The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)

[figtree]

£28 for a set of rear brake shoes for my Fiesta 1.4tdci runaround and an hour or so to replace?

Yeah, right. Offside drum took half an hour of sweating and swearing. No puller, wheel bolted back on for leverage. Bearings went ping.

Great, it’s off though so happy days. Next, a lip you could climb over inside the drum. Local factors, £125 for a pair of drums complete with bearings, hub nut, ABS rings, etc for fks sake!

Ok st happens. Nearside drum was worse, no puller for sale within 25 miles, can’t wait to get one delivered, cue Mcguyver and making one from a bit of flat bar and a brake piston rewind tool. Great that’s off, go pick up the new ones.

You’ll need to get the bearings pressed in sir, they don’t come pre-assembled. Off to my local garage and 20 quid later they’re pressed in.

Then it hailed and thundered on me when fitting them FML.

[OMITN]

That does not sound fun.

For me, my shed Peugeot 307 needs a service (it’s gone more than 12 months). I also think I’m in the territory for a cambelt change. Never done one of those before, so might wait for the better weather and take a deep breath…

And on a related note, I gave it its post-winter wash last weekend and discovered the passenger footwell is soaking. At first I thought blocked drainage channels, but then a google suggests it’s leaking coolant from the heater matrix. And that looks like a couple of o-rings. Might explain why I have to top up the coolant reasonably frequently..!

[defblade]

figtree said:

£28 for a set of rear brake shoes for my Fiesta 1.4tdci runaround and an hour or so to replace?

Yeah, right. Offside drum took half an hour of sweating and swearing. No puller, wheel bolted back on for leverage. Bearings went ping.

Great, it’s off though so happy days. Next, a lip you could climb over inside the drum. Local factors, £125 for a pair of drums complete with bearings, hub nut, ABS rings, etc for fks sake!

Ok st happens. Nearside drum was worse, no puller for sale within 25 miles, can’t wait to get one delivered, cue Mcguyver and making one from a bit of flat bar and a brake piston rewind tool. Great that’s off, go pick up the new ones.

You’ll need to get the bearings pressed in sir, they don’t come pre-assembled. Off to my local garage and 20 quid later they’re pressed in.

Then it hailed and thundered on me when fitting them FML.

Sounds like my daughter's '06 Corolla shed.

Been making a speed-dependent rubbing noise from the offside rear brakes, the discs have always been poorly swept.
Decided to change the discs and pads, cross fingers for the shoes being ok.
Nope, offside shoes the locating pins have pulled through the rusty backplate. That'll be the rubbing noise then with the shoes moving about. Ordered new shoes plus fitting kit.
Offside sorted with extra washers to stop new pins pulling through (backing plate sound apart from the holes being a little bigger than they should be).
Nearside no problems... except the flexi hose is split - not leaking, but I couldn't leave it.
Trouble getting the handbrake to go tight, take interior apart to adjust cable end too, end up with them too tight... I'll slacken them off a bit when I do the flexi.

New flexi arrives, and a set of pipe spanners to make sure it doesn't round.. Clean and PlusGas union. Will it shift? Nope. Does it round, even with the proper spanners? Oh yes.
Clamp it up and unscrew flexi instead. Screw on new flexi. It's a little tight... and then it's not. Bugger. Union thread stripped, not sure on flexi.
I have no tools for this and never made rigid brake lines. Research how to replace union (and union types, and flare types)... pretty sure I won't be able to do that in situ as the rigid pipe bends 90' just after the union.
New flexi ordered, pipe flarer, new unions plus double female joint, rigid brake line, line bender. It's a lot of twists and turns before the pipe gets to a straight bit I can make a join at.

None of which has arrived in time to get it done this weekend.
Can't even move it as the pipe is still disconnected, and I don't dare check if I've got the handbrake adjusted properly as if it's too loose again, I don't want to have to touch the brakes!

I'm about £280 into a 50 quid job at the moment...

[Jo-say8k]

Ah but you bought tools and equipment you can use in the future

[QBee]

defblade said:

figtree said:

£28 for a set of rear brake shoes for my Fiesta 1.4tdci runaround and an hour or so to replace?

