Didn't realise you were in the same boat as me with the job though. Sorry mate. I got surprise redundancy 1st of October and have scored 1 interview so far :(

least you got that far mate, I just get letters sayin not got it or most just dont bother, Eddie Stobart and Sportfix lol the only ones I heard from, Eddie was the best tho as they told me I might get in if a position opens.

cheers mate, I should be ok for the fronts but not sure on the rears lol, I did the fronts myself 2 yr ago lol, and only got more n more tools so hopin one is good for the job.

jus need the Hub spreader, lol,

might start in the mornin If I can,

I've got a Sunday service session planned but not for mine, the old man picked up a 1.0 Polo the other day so we are doing disks, drums and bearings on the drive, so here's hoping its not snowing

It is really frustrating the way things have changed, a few years back you would at least get a "dear John" letter but nowdays you just don't hear, not even an email. :(

to try and cheer myself up I am looking at what to buy when I do get a job (the power of positive thinking eh?) Went and spoke to Charlie at Pro-Speed about a 2.5" down-pipe keeping the S3 style twincats as they are supposed to flow really well. looking at about £170 all in so if anyone wants to buy a Bic surfboard to help me fund my retail therapy :D Also want to get him to look at the exhaust mani as he does custom fab as well and his stuff does seem to last a lifetime (unlike some others here in Wales) but that I fear will be a little more :(

thats in cardiff!!!!!

your jokin, I should of gone there instead of Longlife! give them their due tho the always got me in to sort out little niggles. only thing is tho they fobbed me off when I wanted a DP on the cat, and now they just dont seem to answere any emails.

good luck at weekend mate, should be ok , sun on friday all bein well so thats when I gonna start under the gazebo jus in case lol. then book in to A n A for next week.

Yeah, Charlie is a great guy and really know his stuff. When you visit his workshops just off City road there is a pile of stuff in the corner from A.N.Other supplier that is rusted/rotten/broken that he has replaced. I had a problem on my old Toyota Previa that liked to mashup the flexipipe before the cat, Charlie replaced just that bit as it was all that was wrong and that vehicle is still going strong in Cardiff after 8 years

thats one thing on my list then for when I have a job lol,

2.5" Downpipe to go on to the cat I got lol,

billy

thats one thing on my list then for when I have a job lol,

2.5" Downpipe to go on to the cat I got lol,

billy

go for 3inch buddy on the downpipe

mmm spose I could, all sorted for the Hybrid K03s when mine goes lol, (not for a few years I hope)

Cheers Mark, It has JUST come thru the door lol, tbh I didnt expect it till monday lol but RM must be gettin back on track again lol.

Have you managed to get another yet? If not Ill pop down to mine again with this one to show them it and see if I can get one, just say I was lent it by a mate but I would like one too lol.

looks like a simple tool but very handy to have. I get how its used now lol, easy

cheers

billy

Chop chop Billy

C'mon on the suns out get on with it mate lolol

yes Dad.

I am off out now lol

OK day 1 over with,

I Jacked the car using the trolly and placed it here on the car

Then placed the stands

Both sides are the same place.

Then I got to removing the Wheels and Put the rears onto the front so it is done.

This is the wheel off the passengers side, notice how it has worn more on the inside and not evenly. note the small groves that Ive marked

The Drivers side tyre seems ok and evenly worn maybe more on the inside again but nothing major.

Staying with the Wheels, The drivers side Front is wearing on the outside edges and the center more and seems to be the worst worn, then the next bad one was the passenger side rear (as above) then the passengers side front which is wearing similar to the Drivers side just not as bad, then the best tyre is the rear drivers side which appears to be wearing nice pos a tad on the inside but all even not like the other in the pic.

I then stripped off the rear suspension and RARB. The Passengers side shock was a bit worse for wear with a lot of oxidization on it and when I compress both of them together then lift them both off the ground the passengers side one seems to rebound 1cm further out than the drivers side on, what could that be?

