Ask a Shiter

[cort16]

I used wet and dry then compound on a DA polishing pad and they came up a treat.. Some of the lights (like the 5 series) are laquered at the factory, which makes them look even worse when they start to go.

 

When I was doing up my Rover I filed off all the manufacturer stamps, sanded them with various wet and dry then polished them up and the ycame up looking better than factory.

Well worth the effort..

 

sd1light by [/url]

 

On the car.

 

Lights In by

[dave21478]

I did my moderns headlights with an electric polisher and some G3, which worked fine.

Now when I clean the car I give the headlights a quick buff with polish too and it seems to keep them nice and shiny.

[willswitchengage]

How does this work? Never used it but about to leave the country for ages and therefore doing SRS car security...

 

[Skizzer]

Ah, KrookLok.  You hook one end over the steering wheel rim and the other over something else, like the brake pedal, handbrake or whatever.  You then pull it nice and tight.

 

Then, if someone breaks in, they have to snap off the yellow plastic bit and fiddle with a screwdriver for about 10 seconds before they can release it and drive off.

[skattrd]

Can anyone gen me up on trade plates please.

 

B-I-L is in the motor trade and with the new tax laws mentioned getting some, but also mentioned two types, general and limited. I can't see any info on different types on the DVLA site, needless to say I'm interested if there's a possibility of me being able to borrow them on occasion.

[panhard65]

Can anyone gen me up on trade plates please.

 

B-I-L is in the motor trade and with the new tax laws mentioned getting some, but also mentioned two types, general and limited. I can't see any info on different types on the DVLA site, needless to say I'm interested if there's a possibility of me being able to borrow them on occasion.

I am not sure about 2 different types of trade plate but I did look into it a couple of years ago when I took over the business. If you read up what you can and can't do with them they are not that useful. They cost about £250 a year and there is a lot of responsibility involved with them. I never bothered in the end.

[Lacquer Peel]

Hey crew, what do you use for wrestling with springs on brake shoes? It always seems like a major hassle, today was no exception. But the Vanette is no longer leaking brake fluid, and has a fully functional handbrake. JUSTICE!!!

[cort16]

I use vice grips as squeezing and pulling at the same time is beyond my physical and mental abilities.

[Lacquer Peel]

My large vice grips are too big and my small ones are too shit - must invest in a set of decent ones.

[drum]

Hey crew, what do you use for wrestling with springs on brake shoes? It always seems like a major hassle, today was no exception. But the Vanette is no longer leaking brake fluid, and has a fully functional handbrake. JUSTICE!!!

Big screw driver for leverage or pulling a spring with another spring often makes it easier.

[cort16]

Those spring clips for shoes you need to push in and turn at the same time are hateful. The next time I have to deal with them I'm buying the wee tool for compressing them.

[drum]

Ah, I'm thinking Land Rover (as usual)

[twosmoke300]

Trade plates are just a transferable tax disc and that's all. Vehicles still need to be motd , insured and road worthy . I still find mine very handy but get loads of people asking to borrow them. I always say no cos without trade insurance they are worthless and if I got caught lending them I'd never get them again.

[myglaren]

The plastic headlamp lenses on the boring are scratched and hazy, what's the best way to get them clear and sparkly again?

Did someone on here mention toothpaste or metal polish for this before?

I tried repeatedly with the C5 but never made much of an impression.  There seemed to be something like algae on the inside too

 

In the end I chucked them away and bought new (second hand) ones off eBay.

[Pillock]

Ah, KrookLok. You hook one end over the steering wheel rim and the other over something else, like the brake pedal, handbrake or whatever. You then pull it nice and tight.

 

Then, if someone breaks in, they have to snap off the yellow plastic bit and fiddle with a screwdriver for about 10 seconds before they can release it and drive off.

Or, on a 1988 Escort, you just lift the brake pedal up with your foot, it unhooks, you throw it in the hedge. It was either that or a Mk2 Polo, my mum had that exact krooklock in the late 80s and it annoyed her that I could remove it, aged 7 or so.

[dave21478]

Hey crew, what do you use for wrestling with springs on brake shoes? It always seems like a major hassle, today was no exception. But the Vanette is no longer leaking brake fluid, and has a fully functional handbrake. JUSTICE!!!

I have a big old flat blade screwdriver on which I have put shallow notches at various points on the blade and either side of the blade and up the shaft with a grinder. I can then hook the end of a spring on it somewhere and get enough leverage to stretch the spring into place by levering against the shoe or the backplate or whatever.

[Lacquer Peel]

I used a chainsaw combi tool to do it, I now have 13 and 15mm hexagons imprinted in my hand. Good call on the big old flat blade screwdriver.

[M'coli]

If it's the hooked springs that help the shoes return after application of the brakes, I put them on the shoes and then use a pair of mole/vice grips to lever the shoes into place.  Other than that, I use the vicegrips on tghe end of the springs to hoik them into place and then use a pair of pliers to grip the release on the vicegrips.

[twosmoke300]

Mcoli has the right idea . use the shoes themselves to lever the springs. I usually use a small adjustable on the unlined part of the shoe

[Lacquer Peel]

Not so easy when the hub gets in the way, I've always struggled with brake shoes though so ta for all the tips.

[skattrd]

H7 bulbs - are dip & main beam bulbs the same wattage (55w) and pattern but with different reflectors in the headlights? or are the bulbs different as well?

 

Sorry for the stupid question, but pretty much all my cars are H4 with 55/60w filaments (or 80/100 in special cases).

[saucedoctor]

Almera N16 front crossmember - is it bolted or welded in? Friend of mine needs one for MoT. Cheers.

[cobblers]

H7 bulbs - are dip & main beam bulbs the same wattage (55w) and pattern but with different reflectors in the headlights? or are the bulbs different as well?

 

Yup, all h7 bulbs are the same, it's the lamp unit that sets the beam pattern.

[skattrd]

Yup, all h7 bulbs are the same, it's the lamp unit that sets the beam pattern.

 

Thx Cobblers, that's kinda what I thought until I saw some for sale listed as main and some as dipped, which confused me on a Sunday morning.

[loserone]

Almera N16 front crossmember - is it bolted or welded in? Friend of mine needs one for MoT. Cheers.

 

Welded.  I can take a picture of the reciept I have from Oates of Willington for mine at six years old.  Thankfully, Nissan UK and Oates themselves took on a third of the bill each, but it was still the biggest sum I've ever spent 'fixing' a car.

[willswitchengage]

What colour should DOT3 brake/clutch fluid be?

 

And what is the float in the clutch fluid reservoir for?

[saucedoctor]

Thanks Loserone.

[Taff]

Hey crew, what do you use for wrestling with springs on brake shoes? It always seems like a major hassle, today was no exception. But the Vanette is no longer leaking brake fluid, and has a fully functional handbrake. JUSTICE!!!

 

I use a 12" adjustable spanner closed almost all the way up on the unlined section of the shoe. The length of the spanner allows me to apply pressure with a forearm, leaving both hands free

[Taff]

Those spring clips for shoes you need to push in and turn at the same time are hateful. The next time I have to deal with them I'm buying the wee tool for compressing them.

 

I use a socket on them, push and twist, never really had an issue with them.

 

Easier than using pliers

[Craig the Princess]

Is it just me or have we lost the beige forum look for a less good blue and white?