Yeah, right. Offside drum took half an hour of sweating and swearing. No puller, wheel bolted back on for leverage. Bearings went ping.

Great, it’s off though so happy days. Next, a lip you could climb over inside the drum. Local factors, £125 for a pair of drums complete with bearings, hub nut, ABS rings, etc for fks sake!

Ok st happens. Nearside drum was worse, no puller for sale within 25 miles, can’t wait to get one delivered, cue Mcguyver and making one from a bit of flat bar and a brake piston rewind tool. Great that’s off, go pick up the new ones.

You’ll need to get the bearings pressed in sir, they don’t come pre-assembled. Off to my local garage and 20 quid later they’re pressed in.

Then it hailed and thundered on me when fitting them FML.

Sounds like my daughter's '06 Corolla shed.

Been making a speed-dependent rubbing noise from the offside rear brakes, the discs have always been poorly swept.
Decided to change the discs and pads, cross fingers for the shoes being ok.
Nope, offside shoes the locating pins have pulled through the rusty backplate. That'll be the rubbing noise then with the shoes moving about. Ordered new shoes plus fitting kit.
Offside sorted with extra washers to stop new pins pulling through (backing plate sound apart from the holes being a little bigger than they should be).
Nearside no problems... except the flexi hose is split - not leaking, but I couldn't leave it.
Trouble getting the handbrake to go tight, take interior apart to adjust cable end too, end up with them too tight... I'll slacken them off a bit when I do the flexi.

New flexi arrives, and a set of pipe spanners to make sure it doesn't round.. Clean and PlusGas union. Will it shift? Nope. Does it round, even with the proper spanners? Oh yes.
Clamp it up and unscrew flexi instead. Screw on new flexi. It's a little tight... and then it's not. Bugger. Union thread stripped, not sure on flexi.
I have no tools for this and never made rigid brake lines. Research how to replace union (and union types, and flare types)... pretty sure I won't be able to do that in situ as the rigid pipe bends 90' just after the union.
New flexi ordered, pipe flarer, new unions plus double female joint, rigid brake line, line bender. It's a lot of twists and turns before the pipe gets to a straight bit I can make a join at.

None of which has arrived in time to get it done this weekend.
Can't even move it as the pipe is still disconnected, and I don't dare check if I've got the handbrake adjusted properly as if it's too loose again, I don't want to have to touch the brakes!

I'm about £280 into a 50 quid job at the moment...

You two have all the makings there for a comedy film script - the kind that was edited and speeded about 50x up so it fits into a 5-10 minute slot. Necessary so that the audience neither gets bored nor gets an overdose of Anglo-Saxon English.

[defblade]

Jo-say8k said:

Ah but you bought tools and equipment you can use in the future

Oh, 100% yes. It's why I've got a garage stuffed full
Although I moan, much the same would likely to have happened to a mechanic so the cost there would be higher than originally expected too, and I'd have nothing to show for it but a fixed car.
I've always felt it's worth buying the tools (and decent ones - I learnt that early ). Probably breakeven-ish the first time you use them, but then quids in forever after.

QBee said:

You two have all the makings there for a comedy film script - the kind that was edited and speeded about 50x up so it fits into a 5-10 minute slot. Necessary so that the audience neither gets bored nor gets an overdose of Anglo-Saxon English.

I'm not very sweary - more of an Unlucky Alf, with a flat "oh... bugger."



One of our neighbours walked past some time ago, IIRC I was doing the front brakes on the same car (with no problems!) and commented I was unlucky to be having to work on it. "Oh no," says I, "I enjoy this stuff!"
"Enjoy it?!"
"Yes... especially as this isn't my car, and it doesn't have to be fixed to get me to work tomorrow!"

[bearman68]

Just off to replace the front wheel bearing on an Alfa 147 Sport. Wish me luck.

I've gone full on risk taking, and only bought a bearing, on a day when all the motor factors are shut. What could possibly go wrong?

[figtree]

defblade said:

Jo-say8k said:

Ah but you bought tools and equipment you can use in the future

Oh, 100% yes. It's why I've got a garage stuffed full
Although I moan, much the same would likely to have happened to a mechanic so the cost there would be higher than originally expected too, and I'd have nothing to show for it but a fixed car.
I've always felt it's worth buying the tools (and decent ones - I learnt that early ). Probably breakeven-ish the first time you use them, but then quids in forever after.

