SRowells Black Rallye

[Toms306]

So, few things sorted today. Firstly the lack of number plate lighting... Err, there's no lamps in there, guess that'll explain it!





Next up, swapped the crappy AVO shock for the decent TA shock (never thought I'd say that ha). The metal sleeve on the AVO shock was considerably smaller than the rubber mount orifice, like waving a stick in a bucket, no idea why the mount has failed so quickly.



While I was round the back changed the fuel filter as well, looks like it's been there a while.





Round to the front... There's the rust hole on one side lol.



On to the ripped steering rack gaiter. Bit of a pain with lack of access. The TRE came off surprisingly easy, but the boot didn't, they aren't fixed on the 'thin' end, but are ridiculously tight so once they're on, aren't coming off easily! I pulled it inside out to get some more grip on it but ended up having to cut it off. It seems to have been rubbing on a solid PAS pipe so that may need loosening and twisting out of the way when we do the subframe.



Unfortunately fitting the new one didn't work out. The fat end is far too wide, this is fully on and there's no way you could get rid of all that slack. So will need to buy a specific one - or just let Carl do it tbh. I have left it 'hanging' like that for now, should be fine for the drive over there though. That track rod was noted as having slight play so no major loss if it gets a bit of grit in there as it'll need doing eventually anyway.



Drained the old oil with the engine flush in - should be well flushed after doing about 50 miles with it in there lol. Nothing too exciting, no metal in it or anything. Oil was very thin but maybe that's what the flush does to it, I've never used engine flush before. There were a couple of big 'gloops' of semi solid old/carbon/crap coming out though so it does work well lol.



Obligatory 'car on stands and messy driveway' shot...