Clio 172 Cup

[Ant1]

New PS3s fitted today, vast improvement on the almost dead Michelins that was on the car.

The guy i got the car from said they had between 3-4mm tread all round. Well yes they did until you look at the very inners. All bold so scrap.

Been chasing a knock since car has been aligned. Both sides, other rough surfaces.

Been pissing me off as everything is new and i double checked everything has been torqued up correctly.

Drove over a dropped curb today and it made a horrible noise that you would get with a worn balljoint.

It then occurred to me that i used the supplied Meyle bolt for the ball joints. I bet there isn’t sufficient shoulder length and the ball joint is resting on the thread instead of the shoulder therefore not 100% secure.

c**t, so I've ordered Lemforder ball joints to replace the Meyle as they were on offer so like for like. I’ll get a refund for the Meyles through Ebay so hopefully problem solved. I kept the original pinch bolts so i’ll compare the shoulder length once removed.

99% certain this is the issue. f**k you Renault for discontinuing cup wishbones.

Good start, fucked engine mount and now issue with ball joints. Could be worse.

 

[Mr Underhill]

I once forgot to tighten the pinch bolt holding the ball joint in. Knocking sound going over rough ground. Worth double-checking.

 

[Ant1]

I once forgot to tighten the pinch bolt holding the ball joint in. Knocking sound going over rough ground. Worth double-checking.

I’ve checked three times 👍

 

[Krarl]

Check the hubs aren't worn

If a ball joint has been loose before the hub can oval out

 

[Ant1]

Check the hubs aren't worn

If a ball joint has been loose before the hub can oval out

I did check when i fitted them. I’ll double check when they are off. Didn’t have the noise before i changed the ball joints typically. Pretty sure it will be the pinch bolt. They slid in far too easily….

 

[16v_paddy]

Check the hubs aren't worn

If a ball joint has been loose before the hub can oval out

I had this exact issue on mine, the time, money & effort involved firing the parts cannon at the problem for it to just be the hub itself was sickening

FWIW I could only find it was the hub at fault by poking & prodding at stuff with a prybar when I had just 1 wheel up in the air. Couldn't find or get it to make the noise with the car on a 4 post ramp or up in the air on a 2 post ramp - only reason I can think of is something to do with the ARB having weight on 1 side that allowed me to see & hear the problem

 

[Ant1]

The good news.

Replacement engine mount fitted - no more knocking under hard acceleration.

Lemforder ball joints fitted - no more rattle, see pics below of pinch bolts.

The bad.

Still has a deeper thud more central both sides of the car. Defo not top mounts, ball joints, wishbones or engine mounts.

Checked arb bushes and i’m greeted with this. They must have gotten out of shape when brackets tightened. Not sure why this has happened. But i’m pretty sure this the noise unless someone tells me this gap Is normal.

 

[Louis]

The good news.

Replacement engine mount fitted - no more knocking under hard acceleration.

Lemforder ball joints fitted - no more rattle, see pics below of pinch bolts.

View attachment 1746226

The bad.

Still has a deeper thud more central both sides of the car. Defo not top mounts, ball joints, wishbones or engine mounts.

Checked arb bushes and i’m greeted with this. They must have gotten out of shape when brackets tightened. Not sure why this has happened. But i’m pretty sure this the noise unless someone tells me this gap
Is normal.

View attachment 1746227

You sure the outer brackets are still intact?

 

[Ant1]

You sure the outer brackets are still intact?

You have a thing about those outer brackets 😂 yes they are fully intact.

Noise isn’t all the time, only over rough uneven ground.

 

[Ant1]

Rotated bushes this morning, done it in a hrs now i have the technique right.

Put some pressure on the arb whilst in the air, bushes now all good but…..

f**king PMS topmounts. Wasn’t the arb after all.

 

[Matt Cup]

Have the top mounts failed or just need tightening?

 

[Ant1]

Have the top mounts failed or just need tightening?

They won’t tighten anymore so assuming failed.

 

[Ant1]

Ordered two of these.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Parts cannon at the ready….

 

[Ant1]

Parts cannon at the ready….