QBee said:

You two have all the makings there for a comedy film script - the kind that was edited and speeded about 50x up so it fits into a 5-10 minute slot. Necessary so that the audience neither gets bored nor gets an overdose of Anglo-Saxon English.

I'm not very sweary - more of an Unlucky Alf, with a flat "oh... bugger."



One of our neighbours walked past some time ago, IIRC I was doing the front brakes on the same car (with no problems!) and commented I was unlucky to be having to work on it. "Oh no," says I, "I enjoy this stuff!"
"Enjoy it?!"
"Yes... especially as this isn't my car, and it doesn't have to be fixed to get me to work tomorrow!"

I will admit to being quite sweary when the job ends up taking 6 times longer and 5 times the price

[Gordon Hill]

I'm under the car today to sort the exhaust out that I thought I'd sorted last year. A bracket at the top had rusted off so got a mate to weld a new one on but over the last couple of weeks it's started vibrating onto the car again, it's worst when it's started up and hardly noticeable in drive but in reverse and neutral it's awful so repositioning is in order.
Then off to get a tyre fitted as I've had the space saver on for the last 3 weeks as I've been laid up with the dreaded norovirus.
Next month it's getting the works with fully synthetic and all filters.

Edited by Gordon Hill on Friday 29th March 09:50

[ALBA MELV]

New shed aquired.

2011 titanium x manual in 2L diesel variety.
Leggy at 191k

Pro
Cheap
11m mot
Cheaper to tax than my kuga is/was
Wears the miles well and drives nicely
Interior is very nice

Cons
Wet headlight, needs a headlight bulb and sidelight at the same side. Hopefully as simple as dry it out, seal it and then change the bulbs.
Creaky suspension, hopefully nothing too major
Parking sensors showing a fault

Plans
Service
Headlight
Press into use

[BenS94]

ALBA MELV said:

New shed aquired.

2011 titanium x manual in 2L diesel variety.
Leggy at 191k

Pro
Cheap
11m mot
Cheaper to tax than my kuga is/was
Wears the miles well and drives nicely
Interior is very nice

Cons
Wet headlight, needs a headlight bulb and sidelight at the same side. Hopefully as simple as dry it out, seal it and then change the bulbs.
Creaky suspension, hopefully nothing too major
Parking sensors showing a fault

Plans
Service
Headlight
Press into use

That looks sharp still. Big fan of these.

Xenon headlamp, could be a ballast issue maybe, my mothers 62 plate on 36k she owned in 2017 had a string of issues which were solved by a new ballast.

[tim jb]

ALBA MELV said:

Interested to see how this turns out for you. How cheap is cheap? Do you know what work has been carried out (DMF/clutch/injectors/timing belt)?

[bearman68]

bearman68 said:

Just off to replace the front wheel bearing on an Alfa 147 Sport. Wish me luck.

I've gone full on risk taking, and only bought a bearing, on a day when all the motor factors are shut. What could possibly go wrong?

Pfft, easy job, as long as you have a hydraulic ball joint splitter, and a hydraulic press. And a gearbox jack, and a 2 post lift.


However, when it was on the lift, I noticed water continually dripping out of the back of the engine bay, which is no doubt blocked skuttle panel drains, and regretfully, I destroyed a wheel speed sensor trying to remove it from the hub, so that will also need replacing.
And the slight knocking on the suspension may well be related to the knackered top ball joint. Which will not doubt be a right pain to change, and should probably be done for both sides. Joy and happiness.

[ALBA MELV]

tim jb said:

Interested to see how this turns out for you. How cheap is cheap? Do you know what work has been carried out (DMF/clutch/injectors/timing belt)?

Cheap for NE Scotland. Paid 1350 which I thought was OK given how mental the cheap end of the market is now.

Not sure on work, it’s got a well stamped book but no receipts. Boost hose and heater matrix was done by the dealer and I’ll get a belt thrown at it. Certainly no rattles or slips from the clutch and seems to be on power.

BenS94 said:

That looks sharp still. Big fan of these.

