Ask a Shiter

[320touring]

I've found loose wheeelbolts on the alfa front passenger wheel yesterday and today.

 

this is despite me tightening them up yesterday.

 

 

Its also the side i suspect of having a fucked wheel bearing- could that cause loose bolts?

[Bfg]

/\ /\   Don't know Alfa's but..  generally not caused by the wheel bearing.  The car is designed and tested over noise & vibrations surfaces which rattle the whole car very much more than your teeth like to bare.  Even the most shot of wheel bearing is nowhere near as severe. 

 

The most common cause would be the wheel not sitting where it should when fitted - and so it settles into a slightly different position with road use. As a consequence the wheel nuts are then loose.  Many wheels need to be joggled (thumped back and forth) progressively as you fit the nuts and during their first tightening.   I use copaslip between the hub and the wheel flat, under the flats (washers) of the nuts and on the threads..,  and with joggling the wheels to settle them to where they should be - they don't work loose. 

 

My old Jag with wire wheels was suspected of having a wheel bearing gone when I bought her. I removed the wheel and copaslipped its splines and the mating faces and refitted it.  Hey presto - no play and no more 'bearing-gone' type noise or vibration !  It turned out that each wheel's splines and matings surfaces were dry.., and two of the four wheels were seating badly.

 

Hope that helps some, Pete

 

link to copaslip

[320touring]

Thanks- the discs have a locating stud, and wheel is on it. also facings have been cleaned and copperslipped.

 

I have nae idea!

 

may be a take to the station and get the train til the weekend

[Lacquer Peel]

Are the threads fucked?

[skattrd]

Are the wheel bolts long enough Neil?

My Alfa needs ridiculously long wheel bolts, and lets say not all of them were the correct length when I got the car, same for the Delta that had a wheel almost fall off on the drive home last year. Passengers side wheel is the one that undoes itself on mine too.

[320touring]

Are the threads fucked?

Not as far as I'm aware -all tighten up ok, no tightness

 

Are the wheel bolts long enough Neil?

My Alfa needs ridiculously long wheel bolts, and lets say not all of them were the correct length when I got the car, same for the Delta that had a wheel almost fall off on the drive home last year. Passengers side wheel is the one that undoes itself on mine too.

They are the same as ones on all other wheels- and none of them are having an issue..

 

good thoughts both:)

[skattrd]

Just because they're the same length as the other wheels doesn't mean they're the right ones.

Take the wheel off and push a bolt through and see how much thread is showing. Then see where that much thread grips in to the hub as the threads don't start immediately in the hub. You might find less is holding the wheel on than you thought. Then visit ebay and buy some longer bolts, scrappies never have any.

 

I've had the front passenger side wheel loosen bolts on my Alfa 155 and Nuovo Delta .... Never any other wheels.

[robinmasters]

Is that Chris Goffey doing the voice-over on the advert for a magazine about formula one cars?

[scaryoldcortina]

It's always passenger side that undoes because that's the side that is rotating counterclockwise. Righty tighty, lefty loosey, so anytime the torque on the nut is lower than the rotational energy of said nut it will undo itself. Usual culprits are poorly seated wheels (centre bore) or incorrect/too short bolts.

 

*except xTriple's bently.

[320touring]

Just because they're the same length as the other wheels doesn't mean they're the right ones.

Take the wheel off and push a bolt through and see how much thread is showing. Then see where that much thread grips in to the hub as the threads don't start immediately in the hub. You might find less is holding the wheel on than you thought. Then visit ebay and buy some longer bolts, scrappies never have any.

 

I've had the front passenger side wheel loosen bolts on my Alfa 155 and Nuovo Delta .... Never any other wheels.

Looks like it is only the torque settings that change depending on bolts.

 

my dull ones have a lower torque than 'chrome' finish ones

[egg]

Anyone know if you can get an auxiliary belt 'kit' (belt, tensioner and pulley) for a Mk1 mondeo? thanks. Sold individually by different manufacturers on ebay (£61 just for tensioner!  )

 

I know about the cambelt kit (FINIS 1112530)

[Lacquer Peel]

I'm not sure, but the auxiliary belt tensioners are always mega bucks on modern cars with serpentine belts

[Kiltox]

MX5 airbag light flashes after replacement of the steering rack - I take it I've upset the clock spring pounding on the rack to column connection to remove the rack? (steering lock was engaged)

[rrsix]

Are Bergen tools any good? looking to buy some 1/2 drive allen key things. Spotted a nice but pricey Teng set but comes in a tool box module which will mean I'm forever tipping them over the floor.

[Kiltox]

Pretty crap but cheap - I have a set of Allen socket things like you describe and they're good enough

[twosmoke300]

What you have prob done is lock the steering but connected it with the rack over to one side a bit and when you straighten it its overwound the clock Spring

[Kiltox]

What you have prob done is lock the steering but connected it with the rack over to one side a bit and when you straighten it its overwound the clock Spring

 

Arse... new clock spring time?

[Station]

Why can't I tax my car?

[Kiltox]

How long ago did you buy it? Are you a new keeper with a green slip?

[Station]

Four years ago!

[Kiltox]

Sounds like the website has shit itself, post office should be able to sort it for you

[Station]

At full price, you can't do it direct debit at the post office!

[Kiltox]

At full price, you can't do it direct debit at the post office!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

YO!!! I have a question. When I bought the 45 V6, CARSWITHNORESERVEREADING gave me the entire V5 minus the yellow trader bit. No signature on it from the last keeper. Do I just put my new keeper details and send it off? I presume I do.

[320touring]

YO!!! I have a question. When I bought the 45 V6, CARSWITHNORESERVEREADING gave me the entire V5 minus the yellow trader bit. No signature on it from the last keeper. Do I just put my new keeper details and send it off? I presume I do.

yep. Firebit off with yer nom de plume on it.

 

can do a silly squiggle for po if you wish.

 

never had an issue

[Kiltox]

Yeah I always sign on behalf of the previous keeper when I send them off but I don't know if you have to

[beko1987]

Saw an odd one last night, a LHD Volvo 440 in red, on a 64 plate...

 

It exists as the driver got in the wrong lane to come into Marlow and faced the wrath of everyone trying to leave the industrial estate so I had a good proper look as he slowly tried to merge back into the lane he should have been in, deffo LHD, deffo on a 64 plate with new looking plates.

 

Import?

[Kiltox]

Anyone know if there's a cheaper way to get a security code for a Vauxhall than paying a dealer for a copy of its Car Pass?

 

Need new keys for a Corsa C - can program them myself but don't have the car pass / security code to do so

[stripped fred]

The driver's electric window switch was a bit dodgy when I got my 406 last year. It would only work if you lifted it and pushed it at the same time due to a poor connection. Eventually it stopped working the majority of the time so I got a replacement switch unit off eBay for £19. It worked fine for several months every time until now. I think electrically it must be ok as it makes a clicking noise but the the motor isn't doing it's job. Is it worth me stripping the door card off and lubricating the motor or runners?

[Guest Hooli]

YO!!! I have a question. When I bought the 45 V6, CARSWITHNORESERVEREADING gave me the entire V5 minus the yellow trader bit. No signature on it from the last keeper. Do I just put my new keeper details and send it off? I presume I do.

 

Just do your bit & post it.

 

My goona was kinda inherited so no PO's squiggle. I just posted it & got the V5c back within a week.