LinkBack URL
About LinkBacksI do like Dan's thread, I think its the appreciation of the standard car with the addition of sensible, subtle mods.
Nice car, thinking of something similar depending on insurance
I do like Dan's thread, I think its the appreciation of the standard car with the addition of sensible, subtle mods.
Nice car, thinking of something similar depending on insurance
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip!"
MK4s are awesome, I want to go back to one.Originally Posted by Jack
Awesome progress Dan.Me and my dad did a wheel bearing on my other half's SXI a few weeks ago, a pleasure of a job, you just buy the whole hub assembly, undo four bolts and swap them over.
I'm starting to really like mk4s from a mechanical standpoint. A good choice of engines, very solid with minimal rust, front struts in two halves and none of this IRS rubbish at the back. Nice and simple and solid and no fuss.
An ideal base for a project car IMO. Starting to feel a plan forming. lmao
3.0 V6 CDTI Vectra SRI
You can't get thicker than a Kwik-fit fitter.
Good work dude.
I'm louder than gods own revolver and twice as shiney.
Thank you.
Yes I like the split leg design and the wheel bearings that simply unbolt. Although I dread changing the clutch as it'd be engine or subframe out.
Insurance renewal was 5 days ago. I managed to get HIC to meet the lowest quote I got. I'm 31, 12 years protected NCD and with unlimited business miles, and cover on any car of course, came out at £229, with the present value of the car being about £2k (not agreed though).
Mk4s are a great step forward for the Astra name. Superb ride and handling, brilliant build quality and some nice little features like the windows that close with the key (and once you've started to close the window, it keeps going even if you turn the ignition off), the speed sensitive wipers and the well thought out meachincal layout.
Jack: try going into the menu system whilst the unit is in standby. IIRC there's a few more options than when it's turned on.
They're there, in their room.
Cheers Dan, will give it a bash in the morning.
Teeth? LUXURY! When I was a child we ate by putting rocks in our mouth and jumping up and down.
You mean that IRS rubbish that improves the handling over a 'conventional' rear beam immensely?
Looking good Dan! I have Champiro tyres on my standard wheels, how have yours worn?
TBH, I agree entirely, but a knocking noise from the back of a car with IRS is enough to bring a man to tears.You mean that IRS rubbish that improves the handling over a 'conventional' rear beam immensely?
A beam has.... what, two bushes, two springs and two shocks?
Teeth? LUXURY! When I was a child we ate by putting rocks in our mouth and jumping up and down.
Al: No idea really. They were on when I got it and they don't seem to have worn in the last 5k at all. The TC comes on fairly often in the wet though. It's only really to get rid of the wheel wobble that I've moved them about.
I'm not entirely convinced IRS is all it's cracked up to be. It's lots more complicated, so I bet it only an advantage, if at all, if it's in tip top nick. I like the idea the back wheels are firmly joined and planted on the road with a beam.
Also, I always wince when I see a heavily loaded car with IRS, the wheel angles look scary and it must eat tyres.
They're there, in their room.
Is it hub not held my 3 bolts?Awesome progress Dan.
For the love of God, please read the rules
The IRS/beam discussion will never die, each has its advantages. The biggest problem with the vauxhall beam is the torsional flex int he arms, if it operated as it should in principle it would be fine.
IRS works well on lots of cars, unfortunately vauxhall deiced to use some horrendously **** bushes int he vectra system so it falls apart.
Id rather have a high miler on a beam, but I wish vauxhall would engineer a proper IRS system
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip!"
Just testing!Is it hub not held my 3 bolts?lmao
Teeth? LUXURY! When I was a child we ate by putting rocks in our mouth and jumping up and down.
Jack: I do like beams for their simplicity... and thats about it lmao
If you haven't already, try and get a go in a completely standard EP3 Civic Type R, push on through a roundabout and see why IRS beats beams
As you say the hideous problem with them when lowered a lot or lowered heavily is the camber - my mates civic is terrible for it and has new rear tyres every few months lmao There are a lot of camber adjustment components available though, he is just too lazy to sort some out
But either way, the Mk4 has seriously good handling for a standard car - now that I have coilovers fitted and wit hthe TC switched off its great fun
I have to admit, the Vectra was alright round corners for a big bus. The Cavalier understeered, and if you tapped the brakes the rear wheels would lock up and it would step out. That was after I spent Christ knows how much on bushes and drop links though.
Teeth? LUXURY! When I was a child we ate by putting rocks in our mouth and jumping up and down.
i'm enjoying reading this cos i've got the same car....
Wheel nut covers. I changed mine to black ones. I think they look better on a black car. IMO.
Powerflex front engine mount. I'm surprised you say you notice no difference. I definately notice the difference. Maybe my original was more shagged than yours.
Anyway, keep it up. Whats next? RARB?
Vauxhall history - 13S | 14NV | C16XE | X20XEV
RARB should be even for sutble modding, its makes the handling sooo much better.
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
You have bonnet lifters!If you had a W140 Merc like mine you wouldn't even see the struts. It's like some sort of strange force holding the bonnet upOIC. Standard fit on pretty much all my cars for the last.... ooh 7-8 years!
There's a company somewhere that can upgrade standard HUs to take aux inputs and add FM stations to older ones that are only AM. The pricing isn't actually that bad either. You should check it out.
If it ends up I keep the 190 then I'm going to get it done to the original head unit.
nice project. Is a change from "im ripping all the interior out" threads.
agree with the rarb comments, by far the best thing ive bought for my mk4
Did you cure the wheel wobble Dan?
My old Mk4 sport also had a wobble at 70mph (on the nose). I'd assumed that it was due to the tyres on the front having a different tread pattern.
I've not cured the wheel wobble, but very nearly. Up to about 70 it's totally smooth, so it's far more usuable now. Just as well if we're doing a large road trip we have planned next week. It involves going to Wales to visit my mum, then to Telford to see other relatives, then up to Ellesmere Port for the Astra Homecoming. Wanted to take the Mk2, but it's brake judder is so bad it's almost undrivable.
All tyres have 2004 date codes, so even though they have plenty of tread, they all probably need replacing by now. But at £100 a corner for anything remotely decent, I'm going to get the most from these tyres first.
Lugy: Fact me. Done a search, can't find owt.
Yep, funnily enough when I think Pete asked me what's next the other day, I said somthing about the rear ARB kit. I think the Irmchser kit or SRi bumpers and MV6 wheels is pretty much not going to happen now, purely on cost reasons. But it's OK as I'm really loving the car anyway, even with it's standard wheels.
They're there, in their room.
I can't find anything at the moment. There was a little bit in July's Practical Classics (it had an Avenger Tiger on the front) about it.
Ooh I have that edition (purely cos of the Avenger!). I'll have a looksee.
They're there, in their room.
Lovely!
Teeth? LUXURY! When I was a child we ate by putting rocks in our mouth and jumping up and down.
My dad had one of those with a 1700 engine on 40s back in the day!
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip!"
<dribble>
I'd love one, but a Tiger is something like 5-8k these days!
They're there, in their room.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