Xenon headlamp, could be a ballast issue maybe, my mothers 62 plate on 36k she owned in 2017 had a string of issues which were solved by a new ballast.

Thanks, one to keep in mind. The indicator and full beam work at that side so there’s power getting to the headlight. Hopefully it is as simple as drying it out and sealing again but it is what it is.

[smallzoo]

BenS94 said:

That looks sharp still. Big fan of these.

Xenon headlamp, could be a ballast issue maybe, my mothers 62 plate on 36k she owned in 2017 had a string of issues which were solved by a new ballast.

That car would have been perfect for me 😁

Cheap run around large hatchback / estate / suv, only 5k miles a year 90% local roads

[Daveb257]

bearman68 said:

bearman68 said:

Just off to replace the front wheel bearing on an Alfa 147 Sport. Wish me luck.

I've gone full on risk taking, and only bought a bearing, on a day when all the motor factors are shut. What could possibly go wrong?

Pfft, easy job, as long as you have a hydraulic ball joint splitter, and a hydraulic press. And a gearbox jack, and a 2 post lift.


However, when it was on the lift, I noticed water continually dripping out of the back of the engine bay, which is no doubt blocked skuttle panel drains, and regretfully, I destroyed a wheel speed sensor trying to remove it from the hub, so that will also need replacing.
And the slight knocking on the suspension may well be related to the knackered top ball joint. Which will not doubt be a right pain to change, and should probably be done for both sides. Joy and happiness.

With luck it’ll just be almost full (the scuttle) if water level makes it to the overflow that’s when the fun starts as the drain route send water straight though the heater an and into the sound insulation via the resistor
It’s usually the rubber tube in the bottom of there full of mush though

[7 5 7]

Joy of running a shed...not caring what others think?

Kind of my feeling with my E91 also aswell as my Vectra I plod along, here with it's poverty "euro spec" look and feel, on its winter 16" steel wheels - I'm yet to change them back over yet - functionality over style.

158,000 miles and still doing its thing...N47 of course and its been a great engine and car, I have done 100,000 of them miles myself, just kept it well serviced over the years.

According to WBAC it's worth £888 so it's definitely shed territory now!

Edited by 7 5 7 on Sunday 31st March 22:01

[greenarrow]

7 5 7 said:

Joy of running a shed...not caring what others think?

Kind of my feeling with my E91 also aswell as my Vectra I plod along, here with it's poverty "euro spec" look and feel, on its winter 16" steel wheels - I'm yet to change them back over yet - functionality over style.

158,000 miles and still doing its thing...N47 of course and its been a great engine and car, I have done 100,000 of them miles myself, just kept it well serviced over the years.

According to WBAC it's worth £888 so it's definitely shed territory now!

Edited by 7 5 7 on Sunday 31st March 22:01

After our discussion on bmws and tyre choice on my readers car feature good to see the E91....

As you know I've got a 318d with the N47 and I think for a diesel it's a great engine (if you look after that timing chain)... Previously I had an insignia with the 2 litre fiat engine and it was pretty horrible. The bmw actually let's you rev it (within reason).

I'm actually enjoying mine on its non RFT 17 inch matadors now...they're too squishy on a dry day to push really hard but on a wet day on a slimy back road my car is a proper weapon now

[tim jb]

7 5 7 said:

You're doing a lot of miles there. Looks good on steelies.

[7 5 7]

tim jb said:

7 5 7 said:

You're doing a lot of miles there. Looks good on steelies.

Yeah, it does have a good look about it especially as a Touring on these wheels, yeah put a few miles on this over the years, was at one point doing nearly 30k a year pre-covid, its had a few runs down to Italy/Switzerland/France under its belt too, it still provides stellar service as a baby car, it is in for its service and MOT next month (gotta' keep on top of the oil changes with these engines for longevity).

Has many many scrapes and dents, even rust on the rear arches coming through and on the rear boot - but its been with me so long now, its showing its 'life marks or patina'

As many know on here, I use the Vectra more these days mainly as my no sts given work hack, which has surpassed all my expectations as a tool shed in all honesty, as the wife takes the 3 series as her daily for kid duties. The alloys will be back on soon, if I get chance, but may just wait till after the MOT in all honesty.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Tuesday 2nd April 13:03