peterd51
happy to be here!
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Hi,
MOT time on my Mondeo diesel estate...
took it in for a pre-test check yesterday having done my own check last weekend.
I thought there was something 'slack' around the front wheels, both bottom ball-joints or maybe the steering rack. Didn't fancy the rack as you have to unbolt the front sub-frame and jack the engine up, plus it's a power steering model so there's 'plumbing' involved.
I also thought the handbrake was a bit suspect, maybe new rear shoes required. And both front to rear brake pipes looked a bit rough.
So, the garage confirmed the brake pipes needed doing. They said while some play was noted around the front end, the mechanic wasn't sure where it was exactly, and it was OK for a while!
The handbrake was OK, but the front discs needed changing as they were pitted on the insides.
So on the way home I picked up a new set of front discs and pads, some more brake pipe and started as soon as I got home.
First problem, can't get the disc off the driver side, rusted up solid. Drilled some holes in it and squirted WD40 in, no go. Cut some groves with an angle grinder, no go.
Started cutting on the outer part of the disc to get to the hub, chiselled a bit more disc out of the way, did the same at approximately 180 degrees...
sharpened my chisel and finally got a bit of movement...
then the disk disintegrated!
Put the new disk on, filed the paint off the bearing edges of the new pads, applied a smear of high-melting-point grease, clamped the caliper back in place, put the wheel on.
Problem two, wheel won't turn. Binding on the outer brake pad metal liner. Took it all off, ground a bit off the metal edge of the brake pad, disc now turns.
Rebuilt, wheel won't turn.
Took it apart again, held old disc against new disc, new disc is 1/2 inch (1.25cm) too wide!
Bobbie (my wife) out at work, no other car available to go back to the suppliers so I started on the brake pipes.
Do they have a bloody awefull run, especially the near-side rear? They have three connectors in the run. I've never seen brake pipes with connectors in before!
So, I made up two pieces for the passenger side, got them installed. The pipe across the rear of the car goes over the 'axel' twice, horrible design.
I made a single piece for the drivers side, got it installed and did the initial brake bleed using a pipe off the front wheel to pressurise the system.
Bobbie still wasn't back and it was 3.00pm, so I got my bike out, the disks filled one of the pannier bags and off I went.
They'd give me rear disks and not front discs!
Got back home and Bobbie was there wondering where I'd gone!
At least she could help with brake bleeding so we got stuck into that and finished up fairly quickly.
Got the drivers side front brakes/wheel rebuilt, no problems but now it started spotting with rain. Packed up all non-essential tools.
The passenger side is next to the fence and in the past I've thrown a tarp from the car roof and over this fence so I didn't worry about if the rain got any heavier...I got stuck into the passenger side front wheel.
Straight forward, no worries, the rain stopped.
Packed up the rest of the tools. Took the car around the block, brakes as soggy as a wet sponge...I hate bleeding brakes!
Jacked up the back end, both wheels off, started raining again, dragged Bobbie out of a nice, warm house to pump the brake pedal. Got a couple more bubbles out each side, not much but apprently enough!
Wheels back on and around the block again, this time felt much better.
All together about seven hours under the car. I've had previous MOTs with much more work required and found them easier than this one. It's a good job I arranged for two days off work!
Anyway, I got the car back in today and it passed!
I've done 29000 miles since the last MOT!
Regards
Peter
MOT time on my Mondeo diesel estate...
took it in for a pre-test check yesterday having done my own check last weekend.
I thought there was something 'slack' around the front wheels, both bottom ball-joints or maybe the steering rack. Didn't fancy the rack as you have to unbolt the front sub-frame and jack the engine up, plus it's a power steering model so there's 'plumbing' involved.
I also thought the handbrake was a bit suspect, maybe new rear shoes required. And both front to rear brake pipes looked a bit rough.
So, the garage confirmed the brake pipes needed doing. They said while some play was noted around the front end, the mechanic wasn't sure where it was exactly, and it was OK for a while!
The handbrake was OK, but the front discs needed changing as they were pitted on the insides.
So on the way home I picked up a new set of front discs and pads, some more brake pipe and started as soon as I got home.
First problem, can't get the disc off the driver side, rusted up solid. Drilled some holes in it and squirted WD40 in, no go. Cut some groves with an angle grinder, no go.
Started cutting on the outer part of the disc to get to the hub, chiselled a bit more disc out of the way, did the same at approximately 180 degrees...
sharpened my chisel and finally got a bit of movement...
then the disk disintegrated!
Put the new disk on, filed the paint off the bearing edges of the new pads, applied a smear of high-melting-point grease, clamped the caliper back in place, put the wheel on.
Problem two, wheel won't turn. Binding on the outer brake pad metal liner. Took it all off, ground a bit off the metal edge of the brake pad, disc now turns.
Rebuilt, wheel won't turn.
Took it apart again, held old disc against new disc, new disc is 1/2 inch (1.25cm) too wide!
Bobbie (my wife) out at work, no other car available to go back to the suppliers so I started on the brake pipes.
Do they have a bloody awefull run, especially the near-side rear? They have three connectors in the run. I've never seen brake pipes with connectors in before!
So, I made up two pieces for the passenger side, got them installed. The pipe across the rear of the car goes over the 'axel' twice, horrible design.
I made a single piece for the drivers side, got it installed and did the initial brake bleed using a pipe off the front wheel to pressurise the system.
Bobbie still wasn't back and it was 3.00pm, so I got my bike out, the disks filled one of the pannier bags and off I went.
They'd give me rear disks and not front discs!
Got back home and Bobbie was there wondering where I'd gone!
At least she could help with brake bleeding so we got stuck into that and finished up fairly quickly.
Got the drivers side front brakes/wheel rebuilt, no problems but now it started spotting with rain. Packed up all non-essential tools.
The passenger side is next to the fence and in the past I've thrown a tarp from the car roof and over this fence so I didn't worry about if the rain got any heavier...I got stuck into the passenger side front wheel.
Straight forward, no worries, the rain stopped.
Packed up the rest of the tools. Took the car around the block, brakes as soggy as a wet sponge...I hate bleeding brakes!
Jacked up the back end, both wheels off, started raining again, dragged Bobbie out of a nice, warm house to pump the brake pedal. Got a couple more bubbles out each side, not much but apprently enough!
Wheels back on and around the block again, this time felt much better.
All together about seven hours under the car. I've had previous MOTs with much more work required and found them easier than this one. It's a good job I arranged for two days off work!
Anyway, I got the car back in today and it passed!
I've done 29000 miles since the last MOT!
Regards
Peter