What have you done to your car today?

jpaul said:
can you get any kind of plugin for waze to avoid that .. otherwise maybe a commercial satnav
Click to expand...

Possibly although hoping it’s not an issue now I know to look for it!

The mental thing is I seem to be doing more journeys since I’ve got this van than when I had a car.
Half the reason of switching early is due to it not mattering because it’s so rarely used.
 
jpaul said:
how are you bending the metal then ... and did you use wire brushes for stripping ... can we see weld picture for other side .
Click to expand...

Other side required a patch on the inner arch and then I had to make the two skins and plug weld them together. I also had to remake a bit on the lower section towards the bumper but didn't take any picture. managed a skim of filler and high build primer then it started raining. Hoping I can get it finished tomorrow.

My go to method is masking tape over the piece I need to cut followed by a pen then I transfer it onto fresh metal and cut and tweak into shape. I just use a flappy disc on an angle grinder to strip for welding and paint.

FUkUZzO.jpg



Not the prettiest welds in the world but welding on the inside of a wheel arch with a mask on is a job in itself. In an ideal world I would have used repair panels and cut the outer skin off and welded in that patch from the outside but a pair of repair panels cost money and I am tight so make do with offcuts :p. I always slather my welds in seam sealer anyway.

The main culprit for these cars is that the rear arches like most cars have a lip that is double skinned although Saab in their wisdom used a trim piece to cover this with next to no seam sealer so they just end up getting moisture between the two pieces and rust out.
 
Last edited:
F25 in for MOT. Need to do front brake discs and rear tyres at some point within the next few months, but there's also this advisory for the steering:
  • Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) excessive and knocking
No surprises as I've noticed the knocking noise when I've driven it lately. Any thoughts on how much of a pain in the rear that's likely to be to sort out and how much I'd be looking at? I know I'd need an alignment after even if I did do it myself (which I probably wouldn't as I'm ok with the basics like servicing, brakes and other bits but I've not done this stuff before).
 
Last edited:
My 2004 Alphard had it's MOT, sailed though, no advisories. Guy said emissions are perfect and it all looks in great nick underneath. Not bad for a 19 year old motor.

I keep thinking I should really change it for something more economical, but aside from fuel it's so cheap to run and I'm pretty sure it'll last many years with minimal drama.
 
I don't run locking nuts on anything anymore. I've gone out of my way to remove them from several cars.

They are a pain in the arse and I feel like the days of people stealing stock alloy wheels are decades in the past, unless you live in a really dodgy area and have a high end car or some eye wateringly expensive optional wheels.
 
Last edited:
Acme said:
I don't run locking nuts on anything anymore. I've gone out of my way to remove them from several cars.

They are a pain in the arse and I feel like the days of people stealing stock alloy wheels are decades in the past, unless you live in a really dodgy area and have a high end car or some eye wateringly expensive optional wheels.
Click to expand...
Direct used replacements for mine with tyres are over a grand so yeah Locking nuts are staying.
 
It is but I doubt it will be targeted when there are cars sitting around with wheels that are £2000 each. (although if any wheels are getting stolen, I'd probably up and move.) :p

If my wheels get stolen (unlikely) I guess I'd just make a claim.

But perhaps normal people don't change cars / wheels / tyres as often as I do, so its not really that much of an inconvenience for most. :D
 
Last edited:
Yeah they won't get targeted but I'd rather not take the chance. I'd rather by a spare Locking key to avoid the faff of losing one.

Can you imagine coming back to your car on bricks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom