The new news 24 thread

[barmatt]

Nope - went just before Christmas.

Fair enough, replace it with anything else?

 

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[bramz7]

I'm viewing/buying a car in 15 mins but I've got here early and can see it....It looks good body wise from what I can see. Admittedly I am stood some 100m away.

[xtriple]

Just sent the big green dollop (my Brooklands 'R' - 66221)back up to Specialist cars to have the front ride height adjusted. It had all the suspension renewed last year (and I mean ALL the suspension - struts, springs, bushes, everything) but I didn't want the front to sit high like they do when they are correct.

However, the roads round here are atrocious, pot holes, subsidence, terrible over banded repairs the works, and I must admit, though I tried hard to ignore the truth, it did hit the bump stops a fair few times. Also, while I really liked the lowered look, it did make the car look tired... The final straw was getting it out of the garage the other day and turning the opposite direction to the way I normally go and I thought I was going to rip the front bumper clean off!

So, back it went on Wednesday morning (collected) and it was returned this afternoon (my choice, couldn't accept delivery before) and while it now looks a bit too high at the front for my tastes, it does, I must admit, drive MUCH better!

Apparently, to get the low ride height I wanted last year, no shims at all were used and now she has just the one thin one but it is so much higher. But, the steering is lighter by far, and the camber has gone which can't have been good for the new tyres, also, I took it down the poshest area in Torquay, which, just by chance happens to have the worst roads in the entire 'bay and the car was transformed! No crashing or banging as the suspension bottomed out and over all these potholes and depressions in the road, she glided in a most serene way.

I will get used to the looks... in time... and if I don't look!

And the price for this work?

Nothing! Paul (the boss there) did say when I had it done that he would have it corrected for me free of charge but after a year, I was impressed. The chap who delivered her back was the chief mechanic (on his way to look at/pick up another of our cars in the area) and I felt so guilty that I had nothing more than £2 to give him as a tip. I am ashamed.

[SiC]

Gooner is in for 2 tyres right now! Also gave them 3 programmed Tyre Pressure Sensors to fit. Hopefully this will be the final thing to fix on it.

 

I hate going to garages that I don't normally use, especially chains. Hate when they find things that are non/minor things and have to debate with them.

Old sensors had to be physically cut off as they'd bonded themselves to the rim. Going by the date code, they're original to the car. This is why I bought replacement sensors!

[Supernaut]

Before I can get the Xantia through an MOT, I'll need a replacement fuel filter housing. The reason it was dripping was because the drain tap on the front had deteriorated. So much so, that when I went to have another look at it just now, it broke.

 

ARSES. I'm busy tomorrow, but I'll be scrap yard diving on Sunday. Luckily I still have the 316 to pootle about in.

[The Moog]

 

 

Old sensors had to be physically cut off as they'd bonded themselves to the rim. Going by the date code, they're original to the car. This is why I bought replacement sensors!

Where did you get sensors from and how much?

[hairnet]

mot is due on st patricks day for the panda of much knockhill spinnage

 

booked in for tomorrow

 

all the lights work - i expect no issues (i think)

[Eddie Honda]

Maybe he filled it up with newspaper and filler for the MOT that has now fallen out with all the rain and wet weather?

 

An honorable rouge of yesteryear would of at least done chicken wire and plop.

 

 

Tsk. Nobody puts any effort in these days!

[scaryoldcortina]

I think what's worrying is that it has a currently valid MOT until April so could have been driven around until then. It went for an early MOT in preparation to be sold with a full years ticket!

Where did it go for test? I'm wondering how the subframes and arms got SO bad that they get a seriously weakened fail when last year it passed with only two advisories (slight play in steering rack, oil leak).

 

Obviously, there is a fluid leak, but no mention of leaks from pipes or calipers, just lots of condemning rusty pipework. I'd say if the brake pedal seems OK it's probably the clutch leaking it out. The two seatbelt fails look suspiciously like the two usual malicious holes in the back edge of the outer sill (punch the CAT through then fail it..)

 

Of course, it could have been used to drag boats up redcar beach all winter and I haven't seen the car but that all looks like a Halfords/Kwikfit fail sheet to me.

[SiC]

Where did you get sensors from and how much?

All 3 from eBay. I got two NOS from a UK seller and another from a Portuguese seller. Paid £18 for 1 and 2x £20 for the other. I searched for Espace sensors as they're the same, but more available cheaper! The sellers I bought from no longer have any left.

[JohnK]

Where did it go for test? I'm wondering how the subframes and arms got SO bad that they get a seriously weakened fail when last year it passed with only two advisories (slight play in steering rack, oil leak).

 

Obviously, there is a fluid leak, but no mention of leaks from pipes or calipers, just lots of condemning rusty pipework. I'd say if the brake pedal seems OK it's probably the clutch leaking it out. The two seatbelt fails look suspiciously like the two usual malicious holes in the back edge of the outer sill (punch the CAT through then fail it..)

 

Of course, it could have been used to drag boats up redcar beach all winter and I haven't seen the car but that all looks like a Halfords/Kwikfit fail sheet to me.

Fancy taking a look Andy see what your thoughts are? I did have similar thoughts myself.

[HMC]

An honorable rouge of yesteryear would of at least done chicken wire and plop.

Tsk. Nobody puts any effort in these days!

A classic from "the AA book of the car" Also features similar though less structural repairs on a borked herald and minor.

[SiC]

New tyres feel so much better than the old ones! The Laguna shimmy/wheel shake has completely gone. Also got the wheels aligned. Fair bit out. I watched him do it and make sure it was set properly.

