My Megane 225 freshen up

[Djw John]

Well the 225 failed its MOT earlier in the week which to be honest wasn't a massive surprise as I knew the rear discs were away but I thought I'd chance it anyway!


Anyway the fail sheet was bit longer than expected and the slight knock from the front end that I hoped was a tired drop link turned out to the track rod ends, hey ho! A rear spring had snapped and there was a 41% brake imbalance at the front as well. Overall the worst MOT result I've ever had!


Ordered up new track rod ends from ECP (Thanks Nickson) front pads and discs and rear pads from G172 on cliosport, rear discs and caliper pins from worldsaparts and Eibachs from Demon Tweeks using club discount so they were actually the same price as 2 rears!

Started with changing the TREs

and then moved onto the rear springs and you can see the difference here

as you can see one was very past its best!


Did the fronts today, which was an overcomplicated joke of a design imo but maybe I'm still annoyed that I can remove and refit a clio 172 engine in less time than just this one job!


When I took the springs off the shocks I noticed something. it had clearly had 1 cup spring fitted at some point! Very glad I went for the Eibachs now! Will get a pic of them next too each other tomorrow, forgot to today!

The 2 front springs that were fitted!

The difference between a non cup and eibach

Just waiting on a couple of parts to arrive and going to order up some drop links tomorrow and that should be that taken care of for a good few years again. Both hubs seemed to mover nice and freely at least!


And this may explain the front brake imbalance abit!

Gonna make sure all the pistons are nice and free too.

Ordered up 2 drop links and 2 hub stabilisers for it today from Paul at Renault PartsDirect. The only original parts on the front suspension will be the hubs (both working well), the shocks (again in perfect order) and the wishbones which again are fine. I would change the balljoint but it's easy enough to do when the time comes and won't mean a full suspension strip down and tbh there's nothing wrong with them anyway.



Will get finished pics soon hopefully!

John

 

[Nickson]

My pleasure John!

Those discs look baaaaaaaaad! My rears were just as pitted before I changed them.

The difference between the Eibach and the standard non-cup springs is ridiculous!

Get some pictures up of how it looks now!!

 

[.GAZ.]

I need to do this to the R32, I dread to think of the cost.

 

[Djw John]

My pleasure John!

Those discs look baaaaaaaaad! My rears were just as pitted before I changed them.

The difference between the Eibach and the standard non-cup springs is ridiculous!

Get some pictures up of how it looks now!!

Aye should be a nice drop but without it being too much.

This is how it is just now, think the springs need to settle a little

I need to do this to the R32, I dread to think of the cost.

Our Visa is being rinsed, the timing of it is terrible, starting something like this with no savings at all is not wise! But once its done then it'll be done for a good few years, think we'll have this for another 3 max.

 

[Djw John]

Oh and wait till I take the rear discs off! I knew they'd fail but hope I could chat my way out of it. Then I saw them and didnt even try!

 

[Russ_16v]

My pleasure John!

Those discs look baaaaaaaaad! My rears were just as pitted before I changed them.

The difference between the Eibach and the standard non-cup springs is ridiculous!

Get some pictures up of how it looks now!!

Ooh I need a few bits if your up for a bit of CS discount

I need to do this to the R32, I dread to think of the cost.

Thats why you need to book a cheap courior and buy them from me x

Oh and wait till I take the rear discs off! I knew they'd fail but hope I could chat my way out of it. Then I saw them and didnt even try!

bet it will drive a hell of a lot better now mate!

 

[Poopensharten]

Christ at the spring's!

It'll feel better for it...!

Fancy doing my aux belt you cheap *****? x

 

[.GAZ.]

Russ, I'll drop you a PM over the next few days and take it from there.

Are you cheaper than TPS?

 

[.GAZ.]

Christ at the spring's!

It'll feel better for it...!

Fancy doing my aux belt you cheap *****? x

I'll do your belt. Doddle.

My cousin John would do it too.

 

[Poopensharten]

I'll do your belt. Doddle.

My cousin John would do it too.

Would he? Fancy dropping him a text the morro and asking a price??

 

[Djw John]

Never had to do an aux belt Danny so wouldnt want to practise on your car! Get Gazs cousin to do instead!

It'll feel like a new car when its done. Hopefully!

 

[.GAZ.]

Would he? Fancy dropping him a text the morro and asking a price??

Nae hassle mate. He's on early shift all week, so remind me tomorrow and I'll get in touch with him.

 

[Djw John]

Another £135 away

 

[_Tom]

Drop links cost £135??

 

[Naith]

horizontal stabilisers are the killers tbh.

