Martin's Track Clio 182 Project Thread

[Martin.]

Thanks for the heads up mate, I'll see if I can find out why the shaft should need changing....I'm guessing others have done it (whoever told you about it)?! Is the shorter shaft just a fit and forget thing, trying to think what other impacts it would have running a shorter drive shaft!!
How often have you been changing the oil, been told it needs changing pretty regular with the plated diff?!

I first heard about the shaft issue when I posted on here about juddering I was getting around corners. If you read through all the posts around the one you quoted of mine you'll see it mate

The Phase 1 shaft is a fit and forget thing though yes. I have a 172 gearbox in mine. So it could just be that a 182 with the wider track doesn't work with a 172 diff'd box.... Who knows. But basically the Ph1 shaft is 10mm shorter and that was enough to stop my 182 shafts from bottoming out in the diff.

I only put the diff in last spring, and the oil was fresh last summer so I'll probably change it end of this year.

 

[Martin.]

A few more photos. I'm quite happy with how the car looks now to be honest. Not bad for silver.

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[Mash.]

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May as well post it on here aswell!

 

[sonny172cup]

great pics Martin, shame I couldn't pop down to get stuck in

 

[Martin.]

I've got loads of videos from Silverstone. Most of which are boring and a bit slow. This one is the only one which might be worth watching.

Following @Ant_Smiggy driving Andrew Glover's car.

 

[Da Jenser]

very nice car

 

[Martin.]

Managed to find some decent photos. Courtesy of Rowan Harrison Photography.

 

[sonny172cup]

Great pics as always

 

[JonC219]

It corners so flat!

 

[GrahamS]

Ren stopped what she was saying to say how good that second photo is!

 

[Martin.]

Ren knows!

 

[eon172]

Just wanted to say nice job and approach taken on your car, looks and sounds the nuts, ended up reading the whole thread. Good to see you got your box sorted in the end and now your enjoying the car, a gripper and then ASTs are on my list but other items are needed first, such as a trailer. Being track focused I want the security of getting the car home and the comfort when going to tracks/events further out, Brands is great, but sometimes you just need a change eh. What trailer model is that you have, seems to be a good fit for the Clio?

BTW, I'm just down the road in South Sutton/Carshalton, wish I knew about that place that does the zinc plating when mine was stripped down, but at least I do now

 

[Martin.]

Just wanted to say nice job and approach taken on your car, looks and sounds the nuts, ended up reading the whole thread. Good to see you got your box sorted in the end and now your enjoying the car, a gripper and then ASTs are on my list but other items are needed first, such as a trailer. Being track focused I want the security of getting the car home and the comfort when going to tracks/events further out, Brands is great, but sometimes you just need a change eh. What trailer model is that you have, seems to be a good fit for the Clio?

BTW, I'm just down the road in South Sutton/Carshalton, wish I knew about that place that does the zinc plating when mine was stripped down, but at least I do now :wink:

Thanks mate :smile: must have taken you ages to look through all of it.

I wouldn't drive my car to a track day now. One because like you say, it's nice to know I can get home ok worst case. Two, because it's awful to drive on the road haha!

My trailer is a PRG. Not entirely sure on the exact model off hand but it's a lovely bit of kit.

I do love Brands hatch, but I do also want to try other circuits and venture out! Brands is just so easy and full of fast paced fun.

Haha, the place is called Colins Chemical Backing. They do powdercoating too.

 

[sonny172cup]

There you go Martin you have a Clio fwiend

 

[eon172]

There you go Martin you have a Clio fwiend :smile:

Haha, probably more pest/hinderance with the amount of questions about local suppliers coming his way.

 

[Martin.]

As some of you might know, I've always had an issue with the fitting of my rear top mounts since buying the ASTs. I'm not sure why but for some reason the nut has never been able to get on enough to be locked.

I've got the Powerflex black top mount kit fitted, as shown below. This is nipped up to about 25-30nm.

