Newbie

[Marcrs]

Picked up a few parts last weekend (thank Paul!) and had a bit of a bash at fitting some bits today

First was the rear wiper - we had nothing but the motor, so I needed the complete arm. After a quick coat of satin black, it was soon fitted





Then it was time for a new steering wheel, the old one wasn\'t right, this is much more like it...

Old...



New...



I also picked up the small plastic rear vents, as someone had stuck their hand in one of ours

old...



new...



Then it was on to the doors. We had two problems - the passenger window didn\'t work at all, and the driver\'s door was very rotten...all the way through at the front bottom corner!





So, it was off with the old...







and on with the new - still need to remove the glue from the bump strip though...



not perfect, but solid



Fixed the passenger window, with the motor, and a new switch...then cleaned up and painted the mirrors






Not a bad afternoon\'s work, all ready for a nice drive tomorrow

[Marcrs]

Well, the poor old rex hasn\'t really moved since the snow, so after a good charge of the battery, I started it for the first time on Friday morning, and took it to work

When I pulled away, there was an odd noise from the back of the car...I stopped, pulled away again, and it was fine...did it a few more times, and no more noise...hmmm, maybe just something a bit stuck, must be freed off now I thought...

So, I get to work, and drive slowly over the small speedbump in the car park...and there was an odd boinging noise from the left rear  :confused:

Was going to take it over to good old Garath to have a look underneath on Saturday, but as we were leaving Karissa noticed this, lying on the ground a few feet from where the car had been parked previously...




It has sheared completely...although it is probably the original spring, so has been on the car for 27 years...not too bad




I\'ve ordered a set of Spax 30mm lowering springs...watch this space


Some of you might have seen that both this and the GT were keyed last week so today I have set up step 1 in the action plan...this is my current viewing pleasure

[CHC (RIP)]

Can you blame this on the neighbour from hell too? :evillaugh

[David Nock (RIP)]

I read that springs are one of the most reliable bits on Jap cars from this era. It\'s to do with the profiling and shaping of the last coils of the spring.

Euro cars on the other hand had/have crudely formed spring ends which do not spread the spring effort evenly so they break easliy.

I\'m also on a couple of Merc Forums. Sad to say Mercs are prone to just sitting down \'Boing\' on the drive as you walk up to them...always when there\'s a rush on. The incidence is worst if a car\'s parked downhill with the wheels turned (weight all on one front corner).   \'Boing\'.

Ford Focus suffers as well.

[CHC (RIP)]

I read that springs are one of the most reliable bits on Jap cars from this era. It\'s to do with the profiling and shaping of the last coils of the spring.
 
Euro cars on the other hand had/have crudely formed spring ends which do not spread the spring effort evenly so they break easliy.
 
I\'m also on a couple of Merc Forums. Sad to say Mercs are prone to just sitting down \'Boing\' on the drive as you walk up to them...always when there\'s a rush on. The incidence is worst if a car\'s parked downhill with the wheels turned (weight all on one front corner). \'Boing\'.
 
Ford Focus suffers as well.

I had a front spring go on my Merc 190 - replaced both fronts but it never appeared to handle the same afterwards so I changed it for another Merc of all things. I\'ve seen the light since then and returned home to the Rex.

[Marcrs]

Got a parcel today, set of spax ssx springs...loks like I\'ll be busy on Sunday (already busy Saturday, watching the rugby )