My afternoons work on the Clio, suspension and exhaust...

[Pep]

Decided at work today that I would get around to cleaning all the fonrt suspension down after it no doubt being covered in road salt and crap.
Exhaust has been rattling a bit too so decided to check that out, and then make some homemade new mounts due to perished old ones.

Started off with the coilovers, dirty!

Stripped them down, cleaned everything up and then reassembled

Look a lot nicer now. Also, after using copper slip previously to stop the threads getting screwed and everything sticking to it, I opted for a new idea. nipped to my local bike shop and got some spray on 'dry lube' which doesnt let anything stick to it (allegedly) and thought this would help protect them.

Once that was all done I set about new exhaust mounts, old ones shagged:

Inspired by someone else on here, I did the following:

(left side new mount, right side old mount)

All done, sorted.

Then checked on the rattle, it was the clamp between the cat and exhaust, so had a play around with this and got it a bit tighter so that has now stopped, result.

Getting a new exhaust asap so should be sorted 100% soon, but for now my bodging seems decent enough

Few after a quick drive to make sure it was all safe:

 

[Bluebeard]

Good work mate, I love DIY repair jobs. So satisfying.

 

[clio_luke]

nice one. good work.

 

[Pete80]

Thats hardcore is that.......

Can't even be bothered cleaning the car at this time of year never mind the suspension............

 

[Pep]

lol, was fairly warm earlier on though so didnt phase me!

Was a right ballache to remove the locking rings though, ended up taking it to my local garage as I didnt have a good enough vice to get them off!

Gonna keep them a lot cleaner on the car now though, too much effort to do this every few months!!

I'm happy with the exhaust mounts too, not 100% perfect and the exhaust doesnt sit 100% perfect, but from the before and after combined pic, huge difference! plus it is on nice and solid now.

 

[fossie]

Lol i did the same exhaust mount bodge on the Ph1 the other night
Looks pretty good matey

 

[D4N13L]

Good effort, wish i had your skills/ bolllocks to have a go at it myself

 

[Russ_16v]

fair play chap,need to do that with my mount! lol

 

[AlexG]

Good work mate, I love DIY repair jobs. So satisfying.

+1

 

[powey]

Could you explain exactly how youve butchered up your mounts as im interested in doing the same

 

[clio_luke]

taking the wheels off to clean the suspension is as far as i will go. lol

 

[Pep]

Could you explain exactly how youve butchered up your mounts as im interested in doing the same

Basically I got a knife and cut the 4 rubber arms which hold the central mount, then undid the 3 bolts and removed the mount completely.

Hardest bit was then using the knife, getting the rest of the rubber off which is a really tight fit onto the metal bar coming off the exhaust.

Once that was done I butchered the new rubber so it was a really tight snug fit into the original mount, then test fitted it.
Didnt fit onto the bar so I attacked it again with my knife and a drill to make the hole larger.

Finally went over so bolted the mount back on, then cable tied to hold it 100% secure.

Repeated for the other side too.

Luke, wanted to go lower on the front but the threads were blocked, so needed doing!!
Plus i want to keep them in as good a condition as possible!

 

[Addz]

good effort! i'm looking forward to a nice day where i can take the car apart and clean all the nerdy bits

 

[Fletcher]

Nice one.

My H&R's could do with a good clean.

 

[Sumner]

Good work, can i ask what u used to clean coilovers? I know it seems an obvious question.

 

[Pep]

I just used some car shampoo mate.

I copper clipped them when fitted, and also given them a few squirts with WD40 so it all came off fairly easily with some warm water.

 

[BREMBO]

Nice one!

Did you not just put you springs etc on recently lol ?

 

[Pep]

^?

They've been on for around 4 months i think.

I've fitted springs to someone elses car last week if thats what you mean?!

 

[Pedro]

Looks good buddy.

Anthracite turini's set Silver off a treat!

 

[Tigger]

Good job Pepsi

 

[Pep]

The exhaust mounts didnt work as well as i hoped! They both slipped loose during some playing ealier on today in the snow.

Just been under the car for an hour trying to bodge then on again for now, well annoyed

Think im just gonna go and buy some brand new ones, and try and re-enforce them from the start.

 

[Mr Burns]

Wicked