Brookjm's BX Handbrake woes

[HMC]

This may be a familiar site to regulars, as this particular BX has been the transport of choice for Dollywobbler. Garethj and latterly minimad5. It was advertised recently at a good price and after sorting 'logistics' aka trying to organise picking it up whilst not having a spare weekend, or even being in the country. It now sits on the drive, keeping fellow PSA refugee 504 company as it rests on its bump stops.

 

The collection thread started and ended with a visit to the shiply website whilst slumped on a ledersitz at my parents in law in Germany. Previous chod collections trudging about in the small hours on public transport, high on espresso and trying to find the right platform at some station or other was but a distant memory. We drove back today to be greeted by it hunched on the drive. SWMBO declared 'well its just another ugly old car' I felt quite defensive of it's Gandini penned origami, but she has a point. Most panels have some small dent or other and its shedding paint and laquer from various places. I just love it, it drives well, all the plumbing appears to be in order, and with new spheres and accumulator last year it wafts about brilliantly. Minimad5 said it had a rattle from the front end, but it seems it was nothing more that a loose wheeltrim which has since dropped off and the rattle gone. I went back and retrieved it from a hedge.

 

 

 

 

 

[dollywobbler]

Looks familiar! Though it didn't have a black spoiler and a Peugeot gearknob when I sold it...

 

Worth signing up at BX Club (www.bxclub.co.uk) and good timing, as the server suffered LHM loss and went down for a few days. It's back now.

[vulgalour]

Every time I have no transport due to broken cars someone posts about enjoying their BX and I get very, very jealous indeed.  I'm not scouring the internet for a BX to buy.  No I'm not.

[dollywobbler]

Have you see that stunning 19RD in Huddersfield on BXC Vulgalour? Just thought I'd mention it...

[vulgalour]

LALALA I'm not listening!

[beko1987]

Love it! These are nudging up the list for the replacement for the XM rather rapidly!

[messerschmitt owner]

The BX isn't a replacement - it's a downsize!

[dollywobbler]

Also a downcomplexity!

[mat_the_cat]

 

It's been worked on by me, and I'm now wondering whether I put that wheel trim back on properly...

[Shep Shepherd]

I do like a nice BX. I have fond memories of driving my mother's H-registration 16 TZS automatic hatchback in the early 2000s

[dollywobbler]

Here it is during my ownership.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILf--isnFyQ&feature=share&list=PL54-PwTtwEP4ACWUhO3QkexwT4bWMTJPx&index=6

 

Some of this video was shot in the field of shite dreams (ie Shitefest location).

[messerschmitt owner]

hub cap on and then bolts and it's held on by the wheelbolts.

 

Those are some of the comfiest seats to be found in a small car too.

[HMC]

Excuse the noob questions but this is the first time I've owned something not suspended by coil or even good old leaf springs. Braking, even heavily is astonishingly flat, but under acceleration there's a sense of the rear of the car squatting, is this normal?

[messerschmitt owner]

Yes. Load in the back makes the back brakes work better too. Braking on a bx should be excellent.

[Minimad5]

Hope that she is behaving for you !
Already miss this reliable old beast, its replacement just doesn't have any sort of character.

[dollywobbler]

Does that make it the most regretted car on Autoshite? I'm still mildly kicking myself for selling it, though an estate is vastly more practical.

[Minimad5]

 under acceleration there's a sense of the rear of the car squatting, is this normal?

That may be due to me specifying "Softest Spheres possible please" , when they were replaced last year.

I would (if you could) try book a sphere check-up with the guy who did the spheres, as it should be free and doesn't take long, leaving you lots of free time to enjoy the delights of MANCHESTAAAA

[Minimad5]

It's been worked on by me, and I'm now wondering whether I put that wheel trim back on properly...

Not your fault, i have since replaced the TRE on both sides (if i recall correctly) , so may of been my mistake !

 

Matthew - Did i put the other wheel trim in the boot ? , as i can't find it in my garage

[HMC]

Mark, yes I have the trim, I fitted it without fully understanding how it fixes into place! Got a lot to learn

With the bx! I'm really pleased you had the softest spheres fitted, I would have asked for the same and am loving the ride quality.

 

Reactions from work have been - what is it? It looks like a boy racers car ( lowered/ spoiler) and my fave " is it the back to the future car?"

[wackywacerwill]

Back2thebeige, again.

 

Those trims are pretty snazzy though I do like the no holes steels on a BX. The rustyness of the wheel matches the flakyness of the bumper in a good way and all real shite has missing hub caps PHAKT.

[dollywobbler]

Ah, yes. That would explain it. The turbo diesels originally had firmer spheres, like a GTi to handle all of that raw power. I can't make the back squat with the fearsome power of my diesel estate, but I imagine full boost on your TXD can make it sit back a bit.

