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I didnt think any of the fabia's were variable services!

Thats what i get!! Thats the Dogbone type mount isnt it? Where are the other mounts, could it be them? Ive had the console bushes changed thinking it was them, but after a few months i've started hearing a knock when coming off the throttle or putting clutch in.

Should be getting there around 10am, I need some sort of lay-in! Though i can't stay too long, i need to get down in to London to meet some friends. Am looking forward to it, see you all there!

Christ! Is there a wheel hub left to mount to? Not to mention the bearing! Everything i've read made it sound so easy. Ok, Ta

Yeah, though with the brake hose and handbrake cable still attached i couldnt really move it too far out of the way. Though it was more of an end on hit than a hit directly from behind. Mostly tried hitting the front and side of top hat section. I tried what i could! I was using a rubber mallet but even tried some gentle taps with a metal one just to try and help to seperate the disc.

:weeping::arge: Dont believe it ! I couldn't remove the old discs, No matter how many times i hit, or soaked it in WD40. Looks like the shield on the inside isnt removable either so cant really hit from the other side to help dislodge it. And i took a day off to do them. Sod it, I dont care any more i'll leave it till the service at the end of the year.

What can I clean the new discs with that i'm likey to have in the house? I can't imagine i have meths in the house! Is it worth just washing it in, like wheel cleaner, washing up liquid? Might just stick them on with cleaning them.

Do you do wheel alignment as well Lummox?

But then the brake system is no different to others, even my last car, which did state to use copper grease and dont try to fix the pads to the piston or the other part?

I rewound the pistons as far as i could which helped. I think what it is, is that the rusty rim on the disk is just catching the pads. Err how important is the sticky backing on the pads? I take it using copper grease isnt a good idea? Looks like i'll be changing the pads again then! And probably the discs as well! I'll do it properly eventually!

The calipers went on with slight persuasion, so maybe i didnt wind the calipers back enough but thought it would ok. So as you wind it back determins its rest position, so it needs to fully clear the pads? Is there an easy way of removing the calipers as your fighting the piston when sliding it off? What should i do with the handbrake cable?

Those shims were quite difficult to fit into the gap by the discs but they werent interfereing with the discs. But it was when the pads and the piston block were mounted that it was noticeable. Thanks for the help Lummux. I'll try again tommorow!

Wasnt really any rust just dirt but i tried cleaning what i could off, but you can only really do the horizontal sections as i couldnt get in down by the disc. The pads sat quite well in the shims so didnt think there was anything wrong. Would it be worth trying to refit the shims?

Its taken me a few hours to go through the excellent guide on here to change the pads on the rear. After struggling and getting confused as to what i should turn and in which direction with the rewind tool, it ended up being quite easy. But does anyone know what those strange metal brackets are for that you need to wedge into the small gap between the disc and mounting brackets? When i've assembled it all together the wheel seems to have a bit of resistance, which i assumed was just that the pads needing to bed in. Is this right? Just thought i'd go for a quick 10 min 'safety check' drive to make sure the brakes were working, and they felt better but when i came back the discs were hot to the touch and the wheels weren't spinning freely still. Should i panic? Take it to the dealer etc?

I'd seen the Costco in MK though talking someone at work who goes there you have to be a member and it seems like you only get what they've got in stock and being the vrs is not a common size and you dont book i thought i'd leave it. Well i'm looking at the Toyo's and i'll ring round a few to check before buying anything. I have 1mm left before hitting the limit so have a little while before having to book something.

You kind of putting your car up as a perfect 'golden sample' car and getting people to compare against yours? Howver it isnt just how the rev needle moves but how the speedo moves as well. In theory as max torque is at 2k then as the revs rise your are not acclerating as quick which is why people change gear 'early' to keep it around max torque to maximise acceleration.

Hey, thanks for that link Rob, I remember finding them a while ago but couldnt remember who they were. MAybe it was just a bad experience last time, I'd used mytyres before which just send you the tyres and leave the fitting to you to sort out.

I need to get 4 tyres for my car now as they are now on the limit and my first thought in these penny-pinching days is to buy them online. However my previous experience in doing this gave me a far from friendy experience at the fitting place. As i hadn't spent my money there i got pushed to the end of the day then was asked to come back the following morning when it was quiet. So I'm looking for recommendations for fitting places who are happy to fit either self-provided tyres or who are connected to an online place around Beds/ bucks area, i.e MK.

Thanks guys but i know what type of oil i need! I've changed the oil before , in my old Saxo but i've never done it on my vRS. I've just never really seen Shell oil for sale and in the garages i have seen it for sale, I've never seen the any as being 505.01 approved. I thought Skoda garages used their own VAG statand stuff, Quantum isnt it?

Ta I rang up the dealer in MK for front and rear pads, oil filter and they definately quoted 18+VAT for 5L of Oil. I've been in there a few times so i think its the Quantum oil, but i'll look tommorow when i go and decide then. There is always the Halfords 505.01 stuff for just over 30 quid anyway. Been buying their 1L bottles for top-ups. Was going to do the pads all round and oil change at the same time. Just not looking forward to taking the rear wheels off!

Really? Never seen those before.

I understood it was just bonded on. The lacquer on the top of mine as completely gone, not sure if i could claim for it though and guessing how much it would cost to respray i've left it.

Thanks guys. But the turbo blowing last year has kind of swayed my mind into doing a mid-service change. Plus my driving habits had changed as i moved jobs so the engine is getting used more aggressively, stop-start short journeys, rather than the motorway driving i was doing where the oil and coolant was flowing around alot. The oil from the garage seems cheap enough £18+VAT. Is it any good?

I'd like to volunteer as i could do with a check to see if mines down on power or not.

Hi guys. Not been around much but I try and pop my head in the door.. Anyway I've decided to give the car a mid-service oil change but I've never done it on my car before. I was planning on jacking the car to gain access to the bottom tray and it should help as the drain point is at the rear of the engine, but can i put the stands on the sills or on the front susp. console brackets? Do i need a special 'cup' to undo the oil filter top? I think there is a square 'nut' on the top of it, can i just use a spanner or wrench on it? Thanks for the help!