My RensultSport Clio R27 Cup Rebuild
Discussion
Hi im Oliver, live in Bromsgrove and work in Banbury. Give me a shout if you're local.
I bought my Clio a year ago now, when I first bought it I wasn't commuting far so it worked out perfectly. But soon I changed job and inevitably meant longer commuting (70+ miles a day)
A photo from the advert
It's a 2007 Renault Clio 197 R27 F1
Number 239 of 500
It has the Recaro seats, xenon lights and cup chassis and suspension.
Lovely car to drive and potentially seriously quick.
When i bought it was pretty much standard having only a mid silencer delete and a remap.
It also had KTR black series discs, ferodo DS2500 pads, braided lines and DOT5 fluid.
One of the first mods i did was to fit the Powerflex torque mount as the engine rocking can cause the manifolds to crack and i fitted a cup spoiler.
Over the next 6 months i also replaced the lower ball joints and lower wishbones myself due to worn joints.
Evo Triangle
Diffuser wars
At this point i was happy, only replacing tyres and servicing it.
Then i got the new job.
Commuting 70 miles a day you can imagine this costs eye watering amounts of fuel, puts pointless wear and mileage on the car. I didn't want to sell the car as I loved it too much, so I spent £600 on a mk4 golf 1.9 tdi and the Clio got to sit on the drive.
And it sat.
One Saturday i decided to give it a run, but during that little play my heart dropped as I could hear the exhaust starting to blow. This was confirmed when I jacked it up and have a look around the flexis.
So it was time for a refresh, i hired a council garage. In a fantastic rural location a mile or so from my house.
I bought my Clio a year ago now, when I first bought it I wasn't commuting far so it worked out perfectly. But soon I changed job and inevitably meant longer commuting (70+ miles a day)
A photo from the advert
It's a 2007 Renault Clio 197 R27 F1
Number 239 of 500
It has the Recaro seats, xenon lights and cup chassis and suspension.
Lovely car to drive and potentially seriously quick.
When i bought it was pretty much standard having only a mid silencer delete and a remap.
It also had KTR black series discs, ferodo DS2500 pads, braided lines and DOT5 fluid.
One of the first mods i did was to fit the Powerflex torque mount as the engine rocking can cause the manifolds to crack and i fitted a cup spoiler.
Over the next 6 months i also replaced the lower ball joints and lower wishbones myself due to worn joints.
Evo Triangle
Diffuser wars
At this point i was happy, only replacing tyres and servicing it.
Then i got the new job.
Commuting 70 miles a day you can imagine this costs eye watering amounts of fuel, puts pointless wear and mileage on the car. I didn't want to sell the car as I loved it too much, so I spent £600 on a mk4 golf 1.9 tdi and the Clio got to sit on the drive.
And it sat.
One Saturday i decided to give it a run, but during that little play my heart dropped as I could hear the exhaust starting to blow. This was confirmed when I jacked it up and have a look around the flexis.
So it was time for a refresh, i hired a council garage. In a fantastic rural location a mile or so from my house.
I moved the car to the garage and set about getting the manifold out. I had read forums about it and expected to do it over 3 evenings and a weekend.
3 hours after getting the keys, cleaning the garage and getting the car in the air, it was done.
It wasn't too hard in the end, that could be because i am a mechanic and don't have the pressure to fix it as its not a daily any more.
The hardest part was pulling the subframe down hard enough as its still hung on the anti roll bar, steering rack and wishbones.
It also caught the heat shield, but i carefully bent it out of the way.
3 hours after getting the keys, cleaning the garage and getting the car in the air, it was done.
It wasn't too hard in the end, that could be because i am a mechanic and don't have the pressure to fix it as its not a daily any more.
The hardest part was pulling the subframe down hard enough as its still hung on the anti roll bar, steering rack and wishbones.
It also caught the heat shield, but i carefully bent it out of the way.
Whilst i was waiting for the flexis, a used toyosports stainless manifold was advertised on a clio forum. It was a no brainier to fit it.
Combined with a new gasket from Renault (£6) i fitted it.
Fitting a toyo is a lot easier due to the smaller single flexi and the lack of the pre cat.
Combined with a new gasket from Renault (£6) i fitted it.
Fitting a toyo is a lot easier due to the smaller single flexi and the lack of the pre cat.
