2005 Clio 182 FF - Occasional track car

[illmonkey]

Faxo said:

Regarding the Pistons - you only need to push them back for enough to get the calliper over the new pads and disc? Sounds like it was/is seizing? When you press the brake, it obv presses the piston out but then should release

You'll know if there's an issue as the side with the possible problem will get red hot after a run

Obviously the caliper fitted over the disc & pads, but only just, it must have been 1mm extra I got out of them, but enough to mean they weren't binding. When I first done the work, before additional piston pushing, the pedal was super firm, I figured down to bleeding, but now it's softer (but still very present) and I know it was because the brakes were already on.

I done 20 miles of fast driving, as well as scrubbing speed a lot, and whilst they were hot, they weren't burning up.

[illmonkey]

A month on to the day from the last update...

I used the car as per, and made a note to check the brake temps after every journey, I was satisfied that they were working well.

With the car sorted, it was time to get a bit of track time sorted, I couldn't decide until last week where an evening slow at Bedford came up for £50, it was too good to refuse! If anything a good shakedown for my brakes and to get some miles on the new tyres.

Loaded the car Tuesday evening, left work at lunch on Wed and headed over. Something satisfying with the 4 wheels/tyres fitting across the boot like this!:



I arrived far too early after breaking my neck to leave work and arrive in time. I stood and soaked up the sun for 50 minutes whilst everyone else arrived. Stupdily, I should have swapped the tyres over, as I ended up doing this after the sighting laps and wasting 20mins of track time. Also doing these on my road tyres was annoying.



Once done and swapped, I done 5 slower laps to get the tyres going, results:



An other stint and the car great, responsive brakes and the tyres are night and day! Unfortunately as I was cooling off in the pits, a RX8 met a barrier, and closed the track for 40 minutes. The organiser agreed with the circuit to run a different track to avoid this, but it only left us with 45 mins, they divided us into 3 groups of 15 or so for 15 min slots. And that was that.



Managed to get the tyres a bit warm...



Just leaving.



All in all, for £50 and 1/2 day off work, it was great. I'm happy with the car as is and had some fun at the same time.

The exhaust is still falling out, so I've picked up some poly goodness to be fitted at the weekend!

Edited by illmonkey on Friday 26th May 15:36

[illmonkey]

Thanks Josh. I bought them fairly quickly into ownership, purely as they were so cheap. Once these tyres go, I could look into 15's. I'd love it to have turinis for daily and then these or 15's for track days.

The exhaust is falling out due to the engine mounts (see the next post in a min...!) You can also just get a poly gun and full the square up and drill a hole, bit of a hack but saves a fair bit of money!

[illmonkey]

The exhaust was driving me insane, and after pushing the engine, I could see plently of play, so figured it was down to that. KamRacing is 20 miles away, so I jumped in the car and got the dogbone poly mount kit and engine mount insert. Then went about installing today.




Ramps borrowed off a mate, first thing I done was spin the wheels and they ejected past the front wheels to under the sills, and I've damaged them, only superficial mind. Old dog bone bushes in a bad way! I managed to bend the bugger too.




Simple enough to do though, and fitted



I set about the engine top mount. My drive is pebbles, so I need to use a sheet of wood for jacking or stands, even the ramps. So the car came off the ramps so I could use one of my 2 pieces of wood for the jack, to support the engine whilst I remove the mount. But, the car sits too low. So I had to jack up a side, then put it on a stand, before using the other sheet of wood to assist supporting the engine. I hate pebble drive ways!

All was going well until this happened, the bolt has come away from the engine mount. Total new mount required. OEM is the same price as a racing one (which doesn't need the mount I've just bought), so I'll order one for next week and try to return/flog the mount insert. For now, the clio sits on a stand with the engine jacked.

[illmonkey]

Steering wheel is on the list, but until it becomes just a track car, it'll probably not get done. Airbags are good! Maybe when I get a harness in it.

Mine are 16"'s, and I got them from Camskill. I did ask a person from one of the groups (everyone recommended him), but I decided to save a bit and get the 595's.

[illmonkey]

Well that didn't take long! I found someone selling 2 vibra technics mounts (gearbox and top engine), made a deal and done the 100 mile round trip 30 minutes after I spoke to him. Fitted the mount in about 20 minutes, I'm yet to do the gearbox one, as it's still functional...

Previous to all this mess, I could move the engine back and forth at least an inch either way! Now it barely moves.

[illmonkey]

MJ85 said:

I hope you got rid of that lump of metal that sits below that mount! Sorry if you've posted previously that you have.

