320touring's Exclusive Clio 172 - Unbroken brakes 03/03/19

[320touring]

Went out with the good lady for lunch today.

 

Over a Tuna and cheese panini she let slip that the ole #60, the bastion of reliability was making a noise from the front right.

 

I enquired as to type of sound and frequency...

 

1. A rubbing sound almost constantly

 

2. A clanking sound sporadically

 

Sounds entertaining.

 

Anyway, get your Clio in the air and wave it like you just don't care.

 

With the wheel off, it was relief all round..

 

The rubbing sound was this piece of arch liner that had detached and was sitting on the bottom arm rubbing on the tyre.

 

The clanking sound was this jubilee clip that had escaped from the CV boot, and was rattling away merrily on the ARB.

 

I put everything back together and took it to Halfords, where a new jubilee clip was procured.

 

For the first time in a long time I've managed to identify and rectify a fault in the same day:)

[Split_Pin]

Good news!

[320touring]

This has disappeared all its power steering fluid..

 

Leak from lower pipe has got worse.

 

I can get a pipe ok, but by all accounts it's a pita to swap:(

[Split_Pin]

What needs removing to get access?

[bigfella2]

If it's the one bolted to the front of the box then yes it's an arsesole to do. Got a pipe if you struggling, removed mine last weekend. Deffo buy new 'o' rings from Renault though. Fucked of with my Pas, converting mine to epas.

[320touring]

If it's the one bolted to the front of the box then yes it's an arsesole to do. Got a pipe if you struggling, removed mine last weekend. Deffo buy new 'o' rings from Renault though. Fucked of with my Pas, converting mine to epas.

Cheers,

 

What's involved in the epas conversion?

[bigfella2]

You need a manual early DCI rack, a powered electronic steering column, a controller to make the electronic column work, and a way to get rid of the Pas pump, so either a cup alternator setup or another way to route the belts to do away with the Pas pump.

 

Sounds a bit extreme, but bits are relatively cheap, for instance I only paid £20 for the rack delivered and £40 for the column.

[320touring]

Cheers

 

Sounds like an off the road job:(

 

I need the car on the road, so will need to see re fitting a new pipe!

[320touring]

Today this was great*

 

Got a lift to the station via the burd. Car felt lethargic, and was making all sorts of shudders and noises.

 

Clutch in, car slowed rapidly.

 

 

Got home from work, and set to looking at calipers..

 

Front left binding. Rear left ok.

 

Front left stripped cleaned and rebuilt - functioning well.

 

Rear left now binding

 

Stripped, cleaned and reassembled. Now working correctly.

 

 

Right rear was binding - this is the one that had the snapped disc, and was stripped and rebuilt when rear discs were replaced.

 

Despite stripping, cleaning and rebuilding, it is still binding a bit.

 

If so ever meet the chap who designed the rear calipers on these, I shall boot him in the foof. Repeatedly.

 

Car now rolling much freer, but I really need some time where it can be off the road for some attention. The front and rear dampers are shot. Brakes Need much loving and it needs front arms too.

 

There's also the small matter of the Burd's Clio needing recommissioning too.

 

Tldr : don't buy a 172 if you are looking for a car that will perform daily duties.

[sporty-shite]

 

Tldr : don't buy a 172 if you are looking for a car that will perform daily duties.

GR8 ????

[Split_Pin]

Can I ask what is involved in stripping down and freeing off a binding caliper? Thats 2 cars I have had with this problem but I got a garage to sort it so its about time I learned.

[320touring]

GR8 ????

At one point I had 3, and nane worked.. you're limiting your exposure with one;)

[320touring]

Can I ask what is involved in stripping down and freeing off a binding caliper? Thats 2 cars I have had with this problem but I got a garage to sort it so its about time I learned.

Strip off caliper, remove piston seal, clean up detritus, refit seal, push piston back in.

 

Then pump it out a touch, then push back etc until it moves out and returns freely.

 

I usually clean up the carrier and pads too.

 

Can be simple, can be an absolute pain.

[beko1987]

Can I ask what is involved in stripping down and freeing off a binding caliper? Thats 2 cars I have had with this problem but I got a garage to sort it so its about time I learned.

Take it all apart, hit it with a hammer and swearing at it usually... Sodding things, feel your pain Neil, the meriva needed a yearly strip of its calipers, the blue laguna seized both its rears too

[Split_Pin]

Cheers Neil you make it sound easy*

[oldcars]

The two i have had cleaned on the 75 only lasted a few 100 miles before the started sticking again. Had to be replaced. Not sure if this is a Rover thing as never had sticking calipers on any other cars.