Whilst i had the exhaust off i decided that the silencer delete pipe was to be replaced purely as the previous owner had used a low grade of steel pipe.
I found a seller on ebay advertising a 304 grade stainless replacement for £20. Bargain
Sellers photo
How it sounded with the delete pipe and remap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z-mvAf-hXw
I found a seller on ebay advertising a 304 grade stainless replacement for £20. Bargain
Sellers photo
How it sounded with the delete pipe and remap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z-mvAf-hXw
Next i set about replacing the anti roll bar and anti rotation linkages.
You can get these for £60 each from Renault, or with a bit of research £10 from a motor factors (they look to be better quality too)
To remove them i tapped an allen key socket into the joint and a spanner to turn it. Whilst tapping it into the left arb link it sheared.
I did have a knock from this side that i spent ages looking for. Quite scary!
You can get these for £60 each from Renault, or with a bit of research £10 from a motor factors (they look to be better quality too)
To remove them i tapped an allen key socket into the joint and a spanner to turn it. Whilst tapping it into the left arb link it sheared.
I did have a knock from this side that i spent ages looking for. Quite scary!
As i have fitted a new manifold i want to protect it.
Ive ordered a complete set of powerflex engine mounts, adjustable front wishbone bushes and rear beam bushes.
I removed the dogbone mount to get more room fitting the new manifold.
But the thread had pulled due to being done up so tight at some point.
The bolt will clean up with a die and it looks like only the first 2 threads are damaged in the mount. So i will try tapping them out.
If that works i will also fit a K-nut on the top to ensure its locked to the mount.
A new mount is £80 from Renault, or £20 from a breakers. Not the end of the world.
Finally out the dog bone was also scrap, totally split and useless.
Renault wanted £60 for a new one, but my local indi motor factors wanted £30 and had one on the shelf. Winner!
Will refit this when i get the bushes
Ive ordered a complete set of powerflex engine mounts, adjustable front wishbone bushes and rear beam bushes.
I removed the dogbone mount to get more room fitting the new manifold.
But the thread had pulled due to being done up so tight at some point.
The bolt will clean up with a die and it looks like only the first 2 threads are damaged in the mount. So i will try tapping them out.
If that works i will also fit a K-nut on the top to ensure its locked to the mount.
A new mount is £80 from Renault, or £20 from a breakers. Not the end of the world.
Finally out the dog bone was also scrap, totally split and useless.
Renault wanted £60 for a new one, but my local indi motor factors wanted £30 and had one on the shelf. Winner!
Will refit this when i get the bushes
Bit of an update.
Finally the bushes arrived and i had everything i need.
The first job was the anti roll bar bushes, nice and easy job except that i had to cut 1 bush to open it around the bar.
This allowed me to get the subframe bolted back up and after fiddling with the wire routing i was happy.
I refitted the dog bone mount and new dog bone with powerflex insert.
The upper mount and gearbox mount were to follow. Relatively simple job too.
Upon removing the gearbox mount, i found it was also no good. So i replaced it again from a local factors for £20
With all the engine mounts done, ive started removing the suspension to be rebuilt.
Finally the bushes arrived and i had everything i need.
The first job was the anti roll bar bushes, nice and easy job except that i had to cut 1 bush to open it around the bar.
This allowed me to get the subframe bolted back up and after fiddling with the wire routing i was happy.
I refitted the dog bone mount and new dog bone with powerflex insert.
The upper mount and gearbox mount were to follow. Relatively simple job too.
Upon removing the gearbox mount, i found it was also no good. So i replaced it again from a local factors for £20
With all the engine mounts done, ive started removing the suspension to be rebuilt.
Edited by XG332 on Sunday 26th July 19:35
Did you have to remove the subframe to change the arb bushings, or was it purely that you had it off already? Also the gearbox poly bush how did you get the rubberised bush out to start with I tried to take this on my own 197 recently and couldn't get it to budge in the slightest.
Nice example though mate, keep an eye on 197.net if your interested in meets or drives out I recently went on a blacks and beacons trip with the forum and it was great fun!
Thanks in advance
David
Nice example though mate, keep an eye on 197.net if your interested in meets or drives out I recently went on a blacks and beacons trip with the forum and it was great fun!
Thanks in advance
David
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