G.Lewarne

i particularly like the bit where they compare any kind of mods to chavs with ripspeed vouchers. classy

got my front braided hoses, new (recon) callipers, discs and pads all done and bled through. Amazingly enough had no issues with the brake hose unions. What a bloody difference with just the fronts! Tackling the rears tomorrow

maybe, maybe not!

not arrived, but ordered: 2x front new (recon) calipers discs'n'pads all round (ferodo pads, standard discs) Front pad carrier clips 1 set braided Hel brake lines 2 litres Dot 5.1 already replaced my rear calipers with brand new ones last year so that completes the full brake rebuild set

phase one of chasing bad, stumbly rough cold starts without any codes to help out.... 1. Replaced all 4 ignition coils with eBay cheapos (£56 for the full set). I must say the construction of these eBay coils is very good, exactly matching the OEM ones. 2 of the old coils were cracked severely all down their length toward the rubber boot with some possible burn marks on the outsides. I don't care if they don't last too long at £56 for a full set compared to £140 for a coil from Toyota or £90 from denso / blueprint EACH. Decided not to go second hand as I wanted to replace the whole set. 2. Changed plugs for those new-fangled Denso "Twin Tip" variety, but I used the regular copper plugs instead of anything exotic. Used K16TT part number, pre-gapped to 1.1mm as per spec. 3. Thoroughly cleaned spark plug holes to remove any moisture, oil traces and gunge 4. Re-seated MAF o-ring, just to be sure 5. Re-set chain tensioner 6. Pulled Crank sensor and cleaned the magnetic sensor tip, was pretty gungy. 7. Reset ECU Result: Engine much quieter. Idle smoother. Pickup considerably improved. 1st start from dead cold seems super quick and smooth again. VROOOOOOM noise much more pronounced. I'm not sure why, but the engine really is much quieter with the new coils - I suspect the old ones were seriously impaired from the cracks and causing some pretty big ignition lag timing corrections in the ECU leading to some more pronounced engine noise.

random fact - Most of us, as well as garages who do work, wont put on Toyota genuine parts. This is absolutely fine of course, but having measured with a digital caliper side by side a new Toyota and a new blueprint (about as good as it gets for pattern stuff) rear discs the pattern ones are ever-so-slightly thicker, with less of a machined groove on the back side. This results in the disc gently scraping against the handbrake shoes backplate, especially when going around corners when the entire assembly twists a little with the weight shifting. Usual fixes include the careful application of a hammer to the back plate, or trying another brand of disc. You can diagnose this easily by taking off the rear discs. Look at the lip of the inner backing plate - if there is a shiny bare metal spot somewhere on its circumference you have this problem. hit that bit with a hammer to bend it back a bit.

Bean can and bailing wire and good as new!

id be fussy as hell if I ever sold Tiberius (my celica) - I would probably only sell it on here and let active members drive it if they had 3rd party cover on another car. Ive sold plenty of sheds and shopping trolleys and as long as they have cover I don't care, but I always sit in the car with them and make sure I have my phone on me in case they go all stabby stabby on me

nice little bar isn't it!

guys I'm just having the shittiest day imaginable. Here is the long winded story... So my dog has had a bad leg for a couple months now, cruciate ligament. She was doing so well, slowly getting better, then on sunday she scooted too fast before I could stop her and twisted it bad. Made another vets appointment which was this afternoon. As I'm bending down to scoop her into the car to go see the doggie doctor, she jumps past me, leaps onto the front seat, but misses and slips her already bad leg along the kick panel. Ive been working so hard keeping her rested with gentle exercise I got frustrated and shouted at her So we go see the vets, she needs XRays and stuff, booked in for Monday. As we are going back to the car, she scoots past my hands AGAIN and slips her leg on the kick panel. I was so frustrated and upset already I shouted at her again. Ive got tears in my eyes because I'm such a meanie for shouting at my poor dog as I'm reversing out the (tiny) car park, and smash my door into a short barrier they have that was below glass level. honestly, I got home and cried a lot

Bit more of an unusual question for everyone. I prefer to wash my cars myself, and my only suitable tap for connection is in my back garden, which I then have to route through the house to the front. All this is fine, but I'm fed up of hoses suddenly bursting in my kitchen and front room causing a right mess. Ive narrowed my choices down to either a Hozelock or Karcher brand hose-on-a-reel. Which is the more sturdy and resistant to bursting, but can take the twists and turns and remain flexible?

I'm giving you a virtual man-hug

Sorted my handbrake...again... Don't get the handbrake shoes from ICP the linings crumble into dust. Got pagids from ECP, got a discount, 24.99, 2 clicks hold it on the hill I live on now

fitted my Front strut brace courtesy of eBay. for £30 I