My First actual bit of mechanics ever!

[Philyc]

I have fiddle with bits on my car before but i have taken a bigger task on now.

 

I spun after aquaplaning round a corner this week and bent the steering rack and rear beam on the fiesta. So managed to find a donor in a scrappy today and got bits i needed.

 

So this afternoon the old steering rack came out and the rear beam came off. Unfortunately the new rack is the wrong type so have ordered the right one off ebay.

 

Also discovered that one of the rear shocks was bent too so jave convinced the wife to let me get a new shock and lowered springs all round, yay!

 

Will be fitting the new beam tomorrow and then its just a wait for the other bits to get here so hopefully next weekend ill be back on the road.

 

Just chuffed with myself for managing without a haynes manual really, so thought i would share my enjoyment.

 

Pics will follow tomorrow.

 

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[purplebargeken]

Well done but I would buy a pair of shocks personally. New and old stuff, worn v unworn.

[Jim Bell]

The lowering springs you're about to fit are what caused the accident in the first place [/mumsnet]

[Philyc]

Points taken i already have had brand new shocks put on About 2 months ago so just replacing the damaged one.

 

By lowered springs i mean 30mms tops.

 

This car will turn into a bit of an occasional shite-mobile and my little motorbike will be my daily.

 

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[sierraman]

Cue some unusual handling of you just replace 1 shocker.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Good work, keep us posted!!!! Pics are obligatory of course.

[billyboy406v6]

Extra points for oily bits on kitchen table !

[beko1987]

Nice one! Its a glorious day for the spanners, about to get them out myself (well, the breaker bar anyway)

[PhillipM]

Aquaplanes off corner.
 Buys one shock and lowering springs....

I'm going back to mumsnet!

[lisbon_road]

Give him a break, he said he bought new shocks very recently so replacing one doesn't seem too bad to me - try and get the same make if you can - and I am not so sure if lowered springs need different shocks mind.  

[Cavcraft]

Fair play to you, PhilyC,  you'll get far more enjoyment out of your car knowing you have/can fix it. +1 on the pictures, please. 

[Philyc]

 

One times bent steering rack.

 

On the shocks side ive got the same make as the one its replacing. And the springs should fit as they are coming off another mk3.

 

 

New rear beam in with new brake shoes aswell. Didnt manage a pic of the old beam and ots now with the scrappy.

 

Thanks for all comments. And i appreciate the concern. If the springs work then great. If not then i can go back to the originals and no harm done. Im not one for ragging my cars around, but hey, im still young and ill learn from any mistakes i make.

 

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[tooSavvy]

Live & Learn......

 

Listen & Learn best practice...... live longer, eh?

 

 

TS

[PhillipM]

Well, the springs aren't going to help the wet handling any on standard dampers

 

[Philyc]

True, but good tyres make the most difference and how many people do you see driving around on crap rubber.

 

I just thought id try it out. For the sake of 30 quid i can use them for one drive and if theyre shite then i can take them off again and turn them into bookends etc haha

 

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[captain_70s]

If you modify you crash it, dems da ruelz.

 

The previous owner of my Dolomite MODIFIED IT with SPRINT ALLOYS which caused me to CRASH IT. I HAVEN'T CRASHED it even once since putting back on the STOCK STEEL WHEELS so I can only assume it was the MODIFICATIONS that made it less stable and NOT the fact I dumped the clutch in 2nd gear at a wet roundabout.

[twosmoke300]

A local bike shop to me calls ace handlebars " ace-fall off bars " cos everyone that fits them falls off !

[rainagain]

I have a full set of NOS Monroe shocks, let me know if you're interested.

[Philyc]

I have a full set of NOS Monroe shocks, let me know if you're interested.

If they are for a mk3 fiesta then i may be

 

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[The Moog]

Well done for getting stuck in. Quickest way to learn.

[rainagain]

If they are for a mk3 fiesta then i may be

 

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They were when I bought them I'm sure, I got then for my BIL's mk3 but he ended up selling it before we could fit them. I will double check next time I'm round my dad's.

[rainagain]

[rainagain]

[rainagain]

According to cheesebay R3756 fits rear of mk3 Fiesta

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-MONROE-ORIGINAL-REAR-SHOCK-ABSORBER-FORD-FIESTA-MK-III-1989-1997-R3756-/310920910671?nav=SEARCH

[rainagain]

And 11117 fits the front

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-MONROE-ORIGINAL-FRONT-SHOCK-ABSORBER-FORD-FIESTA-MK-III-1989-1997-11117-/191125927688?nav=SEARCH

 

Not sure why one of the fronts is grey and ones blue, same part number, though. If you're interested let me know.