For a long time I had assumed this was because the Powerflex washers were so thick.

However after speaking to @Tony Hunter @Jay Payne at Silverstone I've wanted to compare the Powerflex kit to the standard Renault kit. The total size is exactly the same and I've still got the same issue. (The Powerflex bush itself is smaller to allow space for the added washer)

Here's a picture of the Powerflex kit, without the washer. This obviously allows the nut to be done up properly, but the bush itself is being crushed to some extent, so it's not ideal..

So anyway, this weekend, I decided to take the entire rear suspension off and have a proper look into it.

This is what I've been left with.... A f*cked thread!

So now I obviously need to send the rear coilovers back to AST to get them repaired/sorted out. Which is a right pain, considering how bad the AST customer service is and how long they are known to take with things. Especially just as prime track day season is starting.

I've been advised to go back to Cooksport first and do it via them, as they sold me the ASTs.

Does anyone have any experience with sending parts back to AST? Any advice or suggestions would be great.

Cheers

 

[eon172]

I'd deal with Cooksport first, might find they have a better professional relationship with AST to organise the repair.

Is there no way they can be re- threaded locally?

 

[Martin.]

I'd deal with Cooksport first, might find they have a better professional relationship with AST to organise the repair.

Is there no way they can be re- threaded locally?

I've spoken to Cooksport and AST today. Waiting to hear back from Cooksport now.

They could possible be repaired locally. But that would almost be a make do bodge, which could also affect the value if I ever need to sell them on. I just want them back to how they were really.

 

[Tony Hunter]

I still don't understand this, I have no problem at all with them.

 

[JKING3008]

Hello
I see you have a gripper diff fitted, could you give me a small review if possible as I am currently debating getting a gripper diff aswell.
Many thanks
Josh

 

[steviekyle13793]

Just out of curiosity mate, how much was the engine rebuild?

 

[NCC-74656]

A second set of wheels was purchased along with some sticky tyres. These became my track only wheels.

I have one of those wheels which came as a spare when i got the car. Anyone know where i can get another 3.. any condition but in black. They are o.z ones right?

 

[Martin.]

I still don't understand this, I have no problem at all with them.

That's because you can get the nut on yours properly

Hello
I see you have a gripper diff fitted, could you give me a small review if possible as I am currently debating getting a gripper diff aswell.
Many thanks
Josh

It's a great bit of kit mate. After I fitted it I did a soaking wet track day and I couldn't believe the amount of grip or pull it could give me out of the corners. Even on semi slicks. I was expecting to slip around like I had done in the past but I didn't. Such an improvement.

Just out of curiosity mate, how much was the engine rebuild?
View attachment 150372

Did I not message you? I seem to remeber sending something... Maybe it was to someone else, sorry.

I have one of those wheels which came as a spare when i got the car. Anyone know where i can get another 3.. any condition but in black. They are o.z ones right?

They are indeed mate. They pop up for sale all the time on the Clio forums, just keep your eye out. You may have to buy a full set of 4 though, but they are very cheap wheels. Often go for £30-£40 a wheel.

 

[Tony Hunter]

That's what I mean, can't understand why your nuts don't fit.

 

[Mr R.]

The nut isn't the wrong thread pitch is it mate?

Looks like it might be to me the way it's chewed that thread up.

The AST looks to be a fine thread bud.

 

[Martin.]

That's what I mean, can't understand why your nuts don't fit.

That's exactly what I've been trying to figure out 😧 As even with the standard Renault rubbers the nut still wont fit.

It's almost as if there's a design fault and the threaded section wasn't made long enough.

The nut isn't the wrong thread pitch is it mate?

Looks like it might be to me the way it's chewed that thread up.

The AST looks to be a fine thread bud.

Nah buddy, it goes on easy and smoothly. It was also supplied with the ASTs.