 

Also when filling the car up with petrol, a silver Scenic pulled up behind... The very Scenic that features in my Avatar on the left. The very car that broke down on the way back from buying it - literally lost all power. The car that then broke down another time even after having a new crank sensor - breaking down again. I think found, after a lot of testing it was found to be the fuel pump dieing and the connector melting up. Then the fuel pipe rail connector popped off. Then the window opened up one day and refused to close. At this point the wife refused to not only drive it but also wanted it off the drive...

[Guest Hooli]

Glad to hear it's torturing someone else, as is deserved for buying such a thing.

[omegod]

Wife rings me saying the brand new motor, with 800 miles on, is saying the display is telling her pressure low in one tyre, sure enough big fucking nail in the sidewall of the Hankook costing £145 to replace.....Call to the NHS lease firm and it's getting replaced first thing in the morning by ATS mobile for gratis..thank fuck for that !!!

[DodgeRover]

Will sir be saving the old one and having it repaired?

[omegod]

Given half a chance it'll be fixed and on ebay tomorrow 

[AMC Rebel]

Experienced the infamous Range Rover "death wobble" on the way home down the M1 tonight in the Crying Pumpkin.  It's had a shake when going over bumps at 50+ for a while but this was like one of those tank slappers you get when your bike (my Raleigh chopper - I fell off at about 30 mph that time) or motorbike starts a wobble at speed but won't stop.  I will admit I was a little scared - the whole front end was shaking so much that the bonnet released itself.  I slowed gently, not wanting to touch the brakes and steered onto the hard shoulder.  Got out and shut the bonnet, set off gently and got home without further incident (didn't have far to go).

 

It's booked into the local Landy place next week anyway as I knew this was getting worse, but I'll not be driving it again until they've had a look (well except to take it there).  I have had a poke around but there isn't a "smoking gun" pointing to the fault - of course it could be more than one thing.

 

It was like this

 

[Tam]

First proper collection effort today ! Got to cross the border and everything. Roughly 6 hours each way. Better get on with it then 

[Guest Hooli]

Experienced the infamous Range Rover "death wobble" on the way home down the M1 tonight in the Crying Pumpkin.  It's had a shake when going over bumps at 50+ for a while but this was like one of those tank slappers you get when your bike (my Raleigh chopper - I fell off at about 30 mph that time) or motorbike starts a wobble at speed but won't stop.  I will admit I was a little scared - the whole front end was shaking so much that the bonnet released itself.  I slowed gently, not wanting to touch the brakes and steered onto the hard shoulder.  Got out and shut the bonnet, set off gently and got home without further incident (didn't have far to go).

 

It's booked into the local Landy place next week anyway as I knew this was getting worse, but I'll not be driving it again until they've had a look (well except to take it there).  I have had a poke around but there isn't a "smoking gun" pointing to the fault - of course it could be more than one thing.

 

It was like this

 

 

Bet it's swivel bearings and maybe some trackrod ends/play in the steering box.

[twosmoke300]

Steering damper knackered is my guess

[Guest Hooli]

I think that's been replaced recently?

[drum]

First proper collection effort today ! Got to cross the border and everything. Roughly 6 hours each way. Better get on with it then

But Tam, you don't hav a passport!

Spill the beans!

I'm guessing £80 worth of Rover R8.

[Lacquer Peel]

I think that's been replaced recently?

Land Rover parts last approx. 5 minutes.

[garbaldy]

Land Rover parts last approx. 5 minutes.

Just long enough to put the tools away then.

[AMC Rebel]

Steering damper knackered is my guess

  

I think that's been replaced recently?

New Bilstein one fitted last weekend - and I did check, it's still there. The internet has hundreds of possible causes as well as owners who took years to cure theirs - hopefully this won't be like that.

[scaryoldcortina]

Fancy taking a look Andy see what your thoughts are? I did have similar thoughts myself.

Yeah, no problem. Next week sometime?

[Rusty_Rocket]

  

New Bilstein one fitted last weekend - and I did check, it's still there. The internet has hundreds of possible causes as well as owners who took years to cure theirs - hopefully this won't be like that.

 

I would say the front swivel preload is a main cause of the death wobble.  It's a horrible feeling, I know!!  The front swivels should 'drag' a little when you turn them by hand with the track rods disconnected.  Most have no resistance at all and some have play.  The trouble is, with everything bolted up as it should be, an MoT tester will struggle to find any issues whatsoever so it passes and the driver assumes all is A-OK.

Add in play in one of the many track rod ends, slack in the steering box and drop link and you have a recipe for the shakes!

[DodgeRover]

Experienced the infamous Range Rover "death wobble" on the way home down the M1 tonight in the Crying Pumpkin. It's had a shake when going over bumps at 50+ for a while but this was like one of those tank slappers you get when your bike (my Raleigh chopper - I fell off at about 30 mph that time) or motorbike starts a wobble at speed but won't stop. I will admit I was a little scared - the whole front end was shaking so much that the bonnet released itself. I slowed gently, not wanting to touch the brakes and steered onto the hard shoulder. Got out and shut the bonnet, set off gently and got home without further incident (didn't have far to go).

 

It's booked into the local Landy place next week anyway as I knew this was getting worse, but I'll not be driving it again until they've had a look (well except to take it there). I have had a poke around but there isn't a "smoking gun" pointing to the fault - of course it could be more than one thing.

 

It was like this

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs4np0UvZms

Replace the steering damper first if it's like a classic. I agree it's utterly horrific once it starts, the nearest thing to a tank slapper I've ever experienced on four wheels. It tends to be a slight imperfection in the road that sets them off, not necessarily speed related.

Preload in the swivels is less important than you would think.

 

Edit sorry just read the other responses, if you can borrow another steering damper I would try it.

[Lacquer Peel]

I like these things but the parts of them that belong in the 1930s are a joke.