Dicky

Just been looking at a workshop manual (I think its for a USA car tbut should be the same ?) and it shows the front brakes as having an Inner shim and Inner shim cover, but my original pads (first time changed from new) didnt have these when I took them out. Although they did have the thin stick on shim type of thing that I had to fit manually to the back pads before fitting. Should the metal shim be fitted do you know?? Ive tried to attach a copy of the manual page but its to big to upload apparently. By the way the manual shows the spring device on the pad I mentioned as being the wear sensor as you suggested. Hey ho

Sorry about the delay in responding. My daughters studying for an A level exam in the morning and has comandered the computer and the Yfi is down, Anyway, Ive added a picture (hope it works) the spring Im on about can be seen in the bottom left corner of the pad sticking out. In answer to your queeries, Copper grease = yes Grit = will check that in the morning Bedding in + yes good suggestion will check in the morning Spring = yes could be a wear sensor not sure if this car has that although I would have thought iot would. Is it usual for Red Stuff pads not to have this? 4 Arm Spider = No that spring is in place. The one I mean is mounted on the pad itself Disc Are Slack = So there meant to be loose, In the olden days they used to be secured with a counter sunk screw. Cheers everyone---a problem shared is a proble halfed (or something like that. Also a friend in need is -----a pest get rid of him!!

Just fitted red stuff pads and wheel spacers all round. Now got grating coming from front when I brake. Noticed a couple of things when doing the work that puzzled me and may be the reason---any advice welcome. 1. On the rear pads, the outer pad of the old and one of the new pair had a spring type fitting attached to it. Same on the other rear wheel. However on the front wheels one of the old pads on both wheels (the outer one) also had this spring fitting on it but neither of the new pads had it. 2 Noticed that the front discs are free to move when the wheel is removed and seem to be held on only by the wheel when its in position. Is this normal?

+1 It might be a little more expensive than your ebay ones but they'll be good quality Eibach hubcentric spacers. What was the end result Digsy, did you fit spacers? what size did you end up with? and have you got a picture?

Thinking of getting 20mm spacers myself. Noticed some on ebay that are TUV approved and have asked the seller if they are hubcentric. Ive attempted to copy the link, although it looks very long and probably wont work. Dont know what Im doing dont you know! Anyway hope it does. blush: . Anyone got an opinion on them. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALLOY-WHEEL-SPACE ... dZViewItem

Cheers, Dicky - much appreciated. I already know I've got issues - the fronts are really badly worn on the insides, so I guess it's either toe-out or dodgy camber. Or is it castor? Whatever, it needs fixing. Did you get a quote for actually performing the alignment (rather than checking for problems)? Slight history attached to mine- Had problems a couple of years ago with road noise from the front tyres. Benfield tried to con me saying it was the Bridgestone tyres. It was actually due to feathering, a know problem on these cars. Eventually they fitted new front tyres and had the alignment checked at NET&E. So approx 2yrs ago NET&E checked and set up all my wheel alignment. When I took it down the other day because of another prob I have, they did the check free then said that all wheels needed adjustment and it would cost £70. Decided not to have it fixed cos I felt they were touting for work. It seemed strange they set the whole car up a couple of years ago and now there all out again? Im a steady driver so I would have thought they'd be still ok (not sure) Anyway Im going to get it checked at Clarks in Sunderland just to be sure. Oh by the way don’t bother with XOpower on TVTE it looks like a back street lock up. Mal.

Northern Eastern Tyres and Exhaust (used by Benfield Motors) checked mine. They have a place on Middle Engine lane at Silverlink Wallsend tele 0191 2626363.A full check is free but beware its a slick operation and I got the impression they were generating work (I might be mistaken though). I descovered later they had also scratched my front nearside alloy during the check but didnt notice it until a couple of days later when I washed it. Have them check your car over with you before doing any work. Im also told of a place on Team Valley Trading Estate called Xopower but havent been able to locate them in the telepone book yet so am going down today to see if I can find them from scant directions given. I'll let you know. Vic Young in South Shields use Clarks Coachbuilders in Sunderland tele 0191 5237975.

I bought the Origin b2 with detector which when mounted on the dash is supposed to activate if a beam is pointed at the car. WASTE of MONEY! I queried the operation with Origin and discovered that if targeted the unit will activate an alarm, but you only have 1/10 th’s of a second, not seconds to respond and get your speed down. In brief if you’re targeted you’re caught. They admit that these devices are useless if you are being targeted as you cant react fast enough. They say they are better if the car in front is being targeted and you then pick up the scatter.

