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General => General discussion => Topic started by: NixGTI on 12 May 2007, 13:11

Title: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 12 May 2007, 13:11
Just come in from the rain after starting my attempt at replacing the discs and pads on my mk2.... all was going well until the disc retaining screw wouldnt budge, need to drill it out, just need to get a cordless drill etc... that was the right hand side.

left side, the top caliper bolt is rounded before i even get to it (could kill the llittle fcuker who did them last...) So i guess that means getting some more bolts from vw. i think the car will have to stay on the axel stands until next weekend now :(  :angry:
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: Stu.750 on 12 May 2007, 18:59
Try a stud remover or similar from machine mart

 then just nip the scrappy , all mk2 front baliper bolts are the same i presume
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 12 May 2007, 20:37
yep, might have to get one,  but looking at it there's a rubber sleve over it, if i remove that couldnt i get a pair of grips on it?

hopefully the parts desk at VW will be open tomorrow so i can get another bolt  :undecided:
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: bomp on 12 May 2007, 21:08
I reckon getting grips on it would be a nightmare.

If you do cut through the rubber to get at it though, you could weld an old bolt to the top of it so you can use a spanner on the bolt, or chisel the side of the allen head bolt to turn it anti-clock-wise. Sometimes a quick sharp knock with a chisel is all it needs to get it moving.
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 12 May 2007, 21:36
I've got an angle grinder, if I make a couple of flat sides to it I could get it out easy then.
anyone know what the rubber is for? dont wanna start cutting it away and find it's important!!
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: bomp on 13 May 2007, 11:23
Aye, I see what you mean, so you can get an open end spanner on it. but it would have to be perfectly straight so the spanner don't slip. Too much fafin about I reckon.

Another method I use, is to cut through the head of the bolt (about two thirds of the depth) with a hacksaw, then hamer on a slotted screw fitting that then fits onto my impact driver, then give it a good wack to loosen.

Give the screw a quick squirt of WD40 and leave for half an hour, then go back to it. (Yeah I know, WD40 around brake disks. I clean all parts with paint thinners before refitting)

If you brake the rubber then order a new part with the bolts
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 13 May 2007, 13:11
well it's too wet today,and the VW dealer is shut so it'll have to wait for now. not too fussed about WD40 around the brakes, i'm replacing the discs and pads.

bomp, do you mean cut a slot in to the bolt? then use a screw driver bit? wouldn't of thought you'd be able to get enough dept, since the hex key hole will go some way in to it.... i'm a little lost, i need the big print version with big pictures!

I'll ring and order the bits tomorrow.
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: topher on 13 May 2007, 13:20
you're supposed to replace those bolts anyway, oem pads come with new ones in the box.
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: curlie467 on 13 May 2007, 14:08
Have you tried hammering on a smaller socket. Sometimes works. With the disc retaining screw, try to turn it with a sharp pointed centre punch.
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 13 May 2007, 14:12
oh right...i've got some EBC pads, so guess they wouldnt have them.

cheers for all the advice guys btw

and it's not a socket job, at least i dont think it is.... it's a hex bolt, unless it's a standard bolt on the outside of it too... but it's covered with a rubber sleve so i doubt it.
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: curlie467 on 13 May 2007, 15:29
Are you sure its not a star drive?
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: Mr Blue on 13 May 2007, 16:39
I remember smacking a socket over the whole thing. :undecided: Done the job anyway
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: bomp on 13 May 2007, 16:47
bomp, do you mean cut a slot in to the bolt? then use a screw driver bit?

yep, cut across the centre until you get to the bottom  (where the Allen key would stop).

Quick CAD drawing
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/bomp_bucket/cuthead.jpg)

Then hamer on a wide screwdriver that goes over the whole width of the allen head bolt.
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 13 May 2007, 17:01
nice one bomp, that might be an easier job!

nope, not a star drive... isnt that something the enterprise has? my car isnt that fast...

mr blue, hmm, guess it'd still work if it's tight enough.

more than one way to skin a cat i guess

i'll try a pair of grips first, the locking kind so i get a good grip... you can tell how technical i am eh!

then i'll start cutting it up! to releave my frustration if nothing else!
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: mk2mark on 13 May 2007, 18:24
Weird, I got pads and discs for mine too and I'm having this exact same problem. Did the damage myself though :embarassed:
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: Stu.750 on 13 May 2007, 19:33
i can of petrol and one match
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 19 May 2007, 21:09
finally had another go at this... took a while to get around to as i had some muppet at the VW dealership order me the wrong bolts when they had the right ones in stock all the time anyway, even tho i brought one of the bolts in to show him! anyway....

