Month to madness
Discussion
The full length sunroof makes cleaning the upholstery a doddle. 
Dried out in no time at all. :-)
Back to the Bravo and the noisy rear brakes wasn't due to the shoes being worn out.
Just one. This is because whoever fitted these shoes either didn't notice or didn't check to see the at the slave cylinder had seized solid on one side.
Of course the shoes aren't the right ones so I couldn't even replace the one that was gone.
I guess I'll have another look at my Punto GT rear beam at the weekend.
Dried out in no time at all. :-)
Back to the Bravo and the noisy rear brakes wasn't due to the shoes being worn out.
Just one. This is because whoever fitted these shoes either didn't notice or didn't check to see the at the slave cylinder had seized solid on one side.
Of course the shoes aren't the right ones so I couldn't even replace the one that was gone.
I guess I'll have another look at my Punto GT rear beam at the weekend.
Well today has been eventful.
I have finally stripped the brakes from the Punto GT rear subframe in my shed.
Mess and faff to get those bloody things off.
Base plates are cleaned and painted...
...hangers are cleaned and sliders greased...
...ready for VHT paint when I refurbish the calipers.
Hang on a minute.
One caliper has a mousetrap spring to return the handbrake and the other has a coil spring.
Whenever this car was on the road it had an original GT3 caliper one side and an Uno Turbo, GT1 or GT2 caliper the other.
That has ballsed up any ideas I had of either converting the Bravo to rear discs or using them on my next project.
I have finally stripped the brakes from the Punto GT rear subframe in my shed.
Mess and faff to get those bloody things off.
Base plates are cleaned and painted...
...hangers are cleaned and sliders greased...
...ready for VHT paint when I refurbish the calipers.
Hang on a minute.
One caliper has a mousetrap spring to return the handbrake and the other has a coil spring.
Whenever this car was on the road it had an original GT3 caliper one side and an Uno Turbo, GT1 or GT2 caliper the other.
That has ballsed up any ideas I had of either converting the Bravo to rear discs or using them on my next project.
New shoes, cylinders and copper lines. The car now has fully functioning brakes for the first time since I have owned the old girl.
What a difference. The rear brakes come on marginally sooner than the front so the when the calipers close the weight has transferred to the the front wheels.
Brilliant idea but odd feeling for the first fifty or so miles.
I can also brake a little later on the country lanes so I may take my Bravo to the track day in September.
What a difference. The rear brakes come on marginally sooner than the front so the when the calipers close the weight has transferred to the the front wheels.
Brilliant idea but odd feeling for the first fifty or so miles.
I can also brake a little later on the country lanes so I may take my Bravo to the track day in September.
Fans of the "Knob" thread will know last week I encountered this chap...
...driving on the wrong side of the road as I went round a blind bend.
To avoid a head on collision I hit the grass verge.
I inspected the car for obvious damage and thankfully there is none to the suspension, steering or other places I could check by eye.
Yesterday I had new tyres fitted and the wheel that hit the verge...
...is buckled slightly. Not enough to need refurbishing but more than enough weights to balance for it to call the other wheels "Bra".
...driving on the wrong side of the road as I went round a blind bend.
To avoid a head on collision I hit the grass verge.
I inspected the car for obvious damage and thankfully there is none to the suspension, steering or other places I could check by eye.
Yesterday I had new tyres fitted and the wheel that hit the verge...
...is buckled slightly. Not enough to need refurbishing but more than enough weights to balance for it to call the other wheels "Bra".
My now cat' back exhaust sounded like it was leaking so I took it off today...
...I should take due consideration when I lower the car later.
The mystery "clunk" when I put the car in reverse is solved.
All those cakes I made when I had insomnia came in handy. Forget the Bake Off this is how to apply icing (exhaust putty at least).
All sealed, nut and bolts torqued and I could still hear what sounded like a leak somewhere in the middle. I inspected all the welds for carbon while the system was off so I know it couldn't be that.
This...
...heat shield was touching the pipe so it fell off.
That's a clean exhaust sound, quieter inside and a few grams weight saving.
...I should take due consideration when I lower the car later.
The mystery "clunk" when I put the car in reverse is solved.
All those cakes I made when I had insomnia came in handy. Forget the Bake Off this is how to apply icing (exhaust putty at least).
All sealed, nut and bolts torqued and I could still hear what sounded like a leak somewhere in the middle. I inspected all the welds for carbon while the system was off so I know it couldn't be that.
This...
...heat shield was touching the pipe so it fell off.