The main problem here was the driver. Didn’t watch the revs, missed gears and chickened out on road conditions . When we both did away I was quicker until I made the errors. Anyway I’ve slept on it now and realise how stupid it was anyway, when we classify these things we only talk in terms of a second or so and after all what’s that. What matters is the Z looks way way cooler for less money, and that’s the only race that realy matters to me. But at the time I have to admit to being well p-ssed off

Had a little dice with a BMW 330d who intentionally cut me up on the entry to a round about. I don’t often get involved but this prat really bugged me. I waited until we exited the round about and was intending to humiliate him when he started his run. Then disaster. First I hit the rev limiter TWICE as I change up . Then I decided the B road we were on although straight had lots of holes and bumps so I didn’t gun after him and risk damage to the car or worse . There was a cross roads further up anyway so I pulled up behind him again and having made the turn he did away again. This time I missed the gear when changing into 2nd and again fell back as the road was just as bad. He just gunned it all the way and left me for dead. I know it stupid to race and you feel lousy when your out of the car if youve been sucked in, but it doesn’t half hurt a lot more to get smoked.

Can you give details, maybe my local auto electrics place could also get the mod and fit it. He didnt give any details at the time only to say he was aware of the mod from other auto electricians who had fitted it. He gets his new list of modifications on 22nd of this month, so Ill know more then. However it might be worth ringing your guys to enquire cos the might have the mod already. If I get any further info I'll pass it on though

Had a chat with a guy yesterday who runs an Auto electrician business in Jarrow. He says a mod is available (and hes getting it in at the back end of this month) to make the indicator clicking sound come through the speakers in order to alert you if theve been left on. Needless to say Im booked in Also he said he can fit a "Total closure pack" that closes the windows and turns the wing mirrors inboard when you lock the car from the fob. Approx costs are £70 for the control unit and £ 50 to fit it.

Ahhh, cum on, Ive tilted me head back upright now and he still wont stop. By the way I havnt seen one of those for a long time now. I seem seem to remember it was quite useful now and again, cant remember for what though

Oooops scratch that. Very unfortunate

Hi, its dopey from the land of udopia calling. I’m sure it must be obvious to all but my countrymen but what U supposed to see when U tilt your head to the left I only get sawdust on the floor!

Got mine from Alex and fitted them the other day. Doddle to fit and look just great. Now find I’m touching the breaks all the time just to show them off. So everyone stay well back till the novelty wears off

PLODDING, How the very hell dare YOU. Sedate maybe, considdered possibly but plodding NEVER. Ive got my o-60 time down to 14 sec I'll have you know. Now if I could only get the wife out of the car Im sure Id manage13sec. I would guess that you get about 40mpg too Yehhh! Listen, youve got to be prepared to cast caution and fuel costs to the wind to get accelleration times like mine.

Maybe the cancelling mechanism can be adjusted and optimised cos some seem to have little in the way of problems, I'll check when I get the time. Thanks to Mr GIXXERUK for the info others for input

That sounds bloody luverly . Must admit I’ve stayed clear of such exhausts cos I thought they'd sound a bit like a boy racer with a hole in the exhaust. HOW MUCH to buy and have fitted??

PLODDING, How the very hell dare YOU. Sedate maybe, considdered possibly but plodding NEVER. Ive got my o-60 time down to 14 sec I'll have you know. Now if I could only get the wife out of the car Im sure Id manage13sec.

Yeh my local dealer said the same thing (an easy get out phrase). I might take a look at the mechanism to see if it can be moded but if not will revert to getting the indicators to make more sound. By the way does anyone know if the maintenance cd's on ebay are any good or if anyone on the forum can supply CD's especially with good wiring diagrams.

Got 25K from the rear bridgestones, the front ones are still legal and Ive now done 32K. I dont thrash the car

Is it just me or do others have problems with the indicators. I posted a couple of years ago regarding a near miss I had. Id just made a left turn and a little way down the road a woman pulled out from the left thinking I was turning in . I gave her hell, fingers horn (not that sort) and verbals only to discover that my left indicator was still going. The same things happened a couple of times since. Yes I know Ive got the blinking lights on the dash; but I cant always see them given my hand position on the wheel and dont hear the ticking cos of the music. Anyone know where the flasher unit is located. Going to see if I can mod it to make it louder. If not, then plan B

The video of this product looks very impressive; however I spoke to a mate of mine who has been to Sunderland for a demo in case he could add it to his range of services in his new business. He doesn’t believe it’s as good as the video suggests. He says it seems very good for light scratches but that it can’t handle anything deeper. He said that stone chips and deep scratches are improved but that they can still be seen. This was also the opinion of the guy showing him how the system works. This guy did say that with a lot of effort you could possibly get a good result but never as good as a respray. He also said you had to buy the complete kit and couldn’t just buy the colour for your particular car. PITTY

All the best young man but at 41 your still a mere slip of a lad. I was 61in March, and that number really hurts. I’m now an official member of the old farts and grumpy old men clubs.