Been a while since my last update, again! I've been out and about a bit the last couple of months so I'll try my best to sum up (come on memory, don't fail me now).
August 13th was my birthday and it just happened that the Yorkshire few had arranged to go go karting that day. As my sister(NO!) is super organised my birthday BBQ was arranged for the 12th, leaving me free for karting:grinning:. Myself
@Potatoes @Jon46 @Kchristmas and
@RV. had a right laugh. I was a shame we did'nt have more CS guys to fill the session, maybe next time? Some people just have to stand out!
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Work on the list of jobs slowly progressed too. I'd bought a climate panel to replace mine as my buttons were scratched off and there were some small scratches on the unit. Unfortunately the replacement was worse but the buttons were perfect. So I decided to just swap the buttons over. Great fun pulling half the car apart to get at the climate panel!
An exhausting day on the clio. by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Both units pulled apart and swapping the buttons over. Note to anyone planning on doing this, don't remove ALL the buttons at the same time unless you have a pic of where each one goes:laughing:. Each button will only go in one hole but it takes twice as long finding the right hole that way!
An exhausting day on the clio. by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
The alpine is in and working, I still have no idea how to use it and DAB reception is still s**t.
The following sunday was a RenaultsportClub.co.uk meet at CGR Automotive in Rotherham. CGR make fancy pants titanium and stainless exhausts and I can confirm that their products are absolutely stunning. It was a good turn out and a few cars ran on their rolling road.
@Jon46 and myself flew the flag for cliosport and Jon pulled a respectable 160odd on the rollers.
DSC_0361 by
gazeratti, on Flickr
Lots more pics from the day taken by Gaz from RenaultsportClub.co.uk.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsm34ZSms
Some of CGR's p**n on display:
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
I'd noticed when fitting the turinis that my back brakes were pretty worn so
@George@RTR_Parts supplied new discs and pads with his usual fantastic service and new disc spacers and hub nuts were sourced from Kam Racing. While I was at it I thought it would be a good time to fit some spacers to push the turinis out to fill the arches more. Kam sell the PMS stub axle spacers at a fiver less than PMS do and a pair of Watfields Engineering front hub centric 15mm spacers came from Ebay.
IMG_20170818_105329_949 by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
I'd had the week off work so set about changing the brakes and fitting the sub axle spacers. I bloody hate torx head bolts:rage:. What a s**t idea it was to put those on there Mr Renault! Apart from that it was an easy enough job. Amazing how such a small piece of aluminium can make such a huge difference to the look of the car.
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
New discs and pads fitted and all was good. I think I need to paint my calipers at some point though, especially as they are more visible through the turinis.
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
It's a good job I bought new disc spacers and nuts as neither side had a spacer and one side had a plain nut on.
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
And what happens if you don't have the spacers on? Your ABS sensor gets chewed by the ABS ring! I expect that will fail at some point. I'd already had the other side one replaced and soe how it had not been worn by the ABS ring. Bloody good job as it cost £120 from Renault:flushed:.
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
I had front brakes to fit on the wifes car then and half way through the rain started so I didn't fit my front spacers then. Saturday evening before the CGR meet I went to wash the car and decided to fit the spacers. The pics from CGR show it with the spacers on, they didn't last long though. I'd only driven to CGR and back and then to work, all of about 50 miles. On my way home at 04.30 I could hear a noise. It was a rotational sound, something clicking. Luckily I don't go on the M1 anymore because the noise was gradually getting louder. So I stopped and had a look around the car. I gave the wheels a shake, looked underneath and checked the tyres for things stuck in them. All seemed fine so I carried on. Couple of miles later and the noise is worse and I can feel a little wobble through the steering. Stop 2, look, wobble, nothing obvious so try to nurse it home, only 5 miles to go. Wobble got worse, noise got scary. Stop 3, under a street lamp. Look, f**k ME only 3 wheel nuts on the nearside front and about 10 degrees camber. Yep all the bloody new wheel nuts were trying to escape. So I get the little scissor jack and wrench out of the boot. The sodding new nuts had a smaller head than the originals so the wrench was useless. I abandoned the car and walked the 4 miles home. Got my big wheel spanner and had the wife take me back to rescue the car. Drove home slowly and went to bed knackered. So with only 3 bolts on one side and the standard ones not long enough I decided to take the spacers off. The offside ones had come loose too so both spacers were a bit battle scarred. Luckily the wheel mounting face cleaned up ok and I'd not put the standard bolts away where I couldn't find them so the wheels went back on as Renault intended. I checked the wheel bolts after every journey for the next 4 days. They never came loose.
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
After that self inflicted scare I thought it would be wise to get the tracking checked. I managed to get a slot at Bram Racing on bank holiday Monday. Brad is a sound guy and the hunter aligment is a very fancy thing indeed.
@Sj1782 had been there the Friday before and Brad reckons my clutch is very heavy, compared to every other car he's driven:laughing:. Doesn't bother me too much but will be intresting to see whats in there when it needs replacing. Anyway, the robot showed this:
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Why that pic is the wrong way up I have no idea, it's fine on flickr! So toe and nearside camber need adjusting so I was advised to get some camber bolts and go back for the adjustments doing. Bolts are with me now so I need to get back there and get it all in the green.
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Happy that the suspension isn't buggered I decided the wheels look a bit lost now without the spacers. I did think that 15mm was a bit too much though so started looking at 5mm spacers. Then I had an idea!
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
As the spacers were fucked anyway I may as well turn them down at work. It only took me half an hour to remember how to use the lathe. Well it was 26 years ago when I last used one! Good job turning is a piece of piss.
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Progress by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Finished at 6mm thick and a lovely job, if I do say so myself:laughing:. I've just got to summon up the bravery to fit them!
That's it as far as jobs on the car are concerned. I've got a scenic shifter to mod and then fit. I've been looking at
@dann2707 modded scenic shifter for inspiration and I think extending the botton arm to reduce the throw is a great idea. Can you remember how much you extended it Dan? was it 50mm? I can't decide if I should get a yanoo stiff shift for it too. Anyone got one and able to offer any insight? I want to get that sorted and fitted before the weather turns full winter on us so I'll message Yanoo for prices and availability.
The 17th September was Sports Cars in the Park at Lotherton Hall. This was a not to be missed one as Chris who organises it had managed to arrange a La Ferrari to be there as part of the 70th Ferrari anniversary. It's not every day you see one, never mind a 3 year old one thats only done 46 miles!
Sports Cars in the park at Lotherton Hall 2017 by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
I even made a special effort to take some pics of my car for once:laughing:. The rain seems to have kept it clean too:up:.
Sports Cars in the park at Lotherton Hall 2017 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/143185355@N07/]Paul Dent, on Flickr[/url]
Sports Cars in the park at Lotherton Hall 2017 by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Sports Cars in the park at Lotherton Hall 2017 by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Sports Cars in the park at Lotherton Hall 2017 by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Always a pleasure to see one of
@mossyv6 creations and nice to meet
@robbie1988 and
@rem1859 too.
Car of the day though has to be:
Sports Cars in the park at Lotherton Hall 2017 by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
Sports Cars in the park at Lotherton Hall 2017 by
Paul Dent, on Flickr
@Steve_RS2250 photo bombing my pic:rage:. The rest of my pics from Lotherton can be seen here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsm8W4gZe
And that's me all up to date. Hopefully a few more jobs will get done on the clio this year and we still have a couple of meetings to attend. Until the next overdue update, thanks for reading my drivvel:laughing::up:.