How'do folks
I doubt this last year has been Great for any of us
I lost my two best friends - both my Parents passed at home - my Mother passed on the 8th October, my Father four days later on the 12th October.
both their health deteriorated rapidly literally the same day. after some Hospital time both were home in their own beds - I converted the Living room and had it lovely with both their beds in - neither of them wanted to be in a Hospital bed - ultimately it was Home for palliative care, and however hard that may have been to deal with - I'm glad we were able to make it possible for them to be Home.
Love To You Both, Sleep Tight.
needless to say, my Car never received much of my attention.
I took the car off the road on the 5th Feb this year - MOT was due and i wanted to do a couple of jobs - front n/s wheel bearing and front anti roll bar Bushes and hoped to change the tyres.
hmmmm.....best laid plans and all that.
the ARB Bushes i tackled first - expecting it to be easy as i had managed to remove these a while back. only to find i'd been supplied REAR ARB Bushes.
I'd fitted new Bolts when I reinstalled the old Bushes - so i never expected to be dealing with a seized and quickly rounded Bolt
best part of 2 days removing that one Bolt......still, Glad when it was removed.
the Wheel Bearing wasn't much better - managed to remove the Bearing and Drive Flange - Removed Drive Flange - removed Inner Race from Drive Flange
.........wait..what's that left in the Swivel Hub? - the Outer Race - I could not remove this and opted for an Original New Swivel Hub i'd found for a steal
to shorten this a wee bit - I changed N/S Swivel Hub, Wheel Bearing (fag) Wheel Speed/ABS sensor (Lemark) and Brake Shield
then done the same on the O/S
with the Swivel Hub being from DMGRS (aftermarket)
it doesn't end there - when I removed the N/S Hub i took the whole Strut/Hub assembly from the Car - i'd removed and secured the Brake calliper - there had been no sign of leakage - as i had to wait on extra parts the car sat for a few days - i think 2 days after removing the Strut/Hub I noticed some moisture around the Brake Line/Flexi union - I call that the best timing
dodged a bullet there - there was a sizeable piece of Road Salt wedged behind the Line on top of the Support Bracket which wouldn't have been helping with corrosion prevention - in all fairness i should have had these Brake Lines replaced sooner.
I replaced N/S and O/S Front Brake Lines and Flexis (Rear Brake Lines done last year by CossieDunc
) and I fitted the Callipers with New Stainless Bleed Nipples and a wee bit of a Paint Matt Black (also Painted my Tyre Protectors on the Struts)
I also removed some Rust spots on the Inner Wing/Wheel Arch and tried some Hammerite Under-Body Seal Waxoyl Spray.
Bled the Brakes with help from my Brother in law
took the Car for MOT today - Fail
Wrong Size Tyre
I hadn't bothered with New Tyres as i wanted to see if there would be any other major issues first - so fitted my best four.
I did go straight back after digging out another with same size Tyre.
Tyres are not Great but Legal and i'll replace these for new asap.
"Advisory" for Reverse Lights Not Working - i'd have thought a Fail for that ?
why do Bulbs play up on the MOT Test - All working after I "checked" them.
Front Subframe Corrosion "Advisory"
Play on Steering Rack Inner Joint and Both Inner Tie Rods "Advisory" - I changed inner tie rods last year
Fuel Tank Strap "Advisory"
I think that was all.
there is a whole lot NEEDS done in my opinion - still, the MOT wasn't too bad.
something to keep me busy in the coming months
hope You are all doing well
and for these feeling it bad - my best wishes
Paul.