That's a clean exhaust sound, quieter inside and a few grams weight saving.
A week to the next track day at Blyton Park and I have been taking my machete and chainsaw to work.
Actually I mentioned that I stopped to clear the road the other morning and was called a liar so here's a dash cam' photo from half way when I shut my tailgate and set off the parking sensor.
Back on topic I have found a set of lowering springs local to me but they will not reply to eBay messages about collection. They and the others online won't be delivered on time.
Actually I mentioned that I stopped to clear the road the other morning and was called a liar so here's a dash cam' photo from half way when I shut my tailgate and set off the parking sensor.
Back on topic I have found a set of lowering springs local to me but they will not reply to eBay messages about collection. They and the others online won't be delivered on time.
Nice thread, brought back some memories for me a my first car was a (1986 'D') Fiat Uno 45s 999cc, then had a few more fiats before moving onto a couple of non-fiats (although my OH currently has an Alfa and has a couple of Cinq's and Sei's)
(1995 'N') Bravo HLX
(1995 'M') Fiat Coupe 16vt
(2000 'X') Bravo JTD
(1999 'T') Bravo HGT
fond memories of the HLX, especially when i first fitted an open cone filter, that was until i did the same on my HGT !
JTD was my least favourite and the coop just loved the fuel!
(1995 'N') Bravo HLX
(1995 'M') Fiat Coupe 16vt
(2000 'X') Bravo JTD
(1999 'T') Bravo HGT
fond memories of the HLX, especially when i first fitted an open cone filter, that was until i did the same on my HGT !
JTD was my least favourite and the coop just loved the fuel!
I'm yet to turn to the dark side seriously. I had a Fiorino 1.7 Diesel but that was like driving a cement mixer. I did think of doing a JTD transplant or MkII Punto 1.9 TD transplant but I sold it and bought a 1.7TD Punto and dressed it up with spare Punto GT parts I had left over.
I may be getting my 2.0 16V (Fiat Coupe) turbo powered Punto back. So I could put that engine in my Bravo or make it a grey abs bumper and 55 badged sleeper.
I maintain my HLX has been the best all round car I have ever owned and for the initial price of £230 and train ticket probably the biggest bargain as well.
I may be getting my 2.0 16V (Fiat Coupe) turbo powered Punto back. So I could put that engine in my Bravo or make it a grey abs bumper and 55 badged sleeper.
I maintain my HLX has been the best all round car I have ever owned and for the initial price of £230 and train ticket probably the biggest bargain as well.
Instead of buying a "universal" lip splitter/spoiler for my Bravo I spotted a bit of trim on the floor in my local scrap yard.
£2.00 later and I have some trimming, drilling and tiger sealing to make it fit.
Also according to these guys...
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/uk/lincoln
...the weather is looking wet in the morning so I'll be replacing my slightly pink rear fog light bulb with a super bright red LED one.
£2.00 later and I have some trimming, drilling and tiger sealing to make it fit.
Also according to these guys...
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/uk/lincoln
...the weather is looking wet in the morning so I'll be replacing my slightly pink rear fog light bulb with a super bright red LED one.
Apex said:
hi lk
unfortunately these apex springs have been discontinued and will be getting removed from the website would you like us to source you a alternative? as it stands no funds have been taken from your account awaiting your decision there will just be a shadow fee showing on your account
kind regards
Bugger. unfortunately these apex springs have been discontinued and will be getting removed from the website would you like us to source you a alternative? as it stands no funds have been taken from your account awaiting your decision there will just be a shadow fee showing on your account
kind regards
So I spent the morning chasing around all my local part suppliers looking for a set of Bravo HLX or HGT springs. The ones on my car are eighteen years and 126,000 miles old so even standard ones would be stiffer (in theory).
Some didn't do any parts for cars before 2005 and others couldn't get anything before Monday. Fiat want £217+VAT for the front pair.
I spent the afternoon in my shed. A pair of Punto GT rear springs.
Modified a pair of Coupe' front springs.
Of course I had a few issues. My 18mm ring spanner has disappeared so I needed to improvise a little.
Only a couple of jobs to get done and my Bravo and I are good to go.
Some didn't do any parts for cars before 2005 and others couldn't get anything before Monday. Fiat want £217+VAT for the front pair.
I spent the afternoon in my shed. A pair of Punto GT rear springs.
Modified a pair of Coupe' front springs.
Of course I had a few issues. My 18mm ring spanner has disappeared so I needed to improvise a little.
Only a couple of jobs to get done and my Bravo and I are good to go.
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