Practically Classics Forum

Ay up!

The bits arrived for my brake rebuild today. A caliper seal kit from Bigg Red and discs and pads from Carparts4less. They were only ordered late Thursday night, through this interwebby thing.

Excellent service and good prices, I reckon.

Now, getting the calipers off will be a game. The fixings are seized solid! Where's my Profanisaurus?

Ay up!

The mounting bolts were no match for my big wrecking bar! Then I found that I needed a 7mm Allen key to release the caliper from its carrier!

Bolts copper greased up then reassembled awaiting delivery of tool.

While I'm here, the flexi-hose has rusted solid into the LHS caliper. WD40 has had no effect. Other than serious heat, anyone got any ideas?

Penetrating oil? (WD40 is for displacing water and getting chewing gum out of spaniel fur, both of which it does adequately, but to penetrate threads and such, you'd be better off with Plusgas, Duck oil - no need to squeeze your own duck, it also comes in cans - or a mixture of Diesel and white spirit).

Freeze Your Nuts Off - works a treat

What John says re. WD40 - the WD stands for "Water Displacement" which it does admirably, but it's not a penetrating oil.

Cheers!

Ay up!

I shall visit our local parts emporium.

Manhy thanks.

Ay up!

1st off I got my hands on a small can of BG In-Force ionised pentrating oil which is excellent. 5 minutes is all it took to free off Shaun's brake which were seized solid. The chap in the parts place said it was the best. He wasn't kidding! Large can purchased.....

Couple of horror stories now.

!st off, Shaun's brakes. When he bought the car it had a current MOT. However, when we goot the brakes off, the discs were horrific! Their was about a quarter of each disc swept by the pads which were deeply incised. On the unswept area, the metal was flaking off in sheets. Bent MOT? The partially swept discs were clearly visible through the alloys. New brakes fitted and the old discs consigned to our Black Museum.

The other horror is on the other minibus. I serviced the engine this week and replaced the oil, coolant and cambelt. When the timing case was removed, I found that the belt tensioner had not been set at all and the belt was flopping around loose in the case. This was apparently "professionally" fitted 6 years or so ago ( ) and the engine could have lunched itself at any time since. We now have two decent mechanics so it won't happen again! Part of this involved fixing the brakes which involved precision tools. A 4lb hammer and a large crowbar! Plus BG I-F and a dollop of brake cleaner.

Piccies to follow...

Ay up!

As promised, piccies of the knackered brake discs:
I shuddered when removing them!

And now, proof positive that Citroens are designed by crazy people:
Hidden deep behind the rear bumper. If I hadn't been too tight to buy a model with fog lights installed in the bumper, I wouldn't have had to remove all that lot!

Meanwhile, our workshop looks like a Peugeot - Citroen specialist right now...
L-R = Peugeot 306 GTI 16 (blown head gasket), Peugeot 306 conv (long term project), Citroen Xantia 1.8i LX (Fifi). Nakes a change from tatty old LDV vans!

Ay up!

The new wheel bolts arrived today. Get the bolt cracker on t'old 'uns and them fitted tomorrer.

Once I've sorted a Thermostat housing on an '06 Fiesta. 15mm bolt on the alternator needed a socket, step up, 1/2inch ratchet and 4 feet of box section to get the %&£$ thing out. One $%£$ click at a $%£& time.

I said "Oh, dear, how tiresome!" OK, I could have taken the headlight out but I never knew that Fords also had lunatic designers!

I remember when alternator or thermostat changes were given to the trainees as easy jobs. I despair......

Ay up!

The Fiesta saga continues.

Little did I know that there was a small bolt completely hidden beneath the thermo outlet.

I rattled the windows with my cheer on FINALLY removing the blasted thing!

However, there is some good news. The replacement was a mere £16, new from Fleabay. Swearing will recommence once the new part arrives. Interestingly a "Please Close The Door" notice has appeared on the door separating the canteen from our workshop......