What did you do today?

[fried onions]

They have to make back the money lost in the emissions scandal somehow.

[LynehamHerc]

I'm glad I'm broke when you say things like that, it's about the only sort of car that'd tempt me out of the XJR.

One read of a random xtriple thread should cure you completely of that desire.....

So how does he compare with Bub for car catastrophes?
About the same but with Porsches rather than Peugeot's?

[xtriple]

I usually do okay with cars, used to do a LOT better when I could still turn a wrench myself, now I have to rely on others, not so well! My Bentleys were and I wanted them to be, utterly perfect, dream cars and all that so spent fortunes on the shitty things, first one got painted (beautifully but pricy) and then dropped a valve guide, the second one had everything under the sun done to it and I mean, everything and then its head gasket went and it hydro-locked the back left cylinder.

Ho-hum!

Still, got ten grand back for it from Flying spares just a shame I'd spent thirty on it!

But they are epic when all is correct and in a way I wanted to repair the last one, yet again but I just didn't have another eight grand for the engine to be fixed. No one other than the specialist in Exeter would touch it, wish I'd known Panhard could/would do it as it would have saved me a fortune and I'd still have it.

[Drum]

It's a stupid little fucking Allen bolt holding the cylinder to the back plate which has rusted away.
I've replaced the piston and seal and bent the shoe outwards slightly and it's aligned better. Bled and stamped on the brakes and taken the drum back off for a look. Seems ok but i think I'll get this booked in for a new cylinder.

It needs a new cylinder and maybe shoes if you have bent them very far. The problem is the ali cylinder and steel back plate. Corrosion has built up between the 2 and as there is only one bolt it has pushed it out of line. Very common on these

I took panhard's advice and replaced the brake cylinder. Needed the nut remover to get the silly wee allen bolt out.

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The old cylinder was decaying at a worrying rate.

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In hindsight, I should maybe have painted the cleaned up back plate to reduce bimetal corrosion.

I can't get a good handbrake despite manually adjusting the automatic wedge adjuster at the drum and having only 3 clicks on the lever.

I've ordered new cables and shoes.

I've got a cv boot to replace and was going to change the bearing while I was there as it's starting to drone. Unfortunately it's pressed into the hub and needs a special tool to draw the old one out and new one in. I'll see if I can borrow one.

[Drum]

This polo is fighting me every step.

Any top tips on how to take a cv joint off without taking the drive shaft out or smashing it to pieces?

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I haven't gone full mongo with the hammer yet, just a few sharp blows. No sign of movement. Is there a c clip on the shaft?

[panhard65]

I think they just knock off but have a good look to see if there is a clip holding it on. Stretch boots are another idea but you need the tool or a cone to get them on.

[Eddie Honda]

Usually a wire c-clip (snap ring). You just have to give them the right sort of tap

[Drum]

I found the right sort of tap.

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And used a tool I've never used before.

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Handy for those metal bands they use.

[fried onions]

Cable ties equally effective if you don't have the bands.

[slowanimals]

Today I had a brief spin around the block (2 miles or so) in an Alvis. Needs a little fettling and some proper use once the roads aren't salty, but certainly an experience. No pics as I didn't have my phone with me.