What I did today thread...

[JJD1]

100% my average in town has gone up by 3mpg since the filter has been changed . "pick up" also is a fraction better . My old one may have been years old !

[JJD1]

Took it for a run up the M1.First time the average has gone to 27mpg ! (5th at 65mph .

[stuart bowes]

drivers side front: new spring (eibach) / shock, top mount and ball joint (all Meyle) / new spring seat (volvo branded)

ball joint was shot to buggery, totally floppy, no wonder it's been a bit clonky
spring seat was ok actually but f£$% it, do it right do it once
top mount bearing was a bit worn but nothing dramatic

reused dust cover and bump stop as they were a little tired but ok.
didnt find any of the rubber insulators top or bottom? either built without them, or disintegrated over time and completely vanished without a trace (seems unlikely)

passenger side front tomorrow

[big_yin]

Replaced both Engine Torque Rod Mount Brackets . No more clonking

[abdiel]

Originally Posted by stuart bowes

drivers side front: new spring (eibach) / shock, top mount and ball joint (all Meyle) / new spring seat (volvo branded)

ball joint was shot to buggery, totally floppy, no wonder it's been a bit clonky
spring seat was ok actually but f£$% it, do it right do it once
top mount bearing was a bit worn but nothing dramatic

reused dust cover and bump stop as they were a little tired but ok.
didnt find any of the rubber insulators top or bottom? either built without them, or disintegrated over time and completely vanished without a trace (seems unlikely)

passenger side front tomorrow

I found the same on both sides of my 2001 V70 2.4 petrol Stuart, no sign they were ever there & the strut assemblies looked like factory original fits.

[stuart bowes]

I wonder if that's just the earlier models then, or something to do with trim levels, mines pretty much bottom spec really (which actually I don't mind, less to go wrong and I'm not a fan of leather seats)

[abdiel]

Originally Posted by stuart bowes

I wonder if that's just the earlier models then, or something to do with trim levels, mines pretty much bottom spec really (which actually I don't mind, less to go wrong and I'm not a fan of leather seats)

My 2001 is poverty spec too but I also have a 2005 V70 SE which does have them fitted, so perhaps they were added on later model years?

[stuart bowes]

other side front suspension done, in half the time. was going slow yesterday making sure I got everything right.. cleaning up, regreasing, torqueing up correctly and so on

off to tip to chuck the old bits, then get alignment checked and I'm done

funny how over time you just sort of accept it being a big floppy old barge, then you do repairs and it feels all new again.. I should have done this ages ago, oh well another job done, another step closer to perfection

[ajm]

Finally got up the energy to replace the alternator on the V70 which failed about a day before I got ill two weeks ago (thoughtfully just a few hundred yards from home.)

Things learned: aux belts just keep getting harder to fit; there is no need to totally drain down the coolant system, disconnect the power steering hoses nor slacken the bottom bolts on the a/c compressor (just as well, I couldn't shift them at all!)

On the other hand, it was absolutely necessary to remove one end of the hose to the thermostat - I had hoped it'd be possible to get the alternator out past it but on my car at least there's no way you could without damaging something.

FItted a refurb alternator from "the starter motor and alternator co" via eBay - it looks well done and there's now a healthy 14.5v at the battery and happy lack of "Urgent Electrical system service" warning messages. Long may it continue!

[JoeNinety]

Well, not just today, but the last few days, interspersed with breaks due to snow and freezing weather.

MOT man did not like the brake balance at the rear, and given I knew the RR caliper was already seizing and pads were low, decided to replace the calipers, pads and hoses. However, the brake line connectors going to the flexihose, on both sides, was seized onto the pipe, necessitating the replacement of the steel brake lines with copper-nickel. I was pleased to find joins in the pipes under the middle of the car. The RR line is a pain to get out and put back as it has to go in behind the fuel filter, then behind the fuel lines and up and over the exhasst. The RL was much easier.

I had found a nick in my RF cv joint gaiter so the driveshaft had to come out. PFV supplied a new gaiter which was the thermo-plastic type (hard plastic not soft rubber). The clips were a bit flimsy and disintegrated on tightening, so had to order more clips. Getting the thermo-plastic gaiter to stay put even when tightened up is difficult. Recommend the correct pliers that push down on the clip as well as crimping. I added a further clip on the small end, to stop the gaiter trying to move towards the engine.

Passed inspection for another year