Eh? this bracket sits flush to the body bracket. It's correct.

[illmonkey]

weird, just looked online and mine didn't have that where the pics show.

[illmonkey]

The damn exhaust is still popping out of it's bracket, and the car vibrates like crazy. I haven't fitting the poly gearbox mount, although I imagine it'll help more as it'll tighten the engine up more. But will probably vibrate me out of the car.

I can't sort the bumper out until this is fixed for good.

On a more positive note, I've booked Mallory park for 7th Aug (only £99!). Looking forward to that! Trying to rope some mates into a drive, but it's a monday and no one wants time off work...

[illmonkey]

Chris x said:

Is it titanium silver?

If so, I have a bumper or even the exhaust surround cover if you want either?

Depends on your location!

I think thats the only silver you can get in 182, no?

I've ripped too much of the bumper off to just replace the surrounds! Also has a scuff on the corner, so the bumper would be great! What do you want for it? I'm in Oxford...

[illmonkey]

Chris x said:

As a fellow PH'er you can have it for nothing! However, i'm in Bexhill, East Sussex

That's very kind! But 320 mile round trip is not a small journey. Unless you could wrap it and I could arrange collection? Obviously I'd give you money for your troubles.

(Is it in good nick?)

[illmonkey]

As I had the Vibra-tech mount sitting about, and a free morning, I decided to fit it and see if it stops the exhaust popping out of its hanger. This is one of those fairly annoying jobs, where the battery, ECU, airbox and loads of cables needs to be removed/moved. Then it's 7 bolts...

Anyway, it's done, took maybe 2 hours. Now for a shake down, see how movement is and if the exhaust pops out. Just moving the car about on the drive the shift seems tighter, but I think that's just in my head.

I've had the oil light come on a few time recently too, but always when I get it from it's side street parking spot, and it's not level. But as I've got a track day in a week, I figured I'd also do some basic checks. Turns out it is low on oil! I put 1/2L in after the last track day, so it's either burning 1L every 700 or so miles, or it's leaking. I will just buy a 5L thingy and keep it topped up, I don't have time to swap gaskets etc before the track drive.

Slight side note, my ratchet is a pain. The ratchet direction picker thing keeps free spinning, so I'm going to treat myself to a new one. My jack also keeps slacking off and returning to it's base, so it's fked. It's only a cheap one, I think it's time to invest in a good low profile one (as I struggle with both cars with my currently one).

Edited by illmonkey on Saturday 29th July 13:17

[illmonkey]

I forgot the most important thing!

[illmonkey]

It's been a few months! Little update.

Rear bumped swapped out, as I thought I'd finally got the exhaust problem sorted. £40 for a better condition than mine, second hand one and an hour to fit. But after a spirited drive, it's popped out again! ARGH. So powerflex exhaust hangers have been purchased. Fitting tomorrow.



In better news, a mate decided to trade his PoS golf in and get a 172. It's in a nicer colour but down BHP. He's a fully fledged motor sport mechanic though (jag E types...), so will have it setup better and run rings around me I'm sure. But we can now take them both out and NOT race.



And finally the best news, we've a track day booked in Nov. Going to take my car, as I've got the brakes/mounts etc sorted and his needs a new clutch. Next year we'll get double dates track days booked up.

[illmonkey]

God, those powerflex bushes were a nightmare! You need to cut the rubber out of the existing bracket, must have taken 2 hours one side, 20 minutes the next! Then squeeze the new bushes in. wow. Upon fitting, turns out the bush is deeper, so the welded stop on the hanger had to get grinded off. Under a car in the dark grinding was not enjoyable!

BUT, it has sorted the exhaust out for good as you can see.





Next annoyance was the low charge lights came on, confirmed that the alternator was done by checking output of the alternator. So a 2nd hand one with new belt was sourced, and I set about it. I don't have a serpentine tool, so found a cheat way of using some jubliee clips to compress the pulley and managed to get the belt out and swap the alternator. At the point it got dark. I now have friday PM off to fix the new belt and remove the clip. My mate (with the red clio above) is coming over to help ahead of the track day this Sat. Let's hope we get it sorted (and the 2nd hand alternator works!)

[illmonkey]

That damn exhaust! It had fallen out once I'd got to the track on Sat. So, my mate set about doing it proper (mechanic guy), 10 mins later and it was all back together and central, and the exhaust hasn't fallen out since! (bd!)