[320touring]

We'll, a milestone has been passed.

 

180k miles has been and gone.

 

 

It has done about 5500 miles with us so far,averaging £0.30/mile for everything bar tax and insurance.

 

It is comprehensively fucked.

 

It doesn't idle when cold

Randomly idles at 2000rpm

Exhaust hangers are goosed (again!)

Rear dampers fucked

Front dampers fucked

Front arms gubbed

Rear calipers take it in turns being grumpy

Needs front discs (present)

 

It also needs a service and a damn good clean.

 

I think I'll take her off the road for a refit/swearing session.

[RobT]

180k out of a Renault is good going though! A+ for persevering with it.

[Rave]

Strip off caliper, remove piston seal, clean up detritus, refit seal, push piston back in.

 

Then pump it out a touch, then push back etc until it moves out and returns freely.

 

I usually clean up the carrier and pads too.

 

Can be simple, can be an absolute pain.

 

Alternatively, after doing the stripping and cleaning, fit a new piston and seal. Got mine from Bigg Red, about 16 quid for my 106.

[dome]

In my experience it's usually the sliders that stick first so freeing/cleaning/greasing these up will sort sticky brakes.

I always peel back the piston seal but if it's not corroded just spray some lube in there and leave it.

[320touring]

In my experience it's usually the sliders that stick first so freeing/cleaning/greasing these up will sort sticky brakes.

I always peel back the piston seal but if it's not corroded just spray some lube in there and leave it.

Rear calipers look like they were 2nd hand aff the Titanic..

[Rave]

In my experience it's usually the sliders that stick first so freeing/cleaning/greasing these up will sort sticky brakes.

I always peel back the piston seal but if it's not corroded just spray some lube in there and leave it.

 

My piston was gubbed and absolutely stuck fast, the sliders were actually OK and had clearly been greased in recent memory. I had a bugger of a job getting the old bleed nipple out but the rest of the caliper rebuild was quite easy and restored full functionality. Like I say a new piston and seal is pretty cheap, so if you're going down the route of popping the piston out to clean it and grease the seal, you should give serious consideration to just replacing them if they're not perfect.

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/29041-raves-motors-idiot-bodging-shit-up-as-he-goes-along-106-exhaust/?p=1421442

 

I haven't yet attempted a rear caliper with a handbrake mechanism, that could well introduce a new world of pain for all I know. The calipers on the back of my Mondeo are on their last legs so I might find out soon...

[chaseracer]

Rear calipers look like they were 2nd hand aff the Titanic..

 

FACTORY.

[dome]

It's clear to me that the only possible solution is to buy this with a blown head gasket and stick the 172 engine into it. 

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-Renault-Kangoo-i-4-DCI-Spares-or-Repair-2005-Plate-Cat-C/392064018443?hash=item5b48d6280b:g:O7oAAOSw9sZa3cw7

 

 

 

 

[320touring]

It's clear to me that the only possible solution is to buy this with a blown head gasket and stick the 172 engine into it.

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-Renault-Kangoo-i-4-DCI-Spares-or-Repair-2005-Plate-Cat-C/392064018443?hash=item5b48d6280b:g:O7oAAOSw9sZa3cw7

Is it sad that I know they are MK2 ph1 Clio trims on that there rocketship?

[Split_Pin]

It's clear to me that the only possible solution is to buy this with a blown head gasket and stick the 172 engine into it.

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-Renault-Kangoo-i-4-DCI-Spares-or-Repair-2005-Plate-Cat-C/392064018443?hash=item5b48d6280b:g:O7oAAOSw9sZa3cw7

#SKUNKWORKZ

[dome]

Is it sad that I know they are MK2 ph1 Clio trims on that there rocketship?

Sleeper m9

[Parky]

I knew that too. Grande model. I really cant understand why I wasn’t more popular in the late nineties?

[bigfella2]

I seriously hope your gonna fix this,

180k is seriously impressive mileage for one of these. It's needs to see 200k!!. Wonder if it's on its original lump as mine is on it's third engine at 94k ish.

[320touring]

Ahh the best of all days.

 

Take Clio out.

 

Buy 3 in 1 oil to try and resolve sticking throttle cable.

 

Fill fuel tank with fresh petrol.

 

Get home and park it up.

 

Notice power steering fluid drops on the road