Been a while...

So, I've been just driving the old bugger and he's been nice to me. Decided to strech his legs yesterday with a good 100 mile cruise at 100 mph. Even though it has been lowered and the road quality on the Autobahn isn't like it used to be, it was still a relaxed drive. And that fuel consumption is something I should have looked into years ago! Barely sipping fuel at around 30 mpg :D 18", 30 mm lower and a new suspension. Works like a charme...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...94ca4f2a_b.jpg

But still had to upgrade something: new pedals! :D

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b8df18b6_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...96499cdf_b.jpg

Also a new project has started and I am accumulating parts for it. Right now I have the calipers, brackets and dust shields for a conversion to the 336 mm brakes. Ventilated rear brakes will be aquired soon too. I wanted to buy the ATE calipers used but overhauled/refurbished, but instead of overhauled original parts I got cheap knocks offs with no part numbers on them at all. In the end I bought brand new brackets and calipers from ATE/Volvo and will be fitting them. The shiney caliper is the fake one...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a86ea571_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2bd45949_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...386c8c3c_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...017f01be_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5b884756_b.jpg

I noticed a squeak/clunk over uneven surfaces. Well, I can assure you there's plenty of them around. The roads are awful.

Anyway, I suspected it was a drop link. Over the weekend, I had a peek through the driver's wheel well and spotted the rubber on the drop link was all split and the grease had escaped. I couldn't do anything over the weekend, as parts shops were closed. I figured I'd wait until today to order some new parts.

I got a set of Febi drop links. There's no point replacing one. What a ******* of a job it turned out to be. I don't think the old ones were original, given that the car is 17 years old, but they were old all the same. Goodness me... they were difficult to get off! Years of road salt and grime had got into the threads. Even with wire brushing, penetrating fluid and counter holding them with a 5mm allen/hex socket, they were still rock solid. In the end, I had to cut the bolts off with an angle grinder.

Wasted Trip?
 

When I had my car serviced a couple of weeks ago I got the technician to listen to a soft surging sound that I can hear inside either at standstill or whilst driving. He said that it is the aux belt tensioner. I asked the dealership to check if the replacement was covered under the extended warranty and they were going to check. I later got a message to let the workshop manager listen to it. As this would involve another round trip from Sheffield to York I sent some audio files but they weren't really definitive so I arranged to take it in today.
Did the noise manifest itself? Did it heck! It's only been bugging me for months and yet on the day of reckoning it cures itself.
I might try going to the doctors and see if my T2 diabetes disappears as I walk through the door but somehow I don't think so.

A few things have been done recently on the V70.

Replaced the boot seal. The old one was perished and was letting water in. Bought a genuine Volvo one from the dealership, surprisingly it was cheaper than listings on eBay.

On order from Volvo is a windscreen washer nozzle and pressure relief valve (T piece). One of the existing nozzles has poor flow and doesn't spray very well, so I'll replace the nozzle and the valve.

Also on order are rubber grommets for the boot. These sit near the boot hinges. The existing ones aren't torn, but they look a bit flat/squashed. I figured as the seal has been replaced that those grommets need doing too.

Its also had a new windscreen fitted by National Windscreens under warranty. They fitted one about two years ago, but for some reason, water was going in between the glass creating patches in the driver's view that were literally impossible to clear with the heater or air con. Reported the issue to them and they came out and just fitted a new windscreen with no charge. Can't complain.

New Bosch Aero wiper blades fitted.