What have you done to your car today?
- Thread starter mattyprice4004
- Start date
Soldato
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- 20 Jun 2005
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- 2,772
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- Derby
Finally finished!
Alphard failed MOT, needs a drop link, head lights polishing and a couple of small bits.
I decided to replace as much as I could get to while doing the drop link. Got lower arms and a few other bits.
Annoyingly don’t have a 22mm socket (waiting on Amazon to deliver). The engine is currently sat on a jack as an engine mount had to come off.
Noticed the suspension boot is torn to shreds. Will replace shocks once it’s through MOT
After all that, back onto the SL, needs a valve cover gasket replacing as it’s got a slight leak. Just need to endure the Merc main dealer to order new bolts
Didn’t have a ball joint removal tool, so had to wait for that to arrive. It didn’t fit, so went a picked another up.
Got everything replaced and good to go, then noticed a drip drip of oil….
I’d nicked the CV boot!! Gaaaaah! Quick rush down to Euro car parts for a generic boot which amazingly fitted.
All back together! Just need to polish the 2nd head light then it’s good for MOT retest tomorrow
The other side will be a breeze! Ha ha!
For ball joints I just whack the bit it is seated into with a hammer, usually a pickle fork isn't necessary.
Hopefully you used a proper one not a glue on CV boot, those don't last 5 mins!
I used Mitsubishi Lancer diesel CV boots on my Alto Works.
A proper ball joint separator is necessary sometimes. If it doesn't move with a few taps of the hammer, I get the separator out. If the arms are aluminium, I go straight to the separator.For ball joints I just whack the bit it is seated into with a hammer, usually a pickle fork isn't necessary.
Hopefully you used a proper one not a glue on CV boot, those don't last 5 mins!
I used Mitsubishi Lancer diesel CV boots on my Alto Works.
I strictly don't use forks as they damage the rubber boots. They're no good if you're removing a joint to get at something and need to put the same joint back on. It's fine if you're replacing the joint, obviously.
Yeah forks usually destroy the boot, I learned that the hard way a couple times.
I like the claw ones that you can hit with an impact to trigger violent disassembly though.
Violent disassembly of ball joints is the best! I have a 48oz deadblow hammer that is extremely proficient in violent disassembly.Yeah forks usually destroy the boot, I learned that the hard way a couple times.
I like the claw ones that you can hit with an impact to trigger violent disassembly though.
Soldato
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- 20 Jun 2005
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I had to use a fork, was replacing the ball joint so no worries about killing the old one.
Put a full new generic cv boot on. Might replace it with a correct one after the MOT.
I bought the funny cone for fitting the boot. Hilariously hard when you’re covered in 20 year old grease!
Put a full new generic cv boot on. Might replace it with a correct one after the MOT.
I bought the funny cone for fitting the boot. Hilariously hard when you’re covered in 20 year old grease!
Washed the car to day only to find that the fuel filler door is not opening.
Seems the central locking is not being released.
It's an F54 MINI Clubman. Anyone have any ideas or had this happen on an F series BMW?
Will call up the garage tomorrow.
Seems the central locking is not being released.
It's an F54 MINI Clubman. Anyone have any ideas or had this happen on an F series BMW?
Will call up the garage tomorrow.
More de-rusting and painting, and a few missing pieces of the puzzle arrived, the big washers/plates for the top of the subframe bushes, sill reinforcement plate and bolt to replace the one I had to cut off.
Thought my rear caliper seals and bits looked in good condition still so I spent ages cleaning and de-rusting them, only to then notice that the boots have some small splits in.
Threw out some feelers for refurb costs, they ranged from £150 to £400 (lol).
Did a bit of digging and found out that the E30 Touring has the same rear calipers as a Rover 75 so I bought a pair of brand new ones with a 5 year warranty for £40.
Not refurb exchange, just outright. I'm not giving them my genuine original BMW ATE calipers in exchange for the chinesium ones.
I'll sort the original ones in my own time and keep them as spare.
Thought my rear caliper seals and bits looked in good condition still so I spent ages cleaning and de-rusting them, only to then notice that the boots have some small splits in.
