General Hi ho, I owe...

[lightweightmick]

I knew what that vibrating rattle was... and it was....

The bottom exhaust bracket had rusted through on the down pipe and I'd hastliy made one for it's last MOT. It had meant drilling and re-tapping that bracket that mounts onto the crankcase at the back of the engine. In my haste to get it for it's MOT on time I'd not looked out a shakeproof washer had I...

No spanners with me, going between jobs last week, so I nipped it up finger tight... (yeow dat bitch gets hot) - well it went and fell off later in the day didn't it... with me running out into the road to recover the bracket and eventually the bolt (god knows where the big washer went...)
So I've found a lock washer this time... maybe it'll stay on now

oh and there's a slight coolant leak under the water pump... (I think I know why as well...)
here we go again? :bang:
watch this space

 

[lightweightmick]

Well apart from trying to get it to pull away in 2nd (bad habit picked up from the 4x4!) she seems to be running okay after so long off the road...
Some very loud grating sounds coming from the back brakes now though...
better get them looked at before MOT in Sept.

Anyone recommend a good 4x4 clutch kit btw
The one listed on eBay (Panther - lkperformance? Bradford) seems cheap at £45 inc carriage but when I send them a query, they just reply 'what's registration' even when I include the blo*dy registration... Panther clutches any good anyone? I see they do list 'em for BMW's too...

 

[lightweightmick]

she doesn't look any different as she did five years ago now - no, tell a lie those ugly CAM roof bars are on the 4x4 now... and there's a bit more white tape on the doors

This is where I mounted the manual overide switch for the cooling fan and current mileage

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Is this your N reg Panda?

 

[lightweightmick]

No this one is H reg 1000S - saved from scrap at least twice lol!
unfortunately, though the youngest, the CLX is the worst underneath...
...but the doors are good

 

[VmanC]

Never heard of Panther clutches, might be cheap for a reason. Doesn't sound like you'd be dealing with the most intelligent of suppliers either.

I usually go to Euro car parts first for anything, prices and quality are always fine .

 

[Harllequin]

This is the one I got for BEX. Seem ok still after a few months

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/fiat-pand...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f091675e4

 

[lightweightmick]

Is BEX 4x4? ...or are clutch kit same...
I was thinking 4x4 will have beefier clutch... mind can't see why come to think of it...
seems good price...

 

[Ian_Fearn]

Get an LUK clutch. They're top quality and £44 +vat from buypartsby.co.uk.

I've used them lots of times, had 3 or 4 LUK clutches from them and never had a problem. I have however had problems with other clutches in the past and would never risk it again.

Postage is quick although they're only in Sutton in Ashfield if you fancy a drive.

 

[lightweightmick]

Must admit was expecting to pay around £50-60
Yep, agree on LUK, have fitted before,
cheers

 

[lightweightmick]

well, got the grating brakes sussed - leaking wheel cylinder (no doubt from standing...) bits of grit/rust sticking to the shoe causing the grating sound. Some brake cleaner and sandpaper sorted it, but it'll need a pair for next MOT as one piston on t'other side was stuck at last MOT. I did manage to free it off and get the readings up and pass, but if I'm doing one side might as well do both and get some new shoes on

 

[Harllequin]

Bex is indeed a 4x4.

I've ragged the hell out of it of late too. Did you know a panda could transport 2 bags of cement, 4 of pea grvel, 4 of sharp sand and 2 yellow sand.
I even stopped on the hill to try the hand brake out after that lot was replaced. The clutch worked great to get it away again :slayer:

 

[lightweightmick]

proper - they were built to be workhorses after all!

Good to see nothing wrong with your clutch or handbrake... good job you got no speedbumps on that run
Mine started slipping with two bags of cat litter in lol, and the handbrake was just enough on last MOT and slowly got worse!
Not much wrong with that clutch kit then...

 

[Harllequin]

There was alas speed bumps. Thing is Bex managed a lot better than our Octavia estate who bottomeed out the tow bar with the same weight in it!!!!

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

There was alas speed bumps. Thing is Bex managed a lot better than our Octavia estate who bottomeed out the tow bar with the same weight in it!!!!

Tbh my Stilo does that a lot with it's tow bar. Modern cars hay lol

 

[pandamaniac]

When my lad had his 4x4 he came home with 1m x 1.2 metre pallets in the back
How's that then
Dave

 

[lightweightmick]

must admit at being surprised that to be able to get a 3 seater setee in the back of the CLX - and be able to close the tailgate - admittedly, without front seats it could only be as a trailer, but it did save hiring a trailer at £60 for the weekend for the run to Cambridge!
surprisingly versatile Pandas!

 

[lightweightmick]

well the quickest way to lower the suspension is to put a few paving slabs in the back! Brought four back to start with (these bitches be thick!) - settled for 3 yesterday... the 4x2 ain't designed to carry stuff like the 4x4