Clio 172 Project

Sent the car into the garage for the replacement of it’s o/s CV following it deciding that it no longer wanted to stay in place or keep the grease where it should be.

An hour and £50 later the jobs a goodun. I could of done the job myself, but for £50 why would I? I fucking HATE doing CV boots and hate even more the horrible grease.

Unfortunately though the aux belt has started making a shit load of noise and has moved over on the alternator pulley or was never fitted correctly in the first place plus it’s due to be replaced anyway. So it’s booked in on the 16th for new cam and aux belts along with all the tensioners, cam isn’t due till next year but the aux belt has to come off to do it anyway so might as well get both done at the same time. £520…but it’s better to pay that than buy/repair the whole engine.

In other news I’ve had a load of deliveries recently, nothing all that exciting. Engine cover bolts and washers, silver bulbs, engine cover replacement sticker and most of my service kit (genuine Renault pollen, oil and fuel filter).

I still need to get an ITG Profilter air errm filter, NGK PFR6E-10 spark plugs and make a decision on what 5W-40 oil I’m going to go for, currently thinking it will be Silkoline PRO S though.  Think I’ll be leaving the service until after Internatioal Styling and Tuning Show (ISTS) in April though as I’m doing a track session there so it will no doubt need it after that anyway.

However next month is MOT time.  So I’ll be getting two new Toyo T1-Rs fitted to the rears just in case the scuffing causes me any problems there and unfortunately I’ll have to put up with another month with the chav Powerflow exhaust as thanks to two companies screwing me over this month with hidden charges or fucking up my direct debit payment I’ve had to pay out a lot for stuff I wasn’t expecting.    Wank.  Just have to hope that I pass the dB tests at Donnington, it’s a loud day though so fingers cross it will be fine.

Once everything has calmed down and the exhaust has FINALLY been sorted then I’m going to uprate the brakes.  They don’t really need it as it stops on a 5p as it is, but as I’ll be doing a few track sessions this year I’d rather know they were up to the job.  Not going for anything rediculous just some Brembo High Carbon (HC) discs and Ferodo DS-2500 brake pads at the front, then standard 172 jobbies at the rear, braided hoses all round and some Castrol Responce Dot 4 brake fluid.

Well ok it’s not drastic.  The CV boot as I thought has gone, don’t think it’s split though just the circlip has come off, the boots slid back and then grease and spunked everywhere.  So it’s going in next Saturday, I’m too lazy to do it myself and it’s a fucking annoying job lol, to the garage in Ilkeston  to get it sorted.  Once it’s done I’ll grab some AutoGlym Engine and Machine Cleaner and get to work on the arches, might as well do them all, to clean them up and remove the CV grease from the o/s/f.

Also got a bargain on a replacement rear bumper from Daniel on ClioSport so once the new exhaust has arrived and been fitted, won’t be this month now due to an unexpected bill, I’ll get that fitted too.  It’s got a few small imperfections such as light scratches in the laquer and a few tiny bits down to the plastic.  So I’ll see how it comes up after a good wash and polish today and if it needs a spray I’ll take it somewhere local to get done, probably end up doing the prep myself though depending on the quotes they give.

Some pictures of the replacement rear bumper before, during and after a good wash and polish.  Took most of the light scratches out TBH, but I’ll still probably get it resprayed at some point along with the front for that minty fresh look.

O HAI Mr Bee!

Also got some replacement engine cover bolts and washers coming from davo172 on ClioSport which I’ll use with my other engine cover when I get around to spraying it, probably this month depending on my cash.  Hmmm just thought I need a replacement 2.0 16v sticker for the engine cover too…

This month though it’s Cam and Aux belt replacement.  Big expense, but it will give me peace of mind and it’s cheaper than replacing 16 bent valves!