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Clio Big Steve's RB Clio 182 Cup Restoration
- Thread starter Big Steve - Raider
- Start date
The gifs are fantastic!
I'm slowly working up to doing a time-lapse.....
Wheel bearings wrestled out of the Front Hubs in record time by the splendid chaps at Revolution Automotive :
Ready for a blast then protection now.
Thanks for reading
Ready for a blast then protection now.Thanks for reading
awesome work as always @Big Steve - Raider
on a side note @MOS if thats your twingo in your pic we need a thread for it
on a side note @MOS if thats your twingo in your pic we need a thread for it
Got a set of wheels chemically stripped to allow me to get them refurbished.
To ensure they match the OE Centre caps as close as possible, I’m going to spray them, rather than get them powder coated. It’s not as thought they’re ever going to see a rough daily use in winter, so I think the paint will be good enough.
The wheels came up well:
However the old corrosion has set into the back of a couple of them:
I think I caught it just in-time before the wheels start to get really bad.
I know the general consensus is that the offset is 44, but this casting mark suggests it’s 45??
Thanks for reading
To ensure they match the OE Centre caps as close as possible, I’m going to spray them, rather than get them powder coated. It’s not as thought they’re ever going to see a rough daily use in winter, so I think the paint will be good enough.
The wheels came up well:
However the old corrosion has set into the back of a couple of them:
I think I caught it just in-time before the wheels start to get really bad.
I know the general consensus is that the offset is 44, but this casting mark suggests it’s 45??
Thanks for reading
Got hold of a “spare” rear axle in fairly good condition.
I’m going to get this one all cleaned up and powder-coated then I can just swap for the existing one when I’m ready to fit.
I was surprised the Clio 182 rear beam was simpler in construction than my R5/R11 with Just one torsion bar?
I just removed any of the clips & brackets on the beam:
Then screwed a couple of bolts into the rear shock mount holes, (with a bit of threadlock) to protect the threads during the blasting/powder coating process:
Thanks for reading
I’m going to get this one all cleaned up and powder-coated then I can just swap for the existing one when I’m ready to fit.
I was surprised the Clio 182 rear beam was simpler in construction than my R5/R11 with Just one torsion bar?
I just removed any of the clips & brackets on the beam:
Then screwed a couple of bolts into the rear shock mount holes, (with a bit of threadlock) to protect the threads during the blasting/powder coating process:
Thanks for reading
Before the rear axle goes off to be treated, I wanted to remove the rear axle bushes. I gave them a few tentative taps with a mallet but soon realised that they weren’t going to come out unless I had a serious word with them... so I got my serious face on.. 
First thing was to get a decent drill bit in a large enough size that you can get down into the space between the two metal bushes... where the rubber is:
Next you need to spend an inordinate amount of time drilling the rubber away. I found that getting a good quality sharp drill bit and rocking the drill left/right forwards/backwards soon had lots of rubber particles on the floor:
Drilling alone wasn’t enough to separate the bushes, so eventually I had to get the old mole grips out and give it a twist to finally tear the last strips of rubber:
Eventually after a bit of grunting, the central bush came out:
Next, I threaded the hacksaw blade thru the remaining outer bush, and gently cut a strip out of the bush:
I didn’t cut all the way thru the outer bush, as I didn’t want to cut the axle:
Once the “score” was made in the outer bush, I used a hammer and punch to peel the bush back, and tear the metal at the cut. After the tear started I continued it with a sharp flat chisel.
A couple of blows with the hammer and the outer bush starts to come free:
Then it was time for the official “give the bush the bird” picture
I then cut the bush into smaller strips and then knocked them back into the axle, to “mask” off the bush faces when I get it powder coated.
