September 2006
I am replacing the front discs and pads on my hyundai coupe.
Some maybe aware that when replacing the discs you have to remove the hub - which could make the front wheel bearings collapse (so i have been told) meaning that a relitivly simple job could potentialy cost me quite a lot.
The local mobile mechanic came round to do the rears for me, then got onto the front and told me what i have just written above. he didnt want to carry out the job until he done some of his own research regarding the matter (he is a genuine guy and not a rip off merchant)
Ifhe does the job and the bearings do collapse then i will have to pay him for parts and labour to replace them, as he warned me prior. He has not yet given me a price to replace front pads and discs yet until research is done.
Rang another local mechanic and he said same thing about the bearings.
So i rang hyundai just for a labour cost to replace front discs and pads. quote came out at £127 inc VAT
If i got hyundai to do this, and bearings colapsed then could i push for them to do the bearings for free, as i was not warned of this from them etc etc?
i amjust trying to way up the options.
hope all this makes sense
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Ever since I was a young lad, I've changed the oil in my cars roughly every 6,000 miles, which has always worked out at every 6 months or so, with the cars doing a mixture of long & short trips.
Due to a change in circumstances, I now find myself driving 600 miles a week, which means I'm now doing my 6,000 miles every 10 weeks.
The 600 miles are made up of:-
1 continuous 300 mile trip from Cumbria to London on a Monday morning.
1 continuous 300 mile trip from London to Cumbria on a Friday afternoon.
Apart from these 2 journeys, the car isn't used, ie no short journeys.
So, my question is this - should I still be changing my oil every 6,000 miles (which is going to work out at 5 changes a year), or, given the nature of the journeys I make, can I extend these intervals?
Many thanks in advance
Daltonman Read more
I'm one of those people who changes the oil every 5,000 miles - mainly because I only do 10k a year. If I did 40 or 50k of motorway miles a year I would extend the oil-changes to the recommended 10k.
Sitting on 3,000rpm in top gear doesn't put any strain on the engine at all compared to stop-start driving where you accelerate through the gears. If I were you I'd be very tempted to use a good semi-synthetic oil, and change it every 12-15k, as the manufacturer recommends (or did recommend, before they went bust...)
The last 5 laps of today's Moto GP were more fun than a season of F1, ruined as it is by driver's with big egos and way too much politicking and rule juggling. F1 - Keep it simple and make it fun and watchable - not the current hi-tech procession of boredom Read more
Much as I like F1 and support JB his "achievements" don't even come close to the little known Nicole Cooke.
I totally agree.
Some new roadworks are in the process of being introduced betwen M25 & The Hatfield Tunnel, which seem to involve coning off of the hard shoulder.
At present rather than the usual warnings of the approaching speed limit at 1 mile, 400 yds, 200 yds etc, there is just a solitary mandatory 40mph sign to introduce the start of the lower limit, so the limit goes from from 70mph to 40mph.
I have spotted the odd SPECS camera on this stretch though some of the posts don't have cameras on the yet.
There are no warning signs about the SPECS cameras.
Spoke to the Highways Agency who said the 40mph is enforcable, but the SPECS cameras according to her records aren't to be turned on till 17th September. There is a sign saying Cameras not in use, but a bit ambigous whether this refers to the CCTV or SPECS cameras. She also said that it seems they are just setting up of the roadworks, but she will put forward my views of the lack of warning on approach, she has received several calls on this matter apparently.
Two questions!
Is a speed limit for roadworks on a motorway legally enforcable if there are no warnings on approach?
Do SPECS cameras have to have signage saying they are present to be legal?
At present people seem to be bowling through at about 50-70mph!! Would be grateful for any views
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Thanks for the feedback.
When I spoke to the Highways Agency they said that the SPECS cameras were not to be turned on till 15th September, which by the blurb on the signs is when the Roadworks start ( The Roadworks start here on such and such a date for X amount of weeks sign ) so thats the date when I presume the speed limit will have been applied for.
Apologies for being a bit anal about this, but I travel down this section every day about 05.00 & 14.00 and didn't want to unnecesarily cause a one man rolling roadblock. Or a very rapid accumalation of penalty points more importantly.
Well now with the removal of the 40 limit signs, till Friday anyway, perhaps it shows that a phonecall or more realistically a number of phonecalls can result in action from our masters of the road!
I was looking on Youtube for a test the TG team did, as part of series of supercars, a few years ago, where they proclaimed the 80's Vantage the best supercar ever made.
Couldn't find it, but did find this one which is also quite good:
://youtube.com/watch?v=P9-S1E2kguM
(I seem to remember something about bandwidth leaching, so taken the http off the start, hope that sorts it out.)
Anyone remember the clip I'm talking about and can find a copy? Read more
This was so long ago that it was an old format
programme.
Probably not the same one then, I'm pretty sure May and the Hamster were involved in the one I'm thinking of.
.........According to the Court. Suspended Prison Sentence and don't drive until you've passed a test said the JP.
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and now back to motoring. DD.
at the weekend i investigated a 'knock' on my steering since having the tracking done. I had the car a couple of weeks (306 2.0 hdi estate) so thought id get it checked.
I found some play in the track rod near the steering rack (drivers side). The play is in the ball joint in the rubber gaiter.
The car is going to my trusty garage for some body work and as he's reasonable i might ask him to repair it.
I was wondering if this is an easy repair as it seems being able to access it is the biggest hurdle.
Also is it worth getting the track rod end joints replaced while its being done as the parts are only around a tenner?
I also noticed a 'grinding' noise when pulling off now and again (sounds a bit like wheel spin but i know its not) on the drivers side, Would this be attributed to the play in the joints?
Thanks all
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I think the grinding noise is probably brake related. I don't know the 306 steering rack construction particularly, but the inner end of a rack is usually a ball joint with the ball part being formed on the end of the track rod and the socket on the actual rack. The clearance on the rack I have dismantled was set by means of shims and a nut with a lock tab. Without the correct manual to give the clearance, I would be loath to touch it.
You "may" be feeling wear in the end bearing of the rack, in which case a replacement rack would be the best way forward.
Hi Back Room,
I am working in Wakefield tomorrow, just by the M1, but am staying in Leeds. What is the A6120 ring-road going to J46 like first thing in the morning, say 7.30? Don't want to set off miles too early .... or leave it too late for that ,matter!
Thanks, Yoby. Read more
In that case,
You smell and you're pretty stupid.
:-)
Hi All,
My new (4 months old, 3,500 miles) Mitsubishi Grandis broke down with the following symptoms:
Vibratrion/clonky noises sometimes when turning the wheel (only small turns needed)
Traction control light constantly flickering, resulting in loss of power (turning the TC off made no difference).
The dealer says it's the airbag Clock Spring. Is this likely to be correct? No airbag lights were on on the dash that I noticed.
If this is the case, then would this have prevented my airbag from going off in the case of an accident?
Cheers for any help,
-Neil Read more
At last part now in .....only taken two months!!
Hi,
I have a car that is almost 3 year old and it is due its FIRST MOT in November 2006. Can I take the car in for its first MOT in September 2006?
This is because I will be in the USA for 6mths from October 2006. I cannot ask somebody to take the car in for MOT in November and will be keeping it in storage/lockup when in the US.
Thanks in advance for replies. Read more
A first MOT runs for 12 months from the date that it is taken and passed.
No - a first MOT can run for 13 months if taken up to one calendar month before it's 3rd birthday so long as you produce the V5 and tell them before the test.
Dont know this car specifically....
but cant understand why bearings should collapse when changing discs/pads as long as sensible work practice is followed.