 

Some quick BX tips. It's a good idea to run it through all suspension heights every now and then or the height linkage can seize (ie if not touched for months at a time). If the handbrake gets too loose, handbrake off and press the brake pedal very hard. That should tighten it up a bit. You usually find the handbrake improves after an emergency stop...

 

Don't chock the rear wheels before changing the height, as the rear wheels needs to be free to move - hence why the handbrake is up front.

 

Rear subframe mountings are starting to become a weak point. Slather them in some nice waxy, oily anti-rot gunk. Rear crossmember too.

 

Rear arm bearings are a bit feeble, but they were replaced on that one during my ownership.

 

Yes, the rear wiper really does operate like that. (press the button, release, get wash and one wipe and that's your lot).

[Skizzer]

All this BX lovin is making even me misty eyed, and mine was nowt but trouble (carbs mostly, later electrics). I gave it to my sister in the end: she didn't speak to me for years afterwards.

[mat_the_cat]

If the handbrake gets too loose, handbrake off and press the brake pedal very hard. That should tighten it up a bit.

 

It may help the self adjustment to pull up on the handbrake lever a few times whilst pressing the footbrake full on. I'd echo the comments about the subframe mounts - easy to check under the boot carpet and under the plastic trims by the rear seatbelt lower mounts.

[mrcitroen]

Yes, the rear subframe mounts are a weak point. The rear ones on mine were fine, but the leading ones were rotten. It is quite an involved repair to do properly. It requires removal of the subframe and fuel tank which is not too bad a job.

 

Before

 

 

After

 

I reckon most BX's will now suffer from this. Apart from that, mine is really rot free.

 

Now all doused in Dynax S50

[HMC]

It may help the self adjustment to pull up on the handbrake lever a few times whilst pressing the footbrake full on. I'd echo the comments about the subframe mounts - easy to check under the boot carpet and under the plastic trims by the rear seatbelt lower mounts.

 

Did this today and its really sharpened up the handbrake (which i think acts on the front wheels by the looks of things) thanks for the tip! Have also worked the suspension through its settings a few times and it seems to rise faster now.

 

I had a meeting today and whizzed off in the bx, which is suprisingly swift when the turbo cuts in, exiting a roundabout i had the serbian made front tyres chirruping away. Only when I arrived home did I reallise i'd dressed to match the snazzy (and really comfortable) pinstripe interior.....

 

[HMC]

Been sharing daily use between this and the 504 the last few weeks. This thing is amazingly economical, though it looses out to more recent stuff on the engine tech front, one thing its got over them is its lightness- barely over a tonne to shift makes all the difference.

 

 

Gave it a wash, not too heavy on the pressure washer as the lacquer seems a bit fragile on this, but i gave the underside a good going over and had a look once it dried off. The front strut tops and inner wings look fine, as to the rear inners, though its hard to have a proper look at the rear suspension mounts without having it properly on stands. I sprayed some dynax clear wax rustproof gunk over the strut tops and front inner wings. When things warm up a bit I will order some dynax s50 cavity wax and spend a mucky day treating the various box sections. Impressive how rustproofing has progressed as a french car half the bx's age now, when it was new in 1992 and not treated well would have been gathered up in a dustpan and brush.

 

 

Ive also looked at ways of sorting the rear spoiler. I know some BX people are not keen on these but I like its 80s-ness! Most of the original paint fell off it (a recurring theme), and its been painted satin black. Almost as cheap as buying a couple of rattle cans has been to buy a spoiler off e bay already in the body colour. Should be on its way to me this week.

[mat_the_cat]

When you're putting the new spoiler on, the nuts can be a bit of a bugger to thread onto the studs on the new spoiler. But pushing them in a piece of hose and using that to get the thread started should help a bit.

[HMC]

Sitting in traffic on a hill today and pulling on the handbrake was met with a faint twang and then nothing.

 

Taking apart the centre console showed the offside cable to be under slight tension but nothing on the nearside. This gave me a good excuse to play with the jacking system, put the supension in high, shove the jack under the side in question, put the suspension in low- the car jacks itself and retracts the wheels up off the ground......

 

 

 

Taking off the front wheel (bx handbrakes like to do things differently) it was clear the cable had snapped. (its the thicker trunking over the suspension arm) It almost looked like the cable shrouding had been worn away by the wheel a bit too.....

 

 

Im about to order up a cable- any recommendations for suppliers? there seems plenty to choose from on e bay. Also is there any good in ordering 2 and replacing them as a matched pair?- the present 2 dont match. Finally, anyone done one on these? Routeing it doesnt look like too much of a ball ache but these things can be deceptive!

[mrcitroen]

AEP in Glasgow sell the Lecoy handbrake cables. They are OEM and reputed to be the best for the BX. They are around £14 each and not sided. They are quite easy to fit.

 

AEP do mail order. Just google them.

[HMC]

Thanks Mr C!