Ill take pics of the shocks tomoz as Ive scrubbed them both down and put some paint on them, its hammer black and looks nice, Did both so they look same, also scrubbed RARB and painted that too just left the places where the bushes n clamps go to prevent fouling.

Pics of RARB when I took it off

As you can see from the pics the last on is of the Passenger side and that side seems to be the worst.

I am replacing the bottom bolt tomoz when I refit the shocks and springs, I also found what Bodge and Bowders1 told me should of been removed lol, its the metal washer that goes at the bottom of the sts spring, I didnt know it was there till I was cleaning the base up to refit the lifter platform where I felt a lip, so I got my screwdriver under it and hey it pops off and now the platforms fit perfectly with out even securing them.

The threads were set on them to 37mm and Ive now raised it to 45mm, after removing the std collar thing I think its probably raised the car by 5 or 6mm.

I have also done the drivers side rear Pads and Disc and is all bolted back on, I used the wind back tool and it was very easy, Also now there seems to be no runout as it seems to go round nicely while lightly touching the pads the same if you get that, took a lot of scrubbing the hub.

My questions in "I am doing it " thread dont matter anymore lol as Ive figured it out. The rubber bulged after I wound it back like this

But I managed to remove it by wiggling the seal after I put a bit of brake fluid on it to lube it a bit and I heard a phcht and the seal seemed to fold back in perfectly lol so all good.

Ive Tightened everything as much as I can, the Caliper carriers are 8mm Allen Key bolts that should be 65nm and Ive Just tightened them as much as I can with a large key and the std wheel bolt handle over it. The piston to Carrier bolts should be 25nm iirc and they are tightened right up too as I dont have the tools to check on the torque wrench. I have also checked that the sliders are not seized, they are in perfect condition and the grease in them still looks brand new.

Cont Tomorrow.

well done mate that arb looks bad lol

i have just spent the last 3 hours smashing the drivers rear door lock to pieces managed to get the door open eventually and got the new motor in just cant bloody connect the cable from door handle to motor it bloody impossible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and i broke the white clip that holds one of the bars so got to order one of them now.

i can safely say this job is a complete and utter bitch to do lol

lol sorry to hear that mate, least I not the only person struggling to fix up the car, Hope you get it all sorted mate, I have had a bit of trouble with my drivers door, when it snowed a shed load It unlocked with the key ok then when I went to the petrol station round the corner I locked car via key and when I went to unlock it the drivers door didnt unlock. needed to use the key. did that a few times were it wouldnt lock or unlock the drivers door. when I got home then and locked the car it worked fine and has done since lol, think the connections might be gettin a bit corroded so Ill be strippin that down later too.

Forgot to say the tools you need to do the rear brake pads.

X head Screw driver : to remove the retaining screw from the discs

8mm Allan Key or equivalent : To remove the Caliper Carriers

13mm Spanner : undo the screw that holds caliper to the slide pins on the carrier

Pointy nose pliers : to hold the slide pin/nut

and a hammer.

also on another note, Once I took the ARB off,It soon becomes apparent just how flexible that rear beam is lol, It is shocking really.

The bar is now painted in a black hammer finish paint and ill get pics up tomoz, took some scrubbing too.

Edited 23 January, 201016 yr by billy2981

well done mate

trust me leave the doors locks alone there a fecking mare lol

skoda have re designed them now so the electrical part is facing down so it doesnt collect water like the old unit does shocked at how wet the inside of the door was !!!

least your keeping busy once your finished drive my way i have loads of jobs that need doing on the car lol

lol, if Im still alive lol, I am in tatters tonight.

I need a garage with a lift in it.

Cheers Mark, It has JUST come thru the door lol, tbh I didnt expect it till monday lol but RM must be gettin back on track again lol.

Have you managed to get another yet? If not Ill pop down to mine again with this one to show them it and see if I can get one, just say I was lent it by a mate but I would like one too lol.

looks like a simple tool but very handy to have. I get how its used now lol, easy

cheers

billy

Hi Billy ,Glad you got the tool on time. I did manage to order another one yesterday that will be available next tuesday to pick up. It was £16.28 which is £6 more than when i bought mine less that a year ago. talk about inflation. VW just increased there prices by 4%. Glad you remembered to remove that rear spring platform. You might find that keeping that on with your coilover platform could of caused your uneven tyre wear as it may of left the wishbone sitting funny.

