1987 Renault GTA :: Gone to a new home

[PhilA]

Time has passed by.

 

Someone else tried bleeding the brakes. They aren't much better, and now I have to get the car up on ramps to slacken off the shoe adjusters on the back because the drums are binding.

 

On the plus side I now have more accurate steering (rather, it's not like driving a 1893 De Dion down a gravel track any more) and he found a few rusty cans of R12 Freon to redo the aircon with. Yay for Mates Rates. The Freon came for the grand price of nothing and I think he's going to charge me $55 to re-charge the system.

 

That ain't bad.

 

Next up a set of new tyres, a front end alignment and then probably get someone else to look at the brakes.

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

Stuck the car up on the ramp tonight after work, gave the adjusters a wallop, wound them back off and then pumped the brakes to get them to tighten up, correct procedure.

 

Brakes no longer bind, but they aren't great still.

 

Steering feels funny but it needs an alignment yet. Then a set of tyres.

 

More soon.

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

In the cold this morning the power steering has begun to make the pump howl. Turning the steering then letting go should take the pressure off the rack and it should shut up but it doesn't.

 

If I move it away from center the pump will whine with engine speed as if it's under a lot of pressure, then as I move it out toward lock, it heads that way easily and won't self-center in either direction.

 

It also shudders as I turn the steering. Something ain't right. I hope the guy didn't top off the steering with brake fluid or something stupid.

 

Back up on the ramp tonight.

 

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

Just moved it from space A to space B in the parking lot because a bunch of contractors had parked up outside this building.

 

It howls just turning into the space.. like there's far too much pressure on the pump.

 

Popped the lid off the reservior, level's the same (just about over minimum) but the fluid is foamy, so definitely is being worked too hard.

 

I think Russell done something wrong to my steering. Feels like he might have over-tightened the tie rods onto the end of the rack and crushed the ball joints making them stiff to move and thus making the rack bend as the wheels turn. That would explain the over-pressure as it's having to work against it.

 

If so, new tie rods time because that'll have ruined them.

 

Speculation right now, but meh.

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

...and one extra post to take it off 666 posts. Just because.

[Skizzer]

Worrying times.  Hope it's an easy fix.

[PhilA]

Worrying times.  Hope it's an easy fix.

If not, pumps and pipes and racks are available.

 

Just at a cost.

 

--Phil

[steve_earwig]

Would it be worth changing the fluid? I'm sure I read recently on this very forum someone stopped their ps rack howling by changing the fluid. Not sure about those bubbles though...

[PhilA]

The fluid is only 1000 miles old and everything's been good up until I had the track rod arms and ball-joints replaced last weekend.

 

I'm going to investigate- first thing, pull the ball joints out of the hubs and see if the problems persist.

 

It's making noises like a JCB that's trying to dig a hole that's just a little bit too stubborn, and the foam in the reservoir will be from the pump being overloaded- the HSSSSSSS you get on most racks as you push them to their limits is cavitation in the fluid, this one doesn't do that, it just causes the pump to load up. I could make it do this if I pushed the steering to lock before (which is normal as the pump is fighting against the stopper at the end of the rack).

 

I'll take a look tonight after work and see. Then go from there.

 

--Phil

[steve_earwig]

Erk, so not filled with swampwater then, fairy nuff. Something seized perhaps?

 

Good luck!

[PhilA]

Erk, so not filled with swampwater then, fairy nuff. Something seized perhaps?

 

Good luck!

Thinking the guy might have crushed the inner ball joint possibly on one of the arms. Undoing the wheels from the rack and allowing it to just move should show if that's the issue.

 

--Phil

[Inspector Morose]

My guess is it's sucking air in. Foamy fluid and noise all point in that direction. Possibly a sticky valve but pretty sure it wouldn't make the 'groan' in both directions if that was the case. If it was mechanical resistance you'd be stalling the engine or, if it was a lancia power steering design, breaking the cambelt.

[Parky]

Fair play with this Phil, hope you can get it sorted.

 

If parts are unobtanium there, put the word out on here as I think the front steering and suspension parts were very similar to the 5, 9, and 11 which will be rare enough to find here, but a darn sight easier than over there!

 

Of course that's allowing for Renault to use standard parts across the globe and I know from experience that standardisation isn't in their language....

[PhilA]

Surprisingly I can still get all the parts of the steering system.

 

Unsurprisingly, to remove the rack I first have to remove the engine.

 

 

--Phil

[Parky]

But think how many Black Widows you will be able to get rid of!

 

I would be almost tempted, just so I could do the clutch and pumps, give it a decoke while its out, that sort of thing. But I would just know that I would ruin every crusty hose and piece of wiring loom in the process. And I would destroy the engine mounts which are probably off the shelf for $$$$$$$$$$$

 

You must get people stopping to admire it though, or don't the Americans appreciate European quality?

[PhilA]

People don't really give it a second glance.

 

The engine's only been in for 1000 miles, it's just beginning to run in!

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

...and the window regulator has failed. I know the guy had the window open.. he's gotta have wound it up too hard. Yet another one failed.

 

Anyone want to buy a Renault GTA?

[steve_earwig]

There's always the bayou...

 

Wedge it up with a stick, see if you can sort out the ps - prioritise man!

[PhilA]

PS burped tonight and appears to be better now.

