Alfa 166 - worthy of its own thread - Quick update

[Cookiesouwest]

1 hour ago, Kringle said:

That sounds like the brake as opposed to bearings, especially if it stops when pressed is there much meat on the pads?

No idea, car got delivered to garage this afternoon and I forgot to check.

Also managed to leave my phone in the car. Managed to cobble together a spare key from the bits @andyberg gave me. Thank god, cause phone was very much on display for the local crack heads lol

[andyberg]

I guess that's a spare key.  Well done that man 15/10 for effort, I tried and tried to get a spare to work, my eyes and fingers are not what they used to be ?

[Cookiesouwest]

This might not work. Never uploaded a video before. 

Anyway, if you have a hankering to look at lacquer peel and listen to a country bumpkin, this video is for you

[andyberg]

What's the name of your new you tube channel? ?Good luck today, I really wish it was me taking her through the MOT. I miss wafting along in her.

[Cookiesouwest]

6 minutes ago, andyberg said:

What's the name of your new you tube channel? ?Good luck today, I really wish it was me taking her through the MOT. I miss wafting along in her.

Cookie of chod towers

You can waft around to your hearts content next week, as long as I can get her road legal by then - will have the verdict by 5pm

[Cookiesouwest]

MOT results are in. Failed. Badly

Rear tyre, cut to inside sidewall

Both steering rack gaiters (one missing, one split)

Rear anti roll bar insecure

Rear nearside brakes excessively binding

All brake pipes excessive corrosion

All brake hoses degraded

On the plus side, the sidelights I fixed Sunday passed

Safe to say, if I get all of it fixed the budget is truly blown to bits.

Decisions, decisions

 

[Cookiesouwest]

And here is the official list

[andyberg]

Oh shit mate. I'm really sorry. Looking at it, would it be safe to suggest a dodgy* MOT last year?

[Cookiesouwest]

4 minutes ago, andyberg said:

Oh shit mate. I'm really sorry. Looking at it, would it be safe to suggest a dodgy* MOT last year?

Shit happens. Don't worry about it. Waiting for the quote before I decide on its future

[bramz7]

To be honest that's pretty good for an Alfa other than the brake pipes which have probably been degrading for ages. It can be a bit of a lottery at this end of the market with them and I've found out to my peril that. They're great when they work and I wish I had the money/working space to keep one permanently on fleet as I still lament selling my 156 V6 (and the 2.4 10v). 

Good luck with your decision!

[Tamworthbay]

Brake pipes are a ballache, everything else is cheap and easy. Hopefully the quote will be low.

[Bitzer]

My first step would be another MOT station. "Excessively corroded" brake pipe and "Badly cracked" brake hose are very subjective statements and it may be that another technician/station will not give a flying Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo as long as there are no brake fluid leaks. Anyway, this sounds more like a lot of work than a lot of dough spent on material. Changing brake pipes and hoses is time-consuming PITA, but the prices of spare parts are not prohibitive.

[Cookiesouwest]

3 hours ago, Bitzer said:

My first step would be another MOT station. "Excessively corroded" brake pipe and "Badly cracked" brake hose are very subjective statements and it may be that another technician/station will not give a flying Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo as long as there are no brake fluid leaks. Anyway, this sounds more like a lot of work than a lot of dough spent on material. Changing brake pipes and hoses is time-consuming PITA, but the prices of spare parts are not prohibitive.

To be fair, the brake lines and hoses have been advisories for last couple of years, so they are probably due. The garage I use don't do the MOT's, so they are honest. I'm only worried as I had a tight budget, which I will now exceed by a considerable margin. Plus once she is sorted she will be too expensive for a roffle,  if Andy doesn't have her back.

[dave j]

Brake pipes are cheap if the garage make their own, and probably less hassle if they are also replacing the flexi too so may not be too extortionate? Thinking positive here! 

[Cookiesouwest]

I am being positive. She's getting fixed regardless of the cost. She's a good car and I'm not going to be the one to send her to the bridge.

[camryv6]

Brake pipes are only cheap if you are doing them yourself, if you are paying for the time to remove, make and replace, and also bleed the brakes, it soon adds up, it is the pipe and fittings that are cheapish.

[Bitzer]

Just to put my two eurocents in, checking the price of original brake pipes may be worth the effort. They can be cheaper then those made to measure by a specialized workshop. This is what I found out last time I had to change them (on Punto).

[Kringle]

Are these any good? https://shop.alfisti.net/Tuning-Styling/Alfa-166/Brakes/Stainless-Steel-Brake-Pipe-Set::8513.html
or https://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/parts/166_Brake_Hose.shtml

Saves on labour time being flexi, a bolt on job.

[Cookiesouwest]

Thanks @Kringle

[camryv6]

Those first ones are to replace the flexys, just braided stainless steel instead of rubber

[Yoss]

To be fair to the thing, if you count all the brake pipes and hoses as one job, which it would be when doing it, then it doesn't look so bad. 

[Cookiesouwest]

10 hours ago, Yoss said:

To be fair to the thing, if you count all the brake pipes and hoses as one job, which it would be when doing it, then it doesn't look so bad. 

Won't be much labour cost for hoses, as they would have to come off to do the pipes, so yes, as you say I'm hoping it won't be too bad. I just got a bit of a shock at the number of major fails and impact on my budget. But I've calmed down now. Plus management likes the car, so she isn't too bothered about melting the credit card.

[omegod]

I'd be having a good look at the hard lines, I've found so many times they are just a bit dirty or salty and clean up absolutely fine, much to the testers chagrin 

[Cookiesouwest]

Garage called. All in, with a budget tyre the quote is £365.

I've authorised the work and hopefully will have car back by Friday with new ticket on it.

Total cost for car is now running at

Purchase - 300

New front tyres - 104

4 bulbs - 18

Getting mot sorted - 365

Total - 787

Not as bad as I feared, but probably makes it too expensive to roffle, if Andy doesn't have it back. 

[Kringle]

13 quid for a slice of Italian Stallion doesn't sound salty to me, might be a slow roffle but it'll go.

[camryv6]

Have they quoted for the binding brake, how do they know what is wrong with it ?

[Cookiesouwest]

12 minutes ago, camryv6 said:

Have they quoted for the binding brake, how do they know what is wrong with it ?

Quote was all in. Not had breakdown yet

[camryv6]

That quote looks good, but i would check it includes the brake, i have a feeling they have forgot about the brake, it could be anything from a sticking  pad, sticking slider, seized caliper piston, or anything on the handbrake side, cable etc.

[Cookiesouwest]

After waiting the week for repairs to be completed, the Alfa got a fresh 12 months ticket today

 I'm off on my holibobs tomorrow, so she has been taken to stay with @andyberg

 

 

[andyberg]

Have fun, I promise* to give her back ??