View attachment 1746374

Cannon ain’t big enough mate 😂

Tbh i’m fucked off with myself for not checking orientation of the arb bushes and condition of topmounts before building shocks back up.

I know better.

Live and learn.

 

[Mr Underhill]

If you’re in for a couple of grand, then I’m definitely in for ten times that. It’s good to see these cars getting sorted, though it’s not easy given the scarcity of some parts.

 

[npt]

There's a daft washer you need to fit with these topmounts or they knock, I had to fit it using B14 coilovers, it's either that or the bearing, I'd say washer first with that amount of play tbh

 

[Ant1]

There's a daft washer you need to fit with these topmounts or they knock, I had to fit it using B14 coilovers, it's either that or the bearing, I'd say washer first with that amount of play tbh

They haven’t been removed since installation back in 2013.

This is what i have.

 

[npt]

Yeah it may not need fitted depending on the damper your fitting maybe, you'll know if you need it when you tighten the top mount prior to fitting it into the car, the play is obvious to see, search on here and it'll show you the washer somewhere, I don't have any pics unfortunately

 

[Krarl]

That's all you need with the top mounts Andy

Them bearings are what I have on mine too, so far they've been sound

 

[Ant1]

New top mount bearings fitted today. Old bearings were shot.

Much better. Still get the odd rumble over really rough surfaces but still much better.

There is zero play/noise in front end no matter what i put under load whilst on axel stands.

Nothing else to replace other than rack bushes which i will do in a few weeks.

 

[Stay Puft]

How much will it be up for sale for?

 

[Ant1]

How much will it be up for sale

£7000

 

[Stay Puft]

£5000

Deal, i’ll take it!

 

[Ant1]

Some spare time this morning to remove old gear gator as the clips on the plastic cage had broken.

Didn’t want to replace the gear knob but i knew it wasn’t going to come off without being cut to shite.

Guy on here was selling a good knob with the original blue top and original print rather than a ebay decal so it was decided.

Tools….

Old knob removed

New gator and knob installed. Job done.

 

[Ant1]

Also fitted a non sticky centre dash bit.

 

[cat171]

Also fitted a non sticky centre dash bit.

View attachment 1747656

Was that out of a lower model? (ie, no soft touch coating) I spent ages trying to get a nice one for my 172.. ended up getting one you like have, from Lithuania on eBay.

 

[Flat Eric]

Was that out of a lower model? (ie, no soft touch coating) I spent ages trying to get a nice one for my 172.. ended up getting one you like have, from Lithuania on eBay.

Looks to be yes.

 

[andybond]

.

 

[Ant1]

Spent the morning trying to sort 3rd brake light. Sadly it’s a no go and tbh, the previous owner damaged the outer casing so I would be replacing it anyhow.

So moved onto cleaning up all the black exterior trim. It’s tedious as f**k. Especially the lower bumper grills.

Cleaned, degreased, panel wipe then applied Gtechniq C4 trim restorer.

No before just after pics.

 

[Ant1]

Better pics now the suns not beating down.

Certainly looks better.

 

[Ant1]

I will be listing this at the weekend i reckon as i have something else in the pipeline.

If anyones interested before get in touch, otherwise i’ll get a advert sorted.

I await for the piss taking to commence…

 

[Mr Underhill]

I will be listing this at the weekend i reckon as i have something else in the pipeline.

If anyones interested before get in touch, otherwise i’ll get a advert sorted.

 

[Stay Puft]

I did offer £5k but you were too slow..

 

[Ant1]

I did offer £5k but you were too slow..

Healthy Twingo budget that bud.

 

[Jonnio]

glws

 

[Flat Eric]

Bit of bullshit stuck on the trims and its up for sale!
Mental..

How much you looking at advertising it for?

 

[Ant1]

glws

Needs must for a 5090 😂

 

[Ant1]

Bit of bullshit stuck on the trims and its up for sale!
Mental..

How much you looking at advertising it for?

Not sure your pension can cover it

 

[Flat Eric]

Not sure your pension can cover it

But its worth a million pounds?!