The thread is a M9x1.0mm for reference. I haven't actually checked the nut though, but as it goes on nicely and it was supplied with them I always assumed there was no need...

 

[JKING3008]

It's a great bit of kit mate. After I fitted it I did a soaking wet track day and I couldn't believe the amount of grip or pull it could give me out of the corners. Even on semi slicks. I was expecting to slip around like I had done in the past but I didn't. Such an improvement.

Cheers bud, looking forward to it being fitted Also have gone for an organic clutch and lightweight flywheel.

 

[M.C..]

Just read this looks like you have a fantastic car Martin and I like the attention to detail with everything you have done.
You will have to take me out in it one of the days if we are at the same track.

 

[Martin.]

Just read this looks like you have a fantastic car Martin and I like the attention to detail with everything you have done.
You will have to take me out in it one of the days if we are at the same track.

Thanks matey. I've tried my best as I go along haha. Not as high quality a finish as yours though I don't think.

 

[M.C..]

Thanks matey. I've tried my best as I go along haha. Not as high quality a finish as yours though I don't think.

Looks good to me mate :up:

 

[Martin.]

Sent both my rear ASTs to Cooksport on the 16th (delivered on the 18th) as instructed. Cost me £35 to send them insured unfortunately

I was told last Tue (29th) that they were in the pipeline to be taken to AST for a repair, not sure if that's been done yet and feel a bit out of the loop. Need to chase them again today to find out what's going on, now the BTCC week and races have passed.

 

[Martin.]

Still not got a clue what's going on with my ASTs. Cooksport are as hard to get in contact with as AST it seems. Going to start trying with AST now as I'm not getting any response from Cooksport!

 

[masekwm]

Any joy yet mate?

 

[Martin.]

Any joy yet mate?

Spoke to a very friendly guy at AST Holland at the beginning of the week. After a discussion we agreed the coilovers don't need a service and he was just going to repair the damaged one.

He's had to send the bill to Cooksport though, so I'm just waiting for this to be sent on to me now.

The whole thing has just taken sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long!

 

[Keith185]

Good to hear it's getting sorted now Martin, shouldn't have to do so much legwork yourself but maybe you've forged a better way to get any future work done on them with AST Holland now

 

[masekwm]

@Martin. crazy how long it's taken, must be so annoying after the issues last year to have it parked up again.

Really recommend Cadwell, can't wait to get back in the summer!

 

[Martin.]

Good to hear it's getting sorted now Martin, shouldn't have to do so much legwork yourself but maybe you've forged a better way to get any future work done on them with AST Holland now :smile:

Oh yeah, next time I'll go straight to these guys at the AST factory.

It's a little annoying really, as I was going to send it to them the first place, but I thought I'd give Cooksport a call first. I was told on the phone that they should be able to get me better customer service with their good AST relationship. So I sent my coilovers there instead, at a courier cost of £35, but they just sent them to Holland in the end anyway.

Cooksport have been helpful, just a bit slow, which I guess is understandable with Josh's touring car commitments. In the end though I'd have saved a good 3-4 week if I had just sent them to Holland myself.

But the repair is done now. I've just received and paid the invoice, so they'll be sent out to me as soon as possible.

@Martin. crazy how long it's taken, must be so annoying after the issues last year to have it parked up again.

Really recommend Cadwell, can't wait to get back in the summer!

Very frustrating man

I do want to try Cadwell. It's just such a long way for me, and a lot of effort with time off work, booking a hotel and trailing it up there. Especially if you end up getting rain which is highly likely in this s**t country lol. You had amazing luck with the weather!

 

[sonny172cup]

Well you wasn't expecting it to be solved in a week was you lol its AST.......

 

[Martin.]

Well you wasn't expecting it to be solved in a week was you lol its AST.......

No of course not but I also didn't expect it to be 2 months 😂

 

[GrahamS]

Between the 9th May and 15th July a Track day is happening with full shift light, AST, brake duct, roof scoop and duel Clio action.