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Clio The last thing I needed was another project car...
DaveL485
Staff member
Out for playtime at Elvington for some social media & youtube filming....the pics and video footage from this are going to be EPIC.
Contrary to general opinion the production team were great, respectful of the cars and stayed engaged with the owners on what was going on. The cars were not abused and we were present for the full two days of filming. The Stig, Jamie, loved the Vee and the way I have set it up. The crew were actually great and it was fascinating watching how one of these Top Gear style episodes is made (without the smoky tyres and twattery)
Unfortunately at the end of the second day, on the very last filming stint of about ten mins, there was an issue with the gearbox and I had to flatbed it home. Turns out a small 4mm pin in the linkage on the gearbox has broken or fallen out - it's an easy fix and a £3 part, could have happened at any time and anywhere! Should be sorted as soon as the new pin arrives
Contrary to general opinion the production team were great, respectful of the cars and stayed engaged with the owners on what was going on. The cars were not abused and we were present for the full two days of filming. The Stig, Jamie, loved the Vee and the way I have set it up. The crew were actually great and it was fascinating watching how one of these Top Gear style episodes is made (without the smoky tyres and twattery)
Unfortunately at the end of the second day, on the very last filming stint of about ten mins, there was an issue with the gearbox and I had to flatbed it home. Turns out a small 4mm pin in the linkage on the gearbox has broken or fallen out - it's an easy fix and a £3 part, could have happened at any time and anywhere! Should be sorted as soon as the new pin arrives
DaveL485
Staff member
I've had it far too easy of late, it seems, and the car has decided to test my patience a little.
The plan was to take it to LeMans this year. I was aware however of a low rumbling appearing at the rear near side when cold which reduced when hot and resonance directly related to road speed - so I was thinking wheel bearing or CV joint. Driveshafts will degrade fairly slowly and I wasnt worried about a thousand mile trip if it was that, however, a grumbly wheel bearing - mmmm I thought I would change them just to be on the safe side. I bought some good quality Meyle wheel bearings which are readily available for the Laguna front hubs on the back of the Vee and got to work... and then the first problem reared its ugly head. As a result of running with no wheel centres for a good portion of its life on the Croms, the main driveshaft nuts had rusted on to the shaft threads. After some careful thought, tweaks with a grinder on the nut and liberal application of a Milwaukee M18 impact gun I got the first one off on the O/S. You can see in the pic though how the threads have degraded from being exposed to the elements.
Still, it was OK, the nut came off and I got the stub axle apart and fitted the new bearing in, noting that the bracket for the laguna ABS sensor is there in the hub but unused as the Vee uses a reluctor ring and separate sensor instead of the target built into the Laguna wheel bearing. I didnt plan on taking the shaft out, but later did so because I spotted a broken bolt in the shaft support bearing bracket and I changed the outer boot which looked a bit perished/old.
Then on to the other side - followed the same procedure to get the nut off. The Milwaukee gun has a staggering 1897nm of undoing torque available which is great for stuff like this.... normally. It cracked off the nut, which was pleasing, but as it wound off the shaft things took a nasty turn. Where the shaft threads had degraded, it got crossed up and in the few seconds before I realised the nut has stopped moving it ate the threads. By the time I got it off... ewww.
Not good. I bit the bullet and dropped the 'box oil, pulled the shafts out and started looking at solutions. I spent quite a while looking for parts, found a couple of solutions that were VERY unpalatable cost wise including a brand new OE complete shaft, and settled on a complete used Laguna V6 shaft to rebuild mine with. Bought, paid, two days later he refunds my money "can't find it". This also sealed the fate of LeMans as the refund came on Tuesday with departure Wednesday so I left the Vee on stands and went in my Clio 220 Trophy. Humph.
Before I left on Weds a few hours research managed to find a complete outer CV for a Laguna V6 brand new that was the right measurements. Ordered that for when I got back. SImple...right? WRONG.
See that red marked ridge? The Vee shaft doesnt have that ridge, so its now in the machine shop being modified as that ridge drags on the ABS target bracket at the back of the bearing (yes thats right, the one you dont actually need on the Vee!) If that wasn't enough, this CV is a slightly smaller diameter overall and the ABS target doesnt fit - SIGH. I'm kinda comitted now and having a new CV solution is preferable so I'm having a pair of new ABS reluctors made to suit the slightly smaller CV joint (like, 5mm difference in diameter if not less, it's tiny). When I do the cambelt this winter i'll switch the other side over to a new CV also and stash the old one as backup. Hopefully when the CV gets back, I can assemble the bloody thing and everything will work as it should!
In other news I had the centre console painted iceberg, it has some scratches and stuff so thats now redressed and ready to refit.
Hope that its all sorted for Silverstone Classic, it was only supposed to be on stands for the day!
The plan was to take it to LeMans this year. I was aware however of a low rumbling appearing at the rear near side when cold which reduced when hot and resonance directly related to road speed - so I was thinking wheel bearing or CV joint. Driveshafts will degrade fairly slowly and I wasnt worried about a thousand mile trip if it was that, however, a grumbly wheel bearing - mmmm I thought I would change them just to be on the safe side. I bought some good quality Meyle wheel bearings which are readily available for the Laguna front hubs on the back of the Vee and got to work... and then the first problem reared its ugly head. As a result of running with no wheel centres for a good portion of its life on the Croms, the main driveshaft nuts had rusted on to the shaft threads. After some careful thought, tweaks with a grinder on the nut and liberal application of a Milwaukee M18 impact gun I got the first one off on the O/S. You can see in the pic though how the threads have degraded from being exposed to the elements.
