Discussion
The next morning we pushed on through the mountains with some incredible roads. I was doing my best to keep all the other cars honest, but at some point something under the car cried enough. After an extended period of denial ‘a stone in the tyre’ I finally eased off and stopped at the top of a pass to check nothing was about to fall off.
Nothing was to be found on a roadside check and I wasn’t ready to give up (just!) yet… and the roads were just amazing, so I just reduced the pace. To be honest I could do with a physical rest by this point as it’s hard work on the arms!
Some pics from the morning:
We stopped in an almond grove for an err… ‘natural break’ and I got the proper camera out as the light was excellent
The lunch stop again was another photo op, we needed to rest after the 5000 calorie snack of three courses for €15…
A quick look at the map freaked us all out how far we had come!
After lunch we pushed on to the next hotel where I continued to explore the clicking noise which was getting worse with no obvious explanation.
This was my note to bring a proper jack of some form as this is unstable junk!
Nothing was to be found on a roadside check and I wasn’t ready to give up (just!) yet… and the roads were just amazing, so I just reduced the pace. To be honest I could do with a physical rest by this point as it’s hard work on the arms!
Some pics from the morning:
We stopped in an almond grove for an err… ‘natural break’ and I got the proper camera out as the light was excellent
The lunch stop again was another photo op, we needed to rest after the 5000 calorie snack of three courses for €15…
A quick look at the map freaked us all out how far we had come!
After lunch we pushed on to the next hotel where I continued to explore the clicking noise which was getting worse with no obvious explanation.
This was my note to bring a proper jack of some form as this is unstable junk!
I decided to do another day and run up to Andorra as I needed to head back that way anyway and needed a few more miles!
The drive up to Andorra was definitely better than the destination, but still we got to tick another country off the list
The weather went south as we climbed and then the rain hitting the screen had that ‘thick’ look about it which turned quickly to snow
Some benchmark Andorran architecture, I was expecting Alpine ski resort vibes but more like the Benidorm of the mountains as some of us described it.
Big shout out to Adam in his 964 RS who took on the role of shepherd at the back of the pack whilst I nursed the car up the passes.
Things starting to get a bit more interesting…
To all those ‘Never driven in rain’ people…
Ah well they are missing out!
Eventually the weather cleared for some wonderful open roads where I just ignored the noises and decided if it was going to break it would go out in a blaze of glory!
Ian enjoying the climb into the clouds for the group shot.
That evening I made the call to quit whilst I was ahead and drive in the straightest possible line home. Still quite the journey when you are just outside Andorra!
Really sorry to miss the rest of the trip, but I wasn’t enjoying the drive as much as I should with that ticking deep inside my head and the knowledge I still had the little matter of an 800mile drive home
Awesome adventure and home safe eventually!
As per previous post gearbox is now in bits with a spun outer diff bearing. A new part has arrived now so I’ll fit that at some point and see how things go.
My optimism on that only stretches so far. Let’s put it this way I bought 10 litres of gearbox oil as I’m expecting it to come apart at least once more!
The drive up to Andorra was definitely better than the destination, but still we got to tick another country off the list
The weather went south as we climbed and then the rain hitting the screen had that ‘thick’ look about it which turned quickly to snow
Some benchmark Andorran architecture, I was expecting Alpine ski resort vibes but more like the Benidorm of the mountains as some of us described it.
Big shout out to Adam in his 964 RS who took on the role of shepherd at the back of the pack whilst I nursed the car up the passes.
Things starting to get a bit more interesting…
To all those ‘Never driven in rain’ people…
Ah well they are missing out!
Eventually the weather cleared for some wonderful open roads where I just ignored the noises and decided if it was going to break it would go out in a blaze of glory!
Ian enjoying the climb into the clouds for the group shot.
That evening I made the call to quit whilst I was ahead and drive in the straightest possible line home. Still quite the journey when you are just outside Andorra!
Really sorry to miss the rest of the trip, but I wasn’t enjoying the drive as much as I should with that ticking deep inside my head and the knowledge I still had the little matter of an 800mile drive home
Awesome adventure and home safe eventually!
As per previous post gearbox is now in bits with a spun outer diff bearing. A new part has arrived now so I’ll fit that at some point and see how things go.
My optimism on that only stretches so far. Let’s put it this way I bought 10 litres of gearbox oil as I’m expecting it to come apart at least once more!
NomadicTurbo said:
Looks like a great trip!
What's the deal with the Cayman GT4 in the group? Looks like the odd one out
That’s the spare car What's the deal with the Cayman GT4 in the group? Looks like the odd one out
Despite long evenings on the run up to the event his best efforts pulling his engine out and rebuilding half of the injection system on his backdated 3.2 it wouldn’t run right so had to bring the GT4. First world problems and all It’s fair to say he was gutted and missed his 3.2. It may not be as capable but it really requires driving hence is more of an experience.
Looks like a memorable trip and I'm glad both you and the car made it home in one piece.
Pas de la Casa, where you were, is a bit naff like you say. Mostly duty free shops for French shoppers, but Andorra La Vella, the main town, I think is rather nice.
I used to live in Toulouse so went to Andorra at the weekends for skiing. Fond memories of the little country.
Pas de la Casa, where you were, is a bit naff like you say. Mostly duty free shops for French shoppers, but Andorra La Vella, the main town, I think is rather nice.
I used to live in Toulouse so went to Andorra at the weekends for skiing. Fond memories of the little country.
jamesson said:
Looks like a memorable trip and I'm glad both you and the car made it home in one piece.
Pas de la Casa, where you were, is a bit naff like you say. Mostly duty free shops for French shoppers, but Andorra La Vella, the main town, I think is rather nice.
I used to live in Toulouse so went to Andorra at the weekends for skiing. Fond memories of the little country.
We aimed there to go to the motor museum, which was quaint, but had some interesting stuff buried in the corners. I don’t think the rain helped the atmosphere along with the most local local restaurant we ended up in for lunch…Pas de la Casa, where you were, is a bit naff like you say. Mostly duty free shops for French shoppers, but Andorra La Vella, the main town, I think is rather nice.
I used to live in Toulouse so went to Andorra at the weekends for skiing. Fond memories of the little country.
Today being father’s day I locked myself in the garage with a goal to fit the new bearing, measure preload of the cover and work out what spacers I need.
In the end due to a variety of cock ups that damaged the new bearing I’ve just put it back together with the old bearing loctited onto the shaft…
So after the usual fun of fitting driveshafts and pumping 3 litres of oil into the box of we went for a little test drive. Enough to warm the car up, but not the level of heat soak we were getting on the mountain drive.
And… the noise has gone away and the box is less grumbly…
Fixed it? Unlikely.
Ok for now. Yup.
In the end due to a variety of cock ups that damaged the new bearing I’ve just put it back together with the old bearing loctited onto the shaft…
So after the usual fun of fitting driveshafts and pumping 3 litres of oil into the box of we went for a little test drive. Enough to warm the car up, but not the level of heat soak we were getting on the mountain drive.
And… the noise has gone away and the box is less grumbly…
Fixed it? Unlikely.
Ok for now. Yup.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff