Sooooo, from my last update I got my cat fitted and took the car for MOT. Where I promptly failed on emissions (Lambda high), inefficient rear parking brake (by 1%!) and headlight alignment.
Got the car home, set about rebuilding my rear brakes to see where the problem was as I had just fitted new handbrake cables on both sides so knew this wasn't an issue. Discovered upon stripping down, and advice from other members on the forum, that it was the caliper that needed replacing as the handbrake mechanism inside had seized up as it no longer moved the piston until at the end of its stroke. Then it was only a small bit of movement. Thanks to
@optical for showing me his calipers and the workings of the handbrake mechanisms.
20170304_094211 by
Louis Walker, on Flickr
Decided to just buy some working 2nd hand calipers from
@James363 and save any hassle for the time being.
Cleaned up the NSR as this was the one I was having problems with and managed to get it fitted and bled today as the weather all week has been crap.
New calipers on and all greased up... Going to buy some paint for my calipers when I get chance.
20170304_163315 by
Louis Walker, on Flickr
Fresh ATE Typ 200. Going to flush the whole system of the old at some stage this week, but just was a little pushed for time today so settled on bleeding the rears only for now.
20170304_094425 by
Louis Walker, on Flickr
The fluid looking a bit crappy. Not sure how long it changes to looking like this though to say when it was last changed. I'm guessing a while? Least it wasn't black. The one man vizibleed was really good for the £3 it cost! Proper bargain.
20170304_115521 by
Louis Walker, on Flickr
I then set about removing my front bumper to get at my carbon canister solenoid as it continued to tick. Shoved a bolt in both sides of it and silicone it all up so fingers crossed that'll be the end of that!
I also, after seeing
@Dr Jekyll's setup, completely removed the inlet pipes that I had just blocked up with bolts from the canister and the solenoid. I looped a bit of piping round and under the throttle body. Makes me happy knowing there's less unnecessary pipes everywhere. Getting the bumper off also allowed me to tie back the wiring properly out of the way.
20170304_135013 by
Louis Walker, on Flickr
20170304_133617 by
Louis Walker, on Flickr
I adjusted the headlight too whilst I was at it so fingers crossed it'll pass, otherwise i'll just get them to align it on the machine.
Bass ports had been on order and they came a few weeks back so set about getting these fitted. Fog lights are over-rated and very rarely used anyway so I won't miss them.
20170304_153540 by
Louis Walker, on Flickr
20170304_160009 by
Louis Walker, on Flickr
20170304_160022 by
Louis Walker, on Flickr
Ducting isn't sorted yet, and I'm wanting to add some mesh to them too but this will come at a later stage.
I also siliconed up all the olive joint, and fitted some new nuts to the clamp as they were just like cheese on removal. Fingers crossed it passes on emissions as high lambda is often linked to an air leak somewhere and I just replaced the cat fitting kit with genuine.
I did notice after letting the silicone set for a few hours, when i got it upto temp it started smoking a little, is this normal or did i not wait long enough? Got some more if it needs it.
Car's absolutely hanging as well, but it will get a wash when it passes it's MOT.