:51

ZG002 said:
id still make sure its all legit mate... i doubt it will effect the insurance that much tbh

£50 at a guess.