Still, it was OK, the nut came off and I got the stub axle apart and fitted the new bearing in, noting that the bracket for the laguna ABS sensor is there in the hub but unused as the Vee uses a reluctor ring and separate sensor instead of the target built into the Laguna wheel bearing. I didnt plan on taking the shaft out, but later did so because I spotted a broken bolt in the shaft support bearing bracket and I changed the outer boot which looked a bit perished/old.
Then on to the other side - followed the same procedure to get the nut off. The Milwaukee gun has a staggering 1897nm of undoing torque available which is great for stuff like this.... normally. It cracked off the nut, which was pleasing, but as it wound off the shaft things took a nasty turn. Where the shaft threads had degraded, it got crossed up and in the few seconds before I realised the nut has stopped moving it ate the threads. By the time I got it off... ewww.
Not good. I bit the bullet and dropped the 'box oil, pulled the shafts out and started looking at solutions. I spent quite a while looking for parts, found a couple of solutions that were VERY unpalatable cost wise including a brand new OE complete shaft, and settled on a complete used Laguna V6 shaft to rebuild mine with. Bought, paid, two days later he refunds my money "can't find it". This also sealed the fate of LeMans as the refund came on Tuesday with departure Wednesday so I left the Vee on stands and went in my Clio 220 Trophy. Humph.
Before I left on Weds a few hours research managed to find a complete outer CV for a Laguna V6 brand new that was the right measurements. Ordered that for when I got back. SImple...right? WRONG.
See that red marked ridge? The Vee shaft doesnt have that ridge, so its now in the machine shop being modified as that ridge drags on the ABS target bracket at the back of the bearing (yes thats right, the one you dont actually need on the Vee!) If that wasn't enough, this CV is a slightly smaller diameter overall and the ABS target doesnt fit - SIGH. I'm kinda comitted now and having a new CV solution is preferable so I'm having a pair of new ABS reluctors made to suit the slightly smaller CV joint (like, 5mm difference in diameter if not less, it's tiny). When I do the cambelt this winter i'll switch the other side over to a new CV also and stash the old one as backup. Hopefully when the CV gets back, I can assemble the bloody thing and everything will work as it should!
In other news I had the centre console painted iceberg, it has some scratches and stuff so thats now redressed and ready to refit.
Hope that its all sorted for Silverstone Classic, it was only supposed to be on stands for the day!
Duncan Grier
Well-Known Member
Brigsy
Media Mogul. Instagram legend.
Could you not get away with chasing the thread with a die and refitting with a new hub nut? Ive seen similar on 50% of the cars ive worked on for people, and usually plenty of thread to engage/torque the nut on. Not ideal but never seems to cause any issues.
DaveL485
Staff member
This happened on the Thursday Bank Holiday before LeMans so I couldnt get to any shops to buy kit - I did try winding a nut back on but it made it worse, so I sacked it off and bought a new one.
Brigsy
Media Mogul. Instagram legend.
Fair do's, Might still even go again with a proper die to chase it. Ive removed a few driveshafts on newer cars and even with the nut coming off ok the new nut would not go on without chasing the thread slightly so ended up buying an axle rethread kit just for the job. Its due to the design of the locking nuts, never had an issue with the good old nylocks.
DaveL485
Staff member
Machined, fitted, boot on. Old ABS target broke taking it off (and is too big) but I glued it on with spacers and tiger seal so I can prove it all works before I buy the new targets. If its OK I will buy another new CV for the other side, 2 ABS targets and change the other one when I pop the engine out for the belts.
Now refitted to the car, oil refilled, pending road test.
Now refitted to the car, oil refilled, pending road test.
DaveL485
Staff member
Centre console back in (god damn thing, you have to disconnect the handbrake cables to remove/refit it) and looking really good, very pleased.
Test drive No1 - I could hear something unsavoury out the window, like a brief regular scrape once per wheel rotation - quick nose at the back revealed the driveshaft boot clip on the big end was juuuust skimming the ABS sensor bracket as it rotated. Tiny tweak and it was clearing it.
Test drive No2 - successful, driving lovely again. Needs a geo as I had to take the camber bolts out, otherwise good to go and the rumbling is gone (though I dont know if it was the bearing or CV as its had both now!). Just in time to take my daughter to her Prom party on Friday.
Test drive No1 - I could hear something unsavoury out the window, like a brief regular scrape once per wheel rotation - quick nose at the back revealed the driveshaft boot clip on the big end was juuuust skimming the ABS sensor bracket as it rotated. Tiny tweak and it was clearing it.
Test drive No2 - successful, driving lovely again. Needs a geo as I had to take the camber bolts out, otherwise good to go and the rumbling is gone
(though I dont know if it was the bearing or CV as its had both now!). Just in time to take my daughter to her Prom party on Friday.
DaveL485
Staff member
The 1*2 is rod shift not cables isnt it? The 197 was the first cable shift Clio.
This is a bespoke cable shift setup, specific to the Vee. The cables run backwards and down the centre console, through the bulkhead to the gearbox out back.
Mark_L
Well-Known Member
Something I might have to look into as I’ll need to do the same.