 

I think I didn't notice because I've before now been real gentle with the steering.

 

It still makes noise but eh. It works.

 

 

The window regulator annoys me because it took six months to find one last time. Th electric ones are a much better design so I think that might be the way to go.

 

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

I've measured everything up and found some PTFE (Teflon) tube that matches the tubing Renault used (though I think the stuff they used was FEP but PTFE is technically better so long as I can get it to adhere to the existing plastic.

 

I ordered a short length of the stuff to see if the pysical dimensions are close enough that I can go ahead and cut out and expect the gear to mesh properly.

 

Being Teflon it's also really slippery. That explains the lack of grease in the tubes to begin with.

 

Updates as they come.

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

Fixed the steering (it was sucking air because I'm a pillock and was looking at the wrong marker for "minimum" in the reservoir).

 

Fixed the aircon also.

 

Russell looking cheerful to be working on my car. He's still certified for R12 so in it went.

 

Started to chase all the oil through (you can see the beige in the window of the receiver/dryer):

 

 

Which means it gets cold now. Condensation on the cold bits!

 

 

It's much nicer to drive about in the heat now. The aircon actually works pretty well. I'm surprised. Just gotta fix the fan switch which gets hot on MAX.

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

Drove to work this morning in pleasantly cooled air. Does quite a good job of drying the air also, judging by the pool of condensate on the the floor.

 

It's all good until you're doing 30 in 5th (about 1500 rpm), the aircon cuts in and the resultant load on the engine gives you whiplash.

 

 

Need to get an alignment done on the front, but the cheapest I've been able to find that around here is $79 +tax.

 

Fun times. Bloody expensive.

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

Went bought a box of gloves this morning, and stuck the car up on the ramp again.

 

No photos of the during, as it was messy enough to warrant gloves, but I had finally gotten fed up of the exhaust leaking so reduced myself to sticking lashings of exhaust wob on the section of pipe that had decided to go holey.

 

 

Just waiting for that lot to cure, sat in the car with the doors open. It's gone from really horrible weather to cool, breezy "suitable for the beach" weather. Shame there's no beach. I can hear a few chickens and there's the sound of a few hotrods- I think the Swamp Stomp is today.

 

It's too windy to do bodywork and paint today, unfortunately. Plus SWMBO said we need to go grocery shopping.

 

New tires next week though! Going to get a set of Dunlop Direzzas. Sounds like some sort of disease, but they have good reviews and aren't horrendously expensive.

 

Phil

[spike60]

For minor exhaust bodgery, which yours doesn't look like, those instant metals are much better than anything meant for exhausts. I have access to Belzona something or other and it's probably fair to say the repaired exhaust will easily be best quality material in my VW! Mind you, it's probably also the most expensive.

[PhilA]

Yeah, it had rusted out along the seam for about six inches. The rest of the pipe is galvanised and still in really very good condition.

 

I bought this because it's tractor-quality and cost $5

 

It's shut it up adequately so it works well enough for me. Even though it's likely to leak and crumble off in a few hundred miles. I don't pop and bang on over-run now so it's better, certainly shut it up a considerable amount.

 

I need really to undo and measure the pipe to get a proper muffler for the back. Scaffold tube is a bit.. poor at reducing noise.

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

These had better bloody well last, as expensive as they were.

 

 

Kumho Ecstas. Softer sidewall than specified which makes it a bit wobbly if you jerk the steering at high speed. However, that is inadviseable as a rule so therefore I shall enjoy compliant, French ride quality instead.

 

Crappy not-quite-a-gas-station shot

 

 

They have a different profile, and despite being all-season, are directional.

 

Alignment was also "quite a long way off" after the steering track rods and ball joints were replaced. Car no longer wanders and will proceed in a straight line if you let go the wheel now.

 

 

It'll buzz along merrily all day like this now. Excellent* camera skills there too.

 

Tightened up the aux belt because the aircon was making it squeal now the weather's gotten humid. Oil change coming up due. Tine for a new belt also.

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

Well, it started running rough as a rough thing earlier. Thought I had an ignition related misfire. Got home, had a poke about and found one of the rubber bungies blocking a spare port off on the brake booster had vanished.

 

Found a replacement in the form of a laser fiber end cap, in a fetching shade of red.

 

 

Smooth running restored. Win.

 

Phil

[stuboy]

winston wolf says..yes yes

[PhilA]

I haven't watched Pulp Fiction in years.

 

Took the car on a high speed blezz this morning to renew my license. 26 miles round trip at about 70(ish). Normal service has been resumed. Second gear is becoming increasingly awkward to engage, due to the mechanism. That's on the to-do list.

 

Oil change also now due, done 1518 miles as of pulling back into the parking lot. First oil change after the rebuild was done at about 5 miles, now 1500.. from here on in it'll be 3000 mile intervals as recommended* by the manufacturer.

 

At least the oil and filters are cheap. I think I'm going to put 15W/40 into it and see how it goes, 15W/50 seems a bit heavy.

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

All the exhaust bandage burned up and fell off. Figured as much. Gave the car a wash.

 

New keyring arrived in the mail, shiny Renault badge, woo.

 

 

Also the two random bits of gear shift linkage that Renault still offer, which I don't really think will help it's worth a try.

 

Phil