I drilled out the retaining screw on the right disc, so that side is all done and sorted, but tomorrow i'll have another go at that caliper bolt. spent a bit of time on it today, cut away the rubber, and your right, grips wont budge it.

My idea of using a grider to file it down might be a bit extreme, there's not much room under there and i'm likely to hit the brake line!

bomp's plan might work, but i dont have a hacksaw... or a screw driver bit wide enough....  mr blues way of wacking a socket over it might work, tried a ring spanner earlier, but didnt have a hammer either (i know, i seem to have a complete lack of tools just lately).

so the plan is to get a hammer, whack the spanner over it give it a good yank and then curse and swear when it slips and i cut up all my knuckles, i'll then go buy a hacksaw and driver bit and have a go at bomps plan...

wish me luck
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: bomp on 20 May 2007, 11:26
Machine Mart are cheap for some tools.

Impact driver
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht101-1-2in-drive-impact-screwdriver-se

Hacksaws
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht131-2-pce-hacksaw-set/path/saws-chisels-sharpening-tools/brand/clarke

The good thing about the impact driver bits, is that you can stick an 8mm ring spanner over the end, and then tap the spanner.

See if you can buy a steel chisel on its own rather than a full set, as chisels are good for moving stuborn bolts.
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 20 May 2007, 13:36
well thats the brakes fitted, just wish i could test them. cant get the engine started! it's been sitting there for about 3 or 4 weeks, and the petrol gauge is off the bottom... :rolleyes: but it doesnt sound like it's out of petrol, the engine doesnt turn over much. it tries then just sits there ticking at me.
also the multi computer thingy seems to have lost all previous things like MPG etc. so could this just be a flat battery?

I'll test it all out later when i go out and get a can of petrol. and my misses has the jump leads in her car today so i'll have to wait for them if it's the battery.
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 20 May 2007, 13:41
cheers bomp, bought a hammer hacksaw and some other odds and ends at focus earlier, think i'll look in to investing in some tools,

oh, and mr blue, thanks for the hint,whacking a 12mm ring spaner over it did the trick!
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 20 May 2007, 20:03
right, it was just a flat battery. so it's back up and running again. :)
now the brakes work.... sorta

I changed the pads and discs because of just how bad the brakes were. unfortunatly it's still the same. the travel on the brake pedal is still really long, i haven't tried locking the brakes yet as the pads are new and i dont want to ruin them. but before it couldnt and i dont think it will be able to now either.

I did bleed the brakes at the front when i did them, but not the rears yet, as i've also got rear discs and pads to do.

Any ideas what could be causing this? it's as if there isnt as much pressure as there should be for every cm travel on the pedal as there should be.

help! it's not really very safe!
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 20 May 2007, 20:37
long travel-master cylinder seals

thats what was worng with mine, i could floor the pedal  :undecided:
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 20 May 2007, 20:51
was worried that might be the prob, how much do you reckon i'm looking at for a new one?
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 20 May 2007, 21:27
i paid about 20-30 iirc at gsf for my 1.3 one..  :smiley:
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 20 May 2007, 21:31
thats not so bad then, how hard is fitting? 3 spanner job?
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 20 May 2007, 22:27
err, my haynes is older, so i aint sure how to rate  :grin:

brake pipe spanner, undo the unions from the cylinder.. soak up all the fluid form the bottle first or something like that, siphon it out whatever.. once empty and pipes off, 2 nuts hold it to servo, make sure you pull it STRAIGHT FORWARD as not break the pin in servo.. pull the resvoir from the old one and insert it into the new one.. also realign and slide it in straight.. screw the nuts back on, make sure to put the blanks in if need be to the opposing sides or wherever of the master cylinder which dont have the pipes before you put it back in.. top up and bleed the entire system  :smiley:
Title: Re: rants about working on old cars..
Post by: NixGTI on 20 May 2007, 22:30
cheers, just grabbed my haynes, and yes i was right a 3 spanner job, doesnt seem too hard.
Already ordered a new one as well! £20 delivered! :)
will have to wait until mid next week tho.... :(