 

[Djw John]

Nope, the drop links cost £48 for the pair, the smaller hub links cost £87 the pair. And thats from RPD with a further 10% off, should've been £150. Hub link is a 225 specific part. f**king cars.

 

[Gaz85]

Expensive few days mate! But will be a different car when all done!

 

[Djw John]

Certainly has been Gaz, last time I paid over £600 on a car I drove it home! But yeah it'll be like getting a new car I guess, no way that it can't be a big improvement!

 

[.GAZ.]

£600

And that's without labour costs... OOOOFT!!

 

[Djw John]

Ken lad.

And thats getting discount on everything, I reckon if I walked into Renault and didnt ask for discount I could've spunked a grand for it all!

 

[Djw John]

Progress is progress, kinda. Not everything is going to plan! Still waiting on some parts arriving and as you can see in the above pic the hublinks came without nuts. Which I thought was kinda tight when they cost so much and you should use new nyloc nuts each time really. No worries I thought, I'll nip out and get some M12 nylocs, but no, these are M12 Fine thread and a special order for my local specialist tool shop, dont waste your time going to halfords, maplin or b&q (all were where I was anyway!) as they don't do them. Hoping that the ordered ones are right and if they are then I'll have 96 spare that I can sell on to anyone that wants some.


Only had 1 nut off the old hublinks so had to free off the others from the remains of what we'd grinded off but at least they are on so I could drop the car back onto its wheels. Also fitted the front brakes. Kind of. One of the parts I'm waiting for is the caliper pins so the pads are not secured at all so handbrake only to stop it when rolling it back on the drive!


Firstly the remains of the previous droplinks and hublinks

New ones fitted along with the new brakes

And dropped back down. Uneven drive way and brand new springs mean I think it'll drop a good 5-10mm more once out on the road and being used.

Big thanks to Dave for all his help on Sunday and 2 of my neighbours for the loan of tools and psychological support through my mental breakdown that this is causing!


Cheers
John

 

[Naith]

get some braided lines on there!

 

[Djw Dave]

Thats sitting quite low TBH. Which is awesome!!!

 

[Djw John]

Naith, 1 day, 1 day! Spunked far far too much cash on it just now and its only getting whats needed to get through the MOT at the moment, mods will maybe happen another time. Maybe.

 

[Djw John]

You think Dave? I'm hoping for another 10mm at least!

Before

Now

 

[.GAZ.]

Calipers need painting too

 

[Djw John]

Yes, yes they do, just fire over any time and I'll give you the brush!

 

[Gaz85]

Yes, yes they do, just fire over any time and I'll give you the brush!

And ill bring mine over while your at it

 

[Poopensharten]

I would have the callipers powder coated!

 

[Djw John]

Not getting anything powdercoated again! I'll give them a clean up and a cost of Hammerite just now and eventually get them sprayed like callums rs has

 

[Bluebeard]

John, you've had me in stitches with this thread. Epic humour skills.

 

[Poopensharten]

Powder coat or nout you poof!

 

[Nickson]

Looks good!

Your drop links and connector arms were rather worse for wear.

Now all you have to change is the wishbones and you've done exactly what I did.

Agree with Naith though.. Get some braided lines!

Also... My calipers look exactly the same. I would love to see how they come out with some Hammerite slapped on

 

[Djw John]

New wishbones will happen when they start to play up but just now they are fine.

Im not f**king powder coating them Danny! Apart from anything else it's more money that we just don't have, a 8 year old tin of silver Hammerite on the other hand........

 

[Djw John]

Finally the rear discs and caliper pins have arrived!!

So I got all the tools out earlier only to be met instantly with a hailstorm like I've never seen before and thunder and lightening for the next hour followed by about 4 hrs of persistant rain, bugger!

So after dinner I manned up and faced the midges and got cracking.

Got the rear disc off the os and whilst I'm quite embarrassed to so you this pic it is a good visual reminder of why you shouldn't leave calipers that are seized and you should fix them asap.

Whoops!

Anyway, chucked the new disc on, put the pads on and then the bloody heavens opened again and the thought of continuing in the dark and pishing rain wasn't appealing very much so will carry on tomorrow.
Tomorrows plans are finish the rear brakes and give them a quick bleed through so that I don't have to think about them for a while, then at the front fit the caliper pins and give them a bleed since the calipers have been off, fit the hub link nuts that are being sent out by the brillant www.renaultpartsdirect.co.uk and then MOT it again on Friday afternoon.

And then on Sat can finally start PFC trackday prep on the Clio!

 

[Djw Dave]

John, John, John. That's shocking!!

 

[.GAZ.]

Tut tut..

 

[Djw John]

I know I know, sorry everyone!

 

[Poopensharten]

Jesus!

 

[.GAZ.]

Jesus!

Who?