B
Brian Strange
Guest
Hello Fellow Bravo owners (Glad, sad or bad!)
I'd be very appreciative of any input Bravo owners could give me as I run a driving school that has been running Rovers 111s for many years so that we know them backwards but as times change we have seen fit to try a Fiat Bravo 1.2SX.
I'm impressed by the looks and easy drive and find the many adjustments to seating position very useful for a multi sized persons.
I've been alarmed by some of the experiences by others in this forum albeit other models and possibly one off rogue cars.
What I would love to know more of is the durability (don't laugh!) of Bravo cars as regards front pads, clutch, timing belt and any other items that seem to be common lack of durability faults particularly of similar models.
So if you have needed to change these then please could you list your model type and mileage when changed. (If you're thinking learners will eat up clutches and brakes etc then think again. Persons who are taught well will tend to get the maximum out of those components. It's normal for us to get 70K out of clutches and never need a gearbox change!)
As regards timing belt change, I have at last got my hands on a Haynes manual!! but although I can see the reason for the tools listed (prefabricated or otherwise) to ascertain piston mid-stroke position and camshaft relative position, I can't see why, during a cambelt change that hasn't broken, marks cannot be made on crankshaft and camshaft where necessary and then just change the belt without problems. I haven't dived in to see just what is in there but if everything is in the right place when you take the old belt off then it should still BE in the same place when you put the new belt on and a couple of self made marks before removing the old belt would confirm this.
Is anyone wise to the reasons?
Many thanks
Brian Strange
I'd be very appreciative of any input Bravo owners could give me as I run a driving school that has been running Rovers 111s for many years so that we know them backwards but as times change we have seen fit to try a Fiat Bravo 1.2SX.
I'm impressed by the looks and easy drive and find the many adjustments to seating position very useful for a multi sized persons.
I've been alarmed by some of the experiences by others in this forum albeit other models and possibly one off rogue cars.
What I would love to know more of is the durability (don't laugh!) of Bravo cars as regards front pads, clutch, timing belt and any other items that seem to be common lack of durability faults particularly of similar models.
So if you have needed to change these then please could you list your model type and mileage when changed. (If you're thinking learners will eat up clutches and brakes etc then think again. Persons who are taught well will tend to get the maximum out of those components. It's normal for us to get 70K out of clutches and never need a gearbox change!)
As regards timing belt change, I have at last got my hands on a Haynes manual!! but although I can see the reason for the tools listed (prefabricated or otherwise) to ascertain piston mid-stroke position and camshaft relative position, I can't see why, during a cambelt change that hasn't broken, marks cannot be made on crankshaft and camshaft where necessary and then just change the belt without problems. I haven't dived in to see just what is in there but if everything is in the right place when you take the old belt off then it should still BE in the same place when you put the new belt on and a couple of self made marks before removing the old belt would confirm this.
Is anyone wise to the reasons?
Many thanks
Brian Strange