Hi
Its MOT time again and i know there are a few things that need doing me me sei (899cc SX). I know that the front disks and pads need replacing and how easy is it to do as i live in london and everywhere is a rip off.

The handbrake is also very weak and you have to pull it up about 4-5 clicks on any vauge slope to hold the car i know this is a weak point on these cars but i have tightend it underneath and it must have come loose again, the rear pads are in good condition after inspection by me + me dad! Also after a quick look underneath the rear brake pipes have some bubbling underneath the paint which is worrying.

I was also wondering if me little sei should have come with the Red key (it is W reg) as when it was bought i knew vv little about these cars as it is me 1st car and was bought on snap descision!:bang: (wished i got the sporting now!)
Also i think that the rear shocks may be on the way out as they knock a bit over the many speed bumps i regularly go over.

I am also getting the reputable 899cc tap on startup which then goes after a few minutes but dosnt exacly sound cool when u startup in the college car park! i was thinking a thicker oil may help, the level is correct and not leaking.

any help much appreciated

watchyourbaK

Pads and disks are easy. Get some from your local factors. Haynes helps -- no guide here yet.

The handbrake is probably the actuator elbows (sticky out bits on the back of the drum that connect to the cable) having seized up.

Knocking from the back is more likely to be the bushes on the trailing arms. They're cheap enough, but not an easy DIY job.

Tappeting won't be sorted by thicker oil: if anything, it'll make it worse. Several good posts by rallycinq and richcinq on this.

Tappets need cleaned and the correct oil applied. See previous posts on this.

Cheers

D

thanks for the quick and concise replies :worship:!
1. The actuators have to seized, the actuators are sticky out things with springs right?!
2. I think ill get a local garage to do the brakes and maybe the new pipes as well as these i'll be MOT failures. I was hoping to upgrade to a set of mintex disks and pads as i have only heard good things about them but would a garage do this because i would have thought the would wanna source the parts them selves?
3. Me dad is selling his old morris 8 so hopefully there will be a garage that i can hijack to do work in(with a snap on tool chest!!!:slayer. And then i may get around to doing these tappets after exams/same with the rear suspension(bushes).

and will a cinq haynes be useful as ive heard much of the running gear is exacly the same?

and can some body please clarify whether i should be in posession of the red key on me W reg sei.


many many thanks

Rory

don't think w-reg will have a red key. to chec, have a look on your blue key, if there is a little circle symbol and a number 2 then you don't need a red key, i know that sounds a bit random but if its there it'll be obvious (on the metal bit).

And yes get a cinq manual, its basically the same car with a different body on it.

Many thanks again..
Good to know that i do not need the Red key (just checked) and have ordered a haynes as i intend to to the front disks and pads me self as it cannot be that hard and it'll be a good thing to be able to do (an me dad can gimme a hand if i get stuck). Everywhere i called near me wanted over £170 at least to do them and i only bought the car for £800 so..........

and on the post above its meant to say, the actuators have not seized

Easy enough to change discs and pads, just make sure you got everything before you strart as you won't be going anywhere in car to get more bits

Don't know whats going on with the handbrake, you say you adjusted it, and the actuators are moving freely... how long ago did you adjust it? and how many clicks did it need after you did it?

with the hand brake i must have adjusted it about 1-2 months ago. I did not have a chance to test it on a slope at the time, when i adjusted it, it would take around 3-4 clicks but now i have put it on a slope and this numebr of clicks will not hold the car but you cannot pull the lever up any further. it drums and shoes are in fine condition after me + me dad had a look at em.

thanks
Rory

It does sound like the actuators have seized if you can't pull the lever any further.

Cheers

D

Gotta agree, its the problem 99% of the time, they are cheaap and easy to fix. worth doing anyway

ok i'll see if i can lay me hands on some and do it once i get the haynes i reckon! I assumed that if they were seized there would be no movment but then again u guys know ALOT more about these things that me lol:worship:.


thanks alot uve all been really really useful

The actuators will move, as one, rather than hinge open to operate the brakes. If you are looking from the back plate you will see movement, but of the wrong sort.

Cheers

D

Not sure if this will help, but a quick guide from custard about MOT prep:

https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento-faqs/95363-mot-prep.html

Cheers