Just a thought.

I spent today trying to find the cause of the leak in the boot that seems to have come from the extreme wet weather. Had the whole carpet out , took ariel off sealed under that and refitted, sealed in the top hatch hinge recess. Checked any missing rubber grommets, and will have a go tomorrow trying to cause a leak. Every thing in the boot was soaked. It is definatley dripping down the channels from the top of the tailgate somewhere??

keep us posted on your activities..

Edited 24 January, 201016 yr by Bowders1

a thought mate,

Check in the sides were the boot lid pistons are, there are some spot welds there mate and for ages mine were fine till I moved to cardiff were to get out the car lifts its back wheel till I found a way of going to smooth it out , but one of the welds had popped slightly and when the boot is closed it creates a Dam on this hole, its only small and you cant tell it leaks with the boot open.

I only knew it could happen coz Fastkwak in Leeds showed me his trouble

just put some black sealant in it lol,

All best

billy

Day 2

had to have 3 hr off over lunch to go and get my gun back off a mate so didnt get a lot done really.

I painted the RARB last night and this is what it looked like today in the light, not bad to say I painted it in the pitch dark with only ambient light from the living room lol.

the washing line was perfectly spaced to hang it on lol, I left the small areas for the Bushes so the paint didnt break up and damage them.

Due to the shocks being a bit oxidized I scrubbed them up which also removed some of the black coating so I painted them both so they matched as the passengers one was the worst.

Few of the Fitted Brakes

Here is one of the passengers side all done with the springs and damper all fitted.

Here is a shot of the new bolts on the bottom of the damper.

Edited 24 January, 201016 yr by billy2981

Drivers side all done.

Finally this aft I finished the RARB fitting. and put some black cable ties on just in case.

On another note,

these are the washes on the base of the spring housing that you need to remove when fitting coilovers, I never did as it looks like there is nothing there till you feel it and it is a slight lip were you shove the flat head under to pries it off.

And lastly a Question:

I put the springs back on and put the jack under it to compress it to see what it looked like, took the car slightly off the stand and this is the spacings between the coils

Ive seen it said somewhere that there should be some space between the small tight coils?

that is how its been tho ever since new, and it is the kit for the octavia

cheers for looking

billy[/size]

Hi Billy,

Just a note on the RARB, When I took mine off to paint I refitted it with the box bracket turned 90 degrees(opening facing vertical instead off horizontal), which is a stonger position and stops the box bracket flexing.

I agree with you on the Coil springs touching each other. Mine do that mate.

Cheers for the advise on the tailgate struts. Yep I have already done that a few months back, as one weld did what you said.

I have sealed up all where I think water can get in. I hope it was the ariel which is now sealed, but need to test it as did not have time today..

mmm cheers mate think ill swap it in mornin then, does it make much diff?

hope you have sorted the leak mate, its a pain having to take the mats up to dry it out every time it rains. cant think what else it could be.

mmm cheers mate think ill swap it in mornin then, does it make much diff?

I think it does Billy, and a few other folks think so who have changed theres. I can feel the RARB working when i go for it.

hope you have sorted the leak mate, its a pain having to take the mats up to dry it out every time it rains. cant think what else it could be.

Me too, pain driving around with nothing in boot, the carpet is drying over the fire at the mo.

not too close I hope lol

OK

Mark I tried turning the box the other way and I cant get it to fit and the spring cup is in the way so Ive left it and turned car round to TRY start the front.

Edit

Deleted the last lot of this as I still love the car and having looked at Bowders1 pics and Ive found a nice place to put the jack and still have room for the stands.

and I only needed to use the jack on one side too.

So she is all ready for the suspension to come off tomorrow. and the rims have been washed and Ill be putting sealer on them in a bit while corrie n emmerdale is on.

billy

Edited 25 January, 201016 yr by billy2981