Now, the aux belt was a bugger too. I decided to take some advice and jack the engine up, remove an engine mount and a few other bits, to get more space. To do this meant lifting the car, as my jack is not low enough. So all that done, I set about fitting the belt. The gap between the engine bay and pulleys is narrower than the belt, so it ment twisting it to get it past (or engine out!).

Belt through and fitted, just as my mate turned up to help. Well timed! Upon inspection, it may have been fitted wrong... He jumps under the car and we fiddle until it's sorted. It invloved winding the already tight jubliee clip holding the tensioner spring, and a lot of swearing. Finally on, and 1 last inspection, we took the jubilee clip off, but it didn't tension. So a rather large pole and a swift bang with a hammer and it was, err, ok.

We got to a wet track at 7:30 and proceeded with the usual sign on et al, before heading out for some sighting laps. It was very slippy. Session started very ease with a few tricky moments for all 3 of us, but the track started to dry out and just got better and better. There were defiently a few moments for all of us and we all seemed to get traction breaking on the banked corner ~110mph, a scarey experience with a concrete wall 2 meters away!

Lunch went by and we decided to try the semis, they made a world of difference and gave bags of grip. The afternoon was much more enjoyable, you could just throw it in and it'd stick, if not, a little slide, but nothing like when it was wet, it was all over the place!

This was the first proper day on the new brakes and tyres, and the car was faultless. Before we were having cool downs between 20 mins of driving, but this time we just swapped drivers and away we went. Little brake fade and the tyres didn't go off. It got quieter and quieter, the last 20 mins there was 3 cars on track and it was at it's driest.

A few shots, I will propably buy the pro photos, so will upload them too.

[illmonkey]

An other track day under my belt, this time Mallory park. Sheet ice in the car park upon arrival on the 29th, a few people ended up on their bums. Luckily the rain stopped (slowed!) and the track became drivable. We headed out under caution, and I was very surprised how much there is on such a small circuit, definitely challenging enough.

After a session each, we were fairly happy and the (wet-ish) tyres were performing well, confidence was growing. We were luckily enough to grab a spare garage, but it came with some 'youths' next door playing banging music and go on about all their work on the cars. Unfortunately for them, it ended with a rather broken bottom end. A few people managed to spin off causing a red flag and someone was dropping oil too, so a few stops throughout the day.

My last session was the best, as it'd dried out enough, borderline could have put the dry tyres on (last pic of last post) and gone for it, but time was running out and didn't want to spend 15 mins swapping them over. Unfortunately, the car developed an issue on the hairpin with the power steering, so I had to come in. The aux belt was slack, it was the end of our day. We managed to get it tight again by lumping the tensioner, but it was gone again just outside the track.

I waited 2 hours in a car I couldn't turn on to heat, and there is nothing around within walking distance, it was cold! I've not touched the car since, I imagine it's going to be a bit of a job, so will save it for a weekend.




Most importantly, the cab had a Christmas tree, and I had hobnobs!

[illmonkey]

So, investigation began, the alternator was lose, but turns out the bolt sheared half way. It's also not a nut/bolt, rather, the bolt threads INTO the alternator. So I have a alternator with half a bolt stuck. If you look at the pics below, you'll see it also has 2 mount points, about 1 1/2 inches apart. So you can only attack the back side, and then have to wind it out backwards.

As the alternator is now stuck to it's mount, it was a 4 hours job to remove everything to get 1) enough space 2) to the retaining bolts for the bracket. A/C pump off, PS pump pulley off, then PS pump off, multiple bracket off...

Speaking with a mate, we decided to drill and then hammer a torx bit in, to try and wind it out, but as you can see, that's snapped. I've then spend an hour trying to drill that out, or anything, so I can helicoil the bd and put it back together. Alas, I've given up, and it's off to my mate and his workshop to give it a crack, he can even helicoil it for me.

[illmonkey]

That opens a whole other can of worms! I either get this bolt out, or buy new parts, but it's going back together on the drive. Engine out is engine crane, and then it's "how far do you go" (upgrades etc). It's due a cambelt (on time not mileage), but it's not getting done. I think I'd rather it go bang and replace it that do the cambelt.

[illmonkey]

Finally got the bugger out! Went through 4 drill bits, trying to drill it. Then after dropping it (accidentaly!) it fell into 2 pieces, so the stud can't have been sticking out that much. Anyway, it gave me enough to get some pilers on, but it's only turn 1/4 turn, lots of WD40 and heat and many many small turns, I got it out.

Now to put the car back together, and hope I get it right!