Thanks for reading
First thing was to get a decent drill bit in a large enough size that you can get down into the space between the two metal bushes... where the rubber is:
Next you need to spend an inordinate amount of time drilling the rubber away. I found that getting a good quality sharp drill bit and rocking the drill left/right forwards/backwards soon had lots of rubber particles on the floor:
Drilling alone wasn’t enough to separate the bushes, so eventually I had to get the old mole grips out and give it a twist to finally tear the last strips of rubber:
Eventually after a bit of grunting, the central bush came out:
Next, I threaded the hacksaw blade thru the remaining outer bush, and gently cut a strip out of the bush:
I didn’t cut all the way thru the outer bush, as I didn’t want to cut the axle:
Once the “score” was made in the outer bush, I used a hammer and punch to peel the bush back, and tear the metal at the cut. After the tear started I continued it with a sharp flat chisel.
A couple of blows with the hammer and the outer bush starts to come free:
Then it was time for the official “give the bush the bird” picture
I then cut the bush into smaller strips and then knocked them back into the axle, to “mask” off the bush faces when I get it powder coated.
Thanks for reading
Is the paint code an IXELL?Got a set of wheels chemically stripped to allow me to get them refurbished.
View attachment 147450
To ensure they match the OE Centre caps as close as possible, I’m going to spray them, rather than get them powder coated. It’s not as thought they’re ever going to see a rough daily use in winter, so I think the paint will be good enough.
The wheels came up well:
View attachment 147451
However the old corrosion has set into the back of a couple of them:
View attachment 147453
I think I caught it just in-time before the wheels start to get really bad.
I know the general consensus is that the offset is 44, but this casting mark suggests it’s 45??
View attachment 147452
Thanks for reading
Handy to know when wanting other wheels painting and keeping them the OE colour
DaveL485
Staff member
The 1*2 beam has independent arms, upright shocks and a coil spring like the R21 Quadra, the R9/11 torsion bar doesnt have a coil spring it's entirely suspended on the torsion bars.
I had a quick look at the original rear beam this morning, definatley not looking up to @Big Steve - Raider standard, so I'm pleased I'm replacing it!! I also noticed there seems to be a pair of brand new OE rear handbrake lines ready to go back onto the car already attached!! Chuffed with that given that they're starting to become NLA at Renault now... but also slightly pissed that I already bought a pair to go on the car!! Oh well, more stock for the @Big Steve - Raider stock of old sh1te parts..!
I noticed that there is a little rubber bush around the centre of the (torsion) bar on the original Axle, but not on the one I’m getting blasted?? I’d prefer it was there on the new one, but I’m not going to worry too much about it.
In other news, I got my ECU bracket back from the powder-coaters, and chuffed with how it come out:
It's complete with the little
at the top corner, which is prone to breaking off!!
Thanks for reading
I noticed that there is a little rubber bush around the centre of the (torsion) bar on the original Axle, but not on the one I’m getting blasted?? I’d prefer it was there on the new one, but I’m not going to worry too much about it.
In other news, I got my ECU bracket back from the powder-coaters, and chuffed with how it come out:
It's complete with the little
at the top corner, which is prone to breaking off!!Thanks for reading
Any crusty bits I take off I need will be restored.. as for the crusty bits I don't, I usually weigh them in. Although I did have a thought to perhaps get the spare axle restored and then sell it.. but how may people want to pay for stuff like that on old Clio's like me..? There's not many crazed Renault heads like us..
Hmmm... good point and to be fair, that is the reason I'm into this Clio in the first place.. I believe come a few years, these cars will be coveted like the old 5GTT's and prices will rise.. But probably there'll be no petrol to actually drive them... so...?
We will be able to access petrol for the duration of our lifetime I feel Steve. Its only new cars that have to be electrickery by 2332.Hmmm... good point and to be fair, that is the reason I'm into this Clio in the first place.. I believe come a few years, these cars will be coveted like the old 5GTT's and prices will rise.. But probably there'll be no petrol to actually drive them... so...?
DaveL485
Staff member
Won't happen without some sort of tech revolution. We literally dont mine enough of the metals needed for batteries, globally, to satisfy the UK car demand let alone ROW.
We need Mr Fusion.
