First MOT pass! Plus steering questions.
Discussion
So I took my car for its first MOT since bought it and it sailed through! I thought it might need a handbrake and headlamp tweak as the former is a bit pants and has been mentioned in previous MOTs and the later I incorrectly removed to change the lamps last week. I can happily recommend MOT Reading who were reasonably priced for a Sunday and had old school mechanics that I think just enjoyed having a poke around a nice classic car! He was pretty pragmatic and let me adjust the handbrake when it was up on the lift and align the headlamps.
He did mention that there was a bit of play in the RHS steering UJ that might need replacing in the future. Anyone know where you get these from and how much effort they are to replace?
He did mention that there was a bit of play in the RHS steering UJ that might need replacing in the future. Anyone know where you get these from and how much effort they are to replace?
If the handbrake is only 'a bit pants' then you've got a good'un because mostly they're utterly cr*p even when working right. One recurring mistake is to tighten up the adjuster on the cable to try to reduce slack at the lever. The slack is supposed to be taken up by an automatic adjuster at the caliper. This can get gummed up and stop working if not cleaned regularly. It also needs a certain amount of slack in the cable so adjusting the cable too tight can prevent the caliper from adjusting - which also encourages the mechanism to gum up. Once the caliper adjuster has stopped working, the caliper itself will eventually run out of travel so even when you're heaving on the lever that force doesn't transfer to the pads properly. You should adjust the cable so that you have a couple of clicks slack at the lever, and make sure the caliper adjuster is free to move. Even when it's all perfect, they're pretty useless though.
I only gave the handbrake cable a small adjustment which seems to have been just enough to give it the authority it needs to hold the car on the last click. I'll reassess as I get some more time in it.
I've heard of a few people converting to disc brakes on the rear; on a scale of 1 to 10, just how difficult is it for a low average DIYer?
I've heard of a few people converting to disc brakes on the rear; on a scale of 1 to 10, just how difficult is it for a low average DIYer?
ukflyboy said:
He did mention that there was a bit of play in the RHS steering UJ that might need replacing in the future. Anyone know where you get these from and how much effort they are to replace?
Presuming your car is right hand drive there are two uj's, both on the right hand side, upper and lower.clicky for upper, lower one is also on there somewhere!
Alternatively, a TVR specialist... ML performance
Disc brake handbrakes can be a bit "touchy" but the drum brake set up as on your S3 should be able to do a bang on 100% job. A new cable will quite possibly work wonders even if the old one "don't feel too bad".... imho, and experience
Edited by phillpot on Monday 18th April 05:03
GreenV8S said:
To me the reference to a UJ suggests he's referring to the joints in the steering column, but the fact he mentions RHS makes me suspect he may actually be referring to the inner or outer track rod end joints.
Did your old school mechanic actually point out the worn part to you?phillpot said:
Did your old school mechanic actually point out the worn part to you?
He did, as he showed me around everything he was doing. Sorry, but it was just my shoddy explanation (and superfluous addition of RHS) that has caused the confusion! Since done a bit of reading it is definitely the steering UJ he pointed out. There is play in the steering wheel (can move the steering wheel a little which moves UJ but not wheels) and equally you can move the steering arm a bit which shows play in the system. He passed it, so might just be something to keep an eye on (or check column mount as suggested in the bible). Have I made any sense this time? ukflyboy said:
He did, as he showed me around everything he was doing. Sorry, but it was just my shoddy explanation (and superfluous addition of RHS) that has caused the confusion! Since done a bit of reading it is definitely the steering UJ he pointed out. There is play in the steering wheel (can move the steering wheel a little which moves UJ but not wheels) and equally you can move the steering arm a bit which shows play in the system. He passed it, so might just be something to keep an eye on (or check column mount as suggested in the bible). Have I made any sense this time?
Did you see movement in the UJ or could it be in the rack?
It is ok, I've still got brakes and I only need either them OR the steering don't I? ;-)
I'm not on my crappy temporary phone so hopefully I can give a better response now...
So when we had it up on the ramp, he showed that you could twist the small connecting shaft between the UJs and there was a little bit of movement (and we are only talking small) that didn't translate into physical wheel movement. Likewise you could turn the steering wheel (only a fraction of a degree) which would move the UJs (and connecting shaft) a small amount without turning the wheels. He listed it as a minor as "slight play in steering column and steering rack"; the bible seems to suggest that this might also be warn steering column bushes/bearings or the mounting just need tightening?
I'm happy to replace the UJs at some point, I just don't want to do diagnosis by replacement if I can help it and it might actually be something else causing it!
I'm not on my crappy temporary phone so hopefully I can give a better response now...
So when we had it up on the ramp, he showed that you could twist the small connecting shaft between the UJs and there was a little bit of movement (and we are only talking small) that didn't translate into physical wheel movement. Likewise you could turn the steering wheel (only a fraction of a degree) which would move the UJs (and connecting shaft) a small amount without turning the wheels. He listed it as a minor as "slight play in steering column and steering rack"; the bible seems to suggest that this might also be warn steering column bushes/bearings or the mounting just need tightening?
I'm happy to replace the UJs at some point, I just don't want to do diagnosis by replacement if I can help it and it might actually be something else causing it!
There was a batch of steering u/js sold by Rally Design that were not very good at the job. The heavy duty castings were too hefty to clamp effectively onto the splined shaft, allowing play irrespective of how tight the clamp bolts were tightened.
It's possible that your S has been fitted with one of these u/js and the clamp bolts have stretched.
They have since withdrawn them and now sell an improved pressed steel version.
It's possible that your S has been fitted with one of these u/js and the clamp bolts have stretched.
They have since withdrawn them and now sell an improved pressed steel version.
ukflyboy said:
.... but the area he told me (and demonstrated) to keep an eye on was definitely specifically the UJs and connecting shaft.
If you decide to change the UJs, also check the bulkhead bearing for play. There is a small piece of plastic which can wear.See here ..... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=128...
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