Who here is a DIY mechanic

[dredr62]

This is something I've been thinking about getting into more and more recently especially after some of the repair/MOT bills I've had lately. With independant garages charging anything between £50 - £80 an hour it is easy to find the cost of basic routine work being far in excess of the cost of the relevant parts.

I've never even attempted to replace a set of brake pads but that's not to say I wouldn't if given a practical demonstration on how its done.

I wonder how many of us non DIYers would develop the DIY bug given a little practical encouragement particularly in light of the constant increase in motoring costs?

As much as I enjoyed the recent Castle Bromwich seminar, I wonder if this is an area the club/forum could give some thought to?

[almcl]

I've never even attempted to replace a set of brake pads but that's not to say I wouldn't if given a practical demonstration on how its done.
... I wonder if this is an area the club/forum could give some thought to?

The last demo I attended (at Castle Brom, as it happens) nearly didn't run through lack of interest. Dave Marks demonstrated reassembling the entire rear axle cage, starting with a refurbed diff and bolting it in, covering the shimming, brake assembly, wire locking and at least one UJ replacement. Starting at 10.00, he finished around 15.00 to applause from the fifty odd members present.

Bearing in mind this covered all IRS cars up to XJS and SIII XJ, Nigel T was a little disappointed at the lack of interest shown. There was a cctv camera so that the detailed stuff could be seen, larger than life, on a screen above and behind the bench Dave was working on.

I think the cost of putting it on was greater than the income received and so it hasn't been tried again but if enough people asked, perhaps the format (which I thought was very good) could be repeated.

If you're anywhere near Telford, you're welcome to come and watch me cock-up replacing the front discs and pads on my SIII Daimler 4.2 later on this spring, when the weather, work and funds permit. Heck, if it all goes well, I might even do an oil change on the XJS, as well.

[SimonR]

The last demo I attended (at Castle Brom, as it happens) nearly didn't run through lack of interest. Dave Marks demonstrated reassembling the entire rear axle cage, starting with a refurbed diff and bolting it in, covering the shimming, brake assembly, wire locking and at least one UJ replacement. Starting at 10.00, he finished around 15.00 to applause from the fifty odd members present.

Bearing in mind this covered all IRS cars up to XJS and SIII XJ, Nigel T was a little disappointed at the lack of interest shown. There was a cctv camera so that the detailed stuff could be seen, larger than life, on a screen above and behind the bench Dave was working on.



Oh - I'm really annoyed that I missed that one - I'd be most interested to see this done as I've heard that it's not the sort of thing that a DIY mechanic can realistically expect to do.

I wonder if it'd be worth seeing if numbers would be sufficient to re-run this seminar...

[Brakebuster]

The last demo I attended (at Castle Brom, as it happens) nearly didn't run through lack of interest. Dave Marks demonstrated reassembling the entire rear axle cage, starting with a refurbed diff and bolting it in, covering the shimming, brake assembly, wire locking and at least one UJ replacement. Starting at 10.00, he finished around 15.00 to applause from the fifty odd members present.

Bearing in mind this covered all IRS cars up to XJS and SIII XJ, Nigel T was a little disappointed at the lack of interest shown. There was a cctv camera so that the detailed stuff could be seen, larger than life, on a screen above and behind the bench Dave was working on.





Oh - I'm really annoyed that I missed that one - I'd be most interested to see this done as I've heard that it's not the sort of thing that a DIY mechanic can realistically expect to do.

I wonder if it'd be worth seeing if numbers would be sufficient to re-run this seminar...


i did it, and there is a full thread on this forum covering my exploits

BB

linky,,,, http://www.jec-xjs-forum.org.uk/xjsbb2/ ... php?t=1110

[SimonR]

i did it, and there is a full thread on this forum covering my exploits

BB

linky,,,, http://www.jec-xjs-forum.org.uk/xjsbb2/ ... php?t=1110

Jeez - how did I miss that thread?!

Many thanks for posting it and pointing it out to me. Really nice job and I'm glad that the rear cage on your car looks a bit worse than mine does at the moment so all is not lost.

I can see that I'll be refering to that thread sometime in the (mayne not too distant!) future...

Cheeers,

SR.

[jonc3725]

Just had a thought whilst I was reading through some posts. Why don't we start an area where instructions on how to do basic jobs can be put for all those want to be DIY'ers can read and have a go (pad and disc changes, oil changes etc, electrical repairs etc). One of the other clubs I belong does this for all sorts of tasks and it seems pretty popular.

[SimonR]

Just had a thought whilst I was reading through some posts. Why don't we start an area where instructions on how to do basic jobs can be put for all those want to be DIY'ers can read and have a go (pad and disc changes, oil changes etc, electrical repairs etc). One of the other clubs I belong does this for all sorts of tasks and it seems pretty popular.

Could not agree more!

Perhaps it could take the form of an Frequently Asked Questions section with 'How-To's outlining common procedures and known fixes.

It could also contain quick reference data - such as tyre sizes, pressures, fluid capacities / types - you know all that sort of thing. I know all that stuff is available in the handbook or in the technical manual but it'd be so handy to have it online...

[dredr62]

I'm certainly interested in any form of information exchange or practical demonstration that will help keep costs down. An advisory item on my last MOT notes that the radius arm bushes will need replacing. The parts cost from somone like SNG Barretts for all four bushes is around £70. So with labour I'm guessing that's a £200 job in a garage!

So I ask myself would I be happy to pay the equivalent of an hours garage time to attend a day seminar on basic car maintenance??? ............. no thought required, just give me the application form!

[PaulE]

For SimonR. Hello. I raised this very question at the AGM this year and apparently Nigel Thorley is on with doing just that at the moment. It was mentioned in the report of the meeting . Should be very useful when it appears. I said such a resource would be an asset 'before the magazines go in the recycling bag', although looking at the thousands of mags in most enthusiasts premises the recycling industry must be struggling.

[almcl]

the radius arm bushes will need replacing. The parts cost ... is around £70. So with labour I'm guessing that's a £200 job in a garage!


Interesting job you've picked there.

The spanner wielding is fairly minimal (although one of the bolts on each side is a bit strange.) The bit that seems to give grief (to me certainly and to others I've read) is getting the big bush to separate from the body.

It seems to come down to which particular 'brute force' method you have available. The last two times I've resorted to the oxy-acetylene torch to burn the rubber out and then a hacksaw to remove the metal outer bush ring from the radius arm. But a mate a few miles away used a 4 foot long steel bar and jumped up and down on it for a while (brave chap) when the bush suddenly yielded.

I have thought of resorting to the air chisel, as well.

Then there's inserting the new bush. Some insist you need a hydraulic press. I've managed without but my son went to the nearest independent garage and got them to press his back in for about £1! Horses for course, I guess.

Then there's the wire locking, not difficult of itself but a bit of practice is needed to get a neat result.