Threw out some feelers for refurb costs, they ranged from £150 to £400 (lol).
Did a bit of digging and found out that the E30 Touring has the same rear calipers as a Rover 75 so I bought a pair of brand new ones with a 5 year warranty for £40.
Not refurb exchange, just outright. I'm not giving them my genuine original BMW ATE calipers in exchange for the chinesium ones.
I'll sort the original ones in my own time and keep them as spare.
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I've done 6 tip runs in the S-Max since Sunday - 5 rear seats down, filled to the brim with stuff cleared from my sister-in-law's house.
My son has earned himself a small fortune loading & unloading at each end - money he's offered to put towards the next car (We've ordered a new Santa Fe) "so we can wash it more than once in 18 months, Dad"...
...I think he may have a point.
My son has earned himself a small fortune loading & unloading at each end - money he's offered to put towards the next car (We've ordered a new Santa Fe) "so we can wash it more than once in 18 months, Dad"...
...I think he may have a point.
Since getting my R5 three weeks ago it slightly annoyed me that, despite it being a brand new model (and an EV) with LED lights everywhere, Renault still found a way to sneak an old-fashioned halogen bulb into the boot. Today I put that right:
Much better.
Much better.
Soldato
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- 28 Dec 2017
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That was a load bearing halogen! Car's going to go mental now with no proper load on.Since getting my R5 three weeks ago it slightly annoyed me that, despite it being a brand new model (and an EV) with LED lights everywhere, Renault still found a way to sneak an old-fashioned halogen bulb into the boot. Today I put that right:
Much better.
...so I took the final load to the tip this morning: a manky inflatable hot-tub-slash-mosquito-farm, all the condolence flowers left in the front courtyard, the last few bags of Christmas stuff from the attic and something that smelled worse than when we first got the keys to the house.
...then I took the car to be valeted, ready for Thruxton Retro tomorrow.
...they charged me double and I had no issue paying it.
If it chucks it down tomorrow, you'll know why.
Finished assembling the arms and stuff ready to go back on the E30 when my diff is back from the rebuilders.
I'm not sure how I feel about the rear subframe assembly being the nicest part of my car, but I am pleased with how things look.
Meanwhile on the Austin, I installed a new core plug.
I'm not sure how I feel about the rear subframe assembly being the nicest part of my car, but I am pleased with how things look.
Meanwhile on the Austin, I installed a new core plug.
It's a French car, if the things people say are true it'll do that of its own accord anyway!
@Akagi That sub frame looks sweet.
I spent the day installing a diff with a new limited slip unit manufactured by a Caterham engineering specialist (called Tracsport). Have run it in 2nd gear around the block and it seems to be okay. Proper drive tomorrow to test for faults, then used for anger in two weeks at a hillclimb. 31 C and reassembling the back end of a car is not a lot of fun.
I spent the day installing a diff with a new limited slip unit manufactured by a Caterham engineering specialist (called Tracsport). Have run it in 2nd gear around the block and it seems to be okay. Proper drive tomorrow to test for faults, then used for anger in two weeks at a hillclimb. 31 C and reassembling the back end of a car is not a lot of fun.
I have done very little outside in this heat I must admit. Just little bits and pieces...
Associate
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- 20 Dec 2010
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Put the new wing on my banger 500l. That was so much harder than I expected and it still looks crap. Asked in every Fiat group I could find how to remove it and I don't think it's a job many have tackled so I did what I could and have taken my car from looking accident damaged to just really poorly looked after. Which for my budget I think I will have to live with. Clearly I've been watching too many Youtube mechanics, they've wrongly convinced me I could give this a go. 
Is it bolted and bonded in place or just bonded? Bonded only is the really tough one to get right.Put the new wing on my banger 500l. That was so much harder than I expected and it still looks crap. Asked in every Fiat group I could find how to remove it and I don't think it's a job many have tackled so I did what I could and have taken my car from looking accident damaged to just really poorly looked after. Which for my budget I think I will have to live with. Clearly I've been watching too many Youtube mechanics, they've wrongly convinced me I could give this a go.