RobT Posted June 27, 2019 Author Share Posted June 27, 2019 It does sound like it's coming from the front, but that could be something else to add to the ever expanding list! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bramz7 Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 I'm sure I had something similar with the forum bike Xantia at one point and the garage who did the MOT insisted it wasn't a bearing, despite it sounding exactly like it. Pretty sure Barrett got it sorted, but I can't quite remember what it was. No chance it's the tyres I take it? Probably my own dunce opinion but I remember them being reasonably old, with plenty of tread. DSdriver 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSdriver Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 How old are the tyres? A wheelbearingy noise on the floppytop has been diagnosed as tyres that have been sitting around too much. I am going to change them as soon as I get a moment and will report back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inconsistant Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 Hey Rob, I found the photos of our old mini with the neighbours 11 lurking in the background. It was a lovely looking thing, the colour was really nice and suited the car well. I think it got written off by a prancing deer late one night. Neither the car nor the deer were a pretty sight. I reckon these pix must have been taken in about 1989/90 so our mini was about 7 yrs old by then but still immaculate. Sorry they're a bit obscured but on the up side there's also a bonus Audi 200 lurking in a couple of them. mk2_craig, trigger, MrBiscuits and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted June 27, 2019 Author Share Posted June 27, 2019 That 11 looks swish, nice wheels on it too. The Mini doesn't look bad either. 28 minutes ago, bramz7 said: No chance it's the tyres I take it? Probably my own dunce opinion but I remember them being reasonably old, with plenty of tread. I think the tyres are about five years old, quality Debica items. That could be a cheap fix, so I'll do some swappage and see if that helps. inconsistant 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrett Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 7 hours ago, bramz7 said: Pretty sure Barrett got it sorted, but I can't quite remember what it was. Sticky caliper in the end, which is why it wasn't a constant drone but changed with speed/road conditions as it became less or more stuck. I was always told a wheel bearing was easy to spot as the speed of the noise increased with the road speed, which has always been the case in my experience. RobT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tadhg Tiogar Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 11 hours ago, inconsistant said: ... bonus Audi 200 lurking in a couple of them. XPE 397Y had its last VED disc expire on 1st June 1993. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted July 27, 2019 Author Share Posted July 27, 2019 After all the angst of me wondering WTF the mystery noise was (documented above), a session of hard driving a few weeks back seems to have cured it. Or it just decided to heal itself. Either way I'll take that. So on the 140 mile round trip to the FOTU last Saturday I repeatedly nailed it, and hurled the old girl around bends and roundabouts. I've probably been overdoing the mechanical sympathy, and I'm not shy of chucking the Metro about so may as well do the same with this. Renault corner at the FoD. On Thursday when it was fuggin hot and humid I was curious to see if it'd cope. Early evening it was still 36 degrees here but no ill effects, ran just the same with no weird stuff going on, and the radiator fan only had to kick in a few times. But I suppose these happily bombed around a searingly hot Provence back in the day... This pic doesn't do the sky justice. It absolutely pissed down soon after! MrBiscuits, Austat, Fabergé Greggs and 18 others 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Greggs Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 Great news... if only fixing stuff was always that fun. I do flippin adore this car, I could look at that colour and those wheels all day. Skizzer and RobT 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBiscuits Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 I've long admired the early 11s - and yours is a great example. I looked for one around 2000, but picked a 19 'energy' instead, In those days Renaults seemed far superior to the equivalent ford/GM stuff. How does it drive compared with the 19? I always imagined they would handle like a big 5. Loved seeing the zircon blue mayfair too. One exactly like that was my first car back in 1997 - though mine was a bit crunchier! RobT and inconsistant 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bramz7 Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 I'll let Rob add his own thoughts but I found the 11 softer on the rough stuff but perhaps not quite as good on really windy bends. However the steering weight and feel is much more agreeable on an 11 without PAS than it is a 19. It'll nearly be a year since I bought that 11 from Cornwall on a red hot day. It coped fine then too. Maybe you should keep it now. MrBiscuits, RobT and egg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Greggs Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 Always regretted not getting it from you Bramz. If this ever does come up, put me down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted July 27, 2019 Author Share Posted July 27, 2019 What bramz says, although I do prefer the lean you get on the 11, purely for the amusement factor. The 19 felt very different, less charm but I liked the Energy engine. More refined than the old Cleon-Fonte as you'd expect really being a new improved version at the time. I'm yet to drive or even sit in a 5, but I imagine it would feel a touch more flimsy yet nimble with it. That's a total guess based on the way they look to me. The 11 doesn't have any broken trim either, and does feel well put together, relatively speaking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 The 11 I had (in 1.2 litre form - we were sure it was at least 1.5 until we got the V5 given how well it went) could maintain surprising speed in the bends despite the almost 2CV-like levels of body roll. It's still up there I think among the top cars I've had from the perspective of just being an all round nice thing to drive. Just a shame it was an utter pig to find parts for. It's astonishing the number of automotive maladies just putting some miles on a car can fix sometimes... RobT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 My 5 used to eat front wheel bearings (it had 15" R19 16v wheels on it), I also had problems with the sliders in the calipers sticking, but that wouldn't cause what you describe. It was a hoot to chuck about, and is much missed. Didn't realise the 11 was just a bigger version essentially. RobT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilA Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 Even with the stiffer springs and "sports" dampers my GTA is remarkably compliant yet handles the road well. I think a good portion of that has to do with the torsional stiffness of the body, which is remarkably good for a shopping trolley. The 2.0 is a fun upgrade. Phil RobT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 Glancing at the AS calendar this morning reminded me it's been a year since I collected this from bramz. Despite a few wobbles it's still here, 1,500 miles on. My hope now is I can use it all winter and do more miles. Depends if the car agrees I suppose. Only one way to find out... As it stands at the moment it's the only fleet member I'd trust to complete a long journey. How worrying is that. Skizzer, loserone, bramz7 and 15 others 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 It's a grand thing. By the way - top parallel parking there - so easy to scrape a corner in one of those 'sideways' spots! Does it need anything at the mo? Sudsprint and RobT 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 A few bits, as always. -New steering rack, as I suspect that's the grumbling noises. A job for the warmer weather. -Valve clearances as it sounds a bit tappy. -Try to improve the cold starting. It's a dark art and involves pumping the throttle loads, stalling at least once, then leaving it to idle for a short while, revving its nuts off on choke. I'm saying nowt else in case I jinx it! Sudsprint, egg and strangeangel 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Ah, yes I forgot about the steering rack. If you need a pair of hands with that when the time comes, happy to help*. RobT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Still up there in terms of "top 5 autoshite cars I'd like to lick" RobT and Sudsprint 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 2 hours ago, RobT said: A few bits, as always. -New steering rack, as I suspect that's the grumbling noises. A job for the warmer weather. -Valve clearances as it sounds a bit tappy. -Try to improve the cold starting. It's a dark art and involves pumping the throttle loads, stalling at least once, then leaving it to idle for a short while, revving its nuts off on choke. I'm saying nowt else in case I jinx it! Do Renault 11s have different steering racks for automatic and manual cars? I had that issue when I bought a Mk1 5 auto with massive play in the steering - auto rack was completely different and completely unobtainium. That and the 'box shitting itself and getting stuck in 3rd led to me weighing the thing in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skattrd Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 I wouldn't say I'd lick it, but it's definitely one of my fav cars on here Rob. Keep up the good work mate. RobT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 1 minute ago, wuvvum said: Do Renault 11s have different steering racks for automatic and manual cars? Not sure tbh wuv. The one I bought looked right, no mention of manual only in the listing either. I'll find out soon enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 Just now, skattrd said: I wouldn't say I'd lick it, but it's definitely one of my fav cars on here Rob. Keep up the good work mate. Cheers m8. I'll do my best with the limited skills I possess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted March 9, 2020 Author Share Posted March 9, 2020 Here's a job I should have done ages ago - valve clearances. The 11 has always sounded a bit tappety, but there was also a more concerning heavy knock going on. So on Saturday I took all the relevant bits off for access and took my time. I figured it's that sort of job, and wanted to double check things anyway. Looks alright in there I think, not that I'd know. I didn't have a spanner small enough for the adjustor, so had to make do with this cumbersome set up. The number 1 valve rocker arm in the pic was baggy as anything (relatively speaking), whereas most of the others were too tight. But I went back and checked again to make sure I did them with the opposing valve fully open, as I'm not sure they were for the first few. Learning curve innit. Reassembled I winced slightly when starting her up (have I made it worse?), but no the complete opposite. It idles more evenly and is a much smoother drive. It had a tendency to bog down and stall sometimes until warm, but it sounds much more healthy now and the worrying knock has gone. As usual I should have done this job ages ago, but whatever. Went for a drive, locally first just to be sure, and 1986 happened. The Merc is a daily driver as I also saw it at the pez station the day before. Bits of trim missing and flat paint in places, marvellous. Next job will be the steering rack, as I'm sure it shouldn't be this laborious and stiff (also sounds a bit grumbly up front which could be related). New ball joints didn't cure the latter. My reference point, rightly or wrongly, is Cleon Fonte's Renault 4, which has lovely light steering after having driven it at Chumley last year. I've got the part, 50 quid IIRC. Just need some decent weather. Skizzer, Burnside, Austat and 15 others 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austat Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 On 7/27/2019 at 9:46 PM, RobT said: I know this is slightly off topic, but who owns the R6 on a very unusual V plate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 I know I was used to Metros and Novas at the time, but I recall the steering on my R11 being quite a bit heavier than on the other cars I was used to. Only photo I can find from my phone right now... don't have many courtesy of The Great Hard Drive Crash of 2007 sadly. egg, RobT and Burnside 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilA Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 2 hours ago, Zelandeth said: I know I was used to Metros and Novas at the time, but I recall the steering on my R11 being quite a bit heavier than on the other cars I was used to. Fair bit more torsional rigidity to the R11/9 shell, comes from a fair bit more metal up front. Consider in the space Renault managed to squeeze in a 2 litre engine and still have room for things like air conditioning. Power steering definitely helps in mine, not sure how heavy the C series compares to the F engines. Phil RobT and egg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChinaTom Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 On 7/27/2019 at 5:14 PM, Zelandeth said: The 11 I had (in 1.2 litre form - we were sure it was at least 1.5 until we got the V5 given how well it went) could maintain surprising speed in the bends despite the almost 2CV-like levels of body roll. It's still up there I think among the top cars I've had from the perspective of just being an all round nice thing to drive. Just a shame it was an utter pig to find parts for. It's astonishing the number of automotive maladies just putting some miles on a car can fix sometimes... 1.2? Would that make it the holy grail GTC spec with the C1G from the R12? Only ever seen 1 on my whole life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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