Met up with Ed post Trax/Big Manchester meet to get some bits done on the car before we went away. He was doing a full 2 day detail on his new RB182 and I was just there to assist. I decided that I was going to get the front wheels off and cover up the brake calipers with black hammerite which I had also done on the rear.
No less than an hour into getting started I went to crack the wheel bolts so I could get the front of my car on axel stands, and I did exactly that. Cracked a wheel bolt loosening it. After some deligating with ed, I decided to drive it back to KwickFit where I had a puncture repaired a week before. I argued that it had been over torqued, they didn't agree but agreed to get it out the following day. Went back to Ed's to finish up the work.
Said wheel bolt (2nd now to snap)
NS painted and wheel cleaned
Freshly sheered wheel bolt + painted caliper
Wheel back on
Painting them black tidy's the wheels up no end! After that was done, I gave the car a once over then stuck a coat of zymol on for the weekend.
We ended day with the cars looking like this:
Following day the car was left with KF for an hour and the bolt was pulled out free of charge. As I didn't have any spare bolts, I stuck a locking wheel nut in instead. Gave the plastics on the car a tidy up and applyed Gtechniq C4 to the splitter as I don't think it reacted very well the first time. Got the tracking and camber all set up too. 1.5 degree's on the front, standard toe. Looks much better now;
Nice shot of my RS badge
We arrived at camping for Trax and the car just hit 95k. The high mileage T soldiers on!
On the motorway I was following seb (sofaboy) and something came flying at the car that looked like a ball of rubber, nothing I could of done to avoid it but it hit the car but sounded soft so thought nothing of it. At camping we then noticed that I had actually hit just above the number plate on the front and caused a slight bit of damage. I've got pictures but Ed has them on his camera still, but I'll post them when I get them.
Looked at how much I had spent the past week as well
Arrived back from TRAX and these came the following day
Gave them two coats of Fk1000p for some added protection and fitted them. I wasn't willing to take any more risks with the awful reanult ones after two snapping on me!
Comparison of them:
Bling;
I still have a slight knock when going slowly, so thought it might be my top mount bearings f**ked. Got a new kit from renault;
As you can see, the top hat is different and so is the insert;
Supposidly to remove the knock on full lock (which I dont get anyway)
Fitted them, and the knocking is still there. After going for a drive out on Monday with Rob, jonff, bren and jamie rigby the car feels completely different now with the dampers sorted and camber aligned. So much better to drive than before.
I'm in the process of trying the get an RS192 exhaust for the car and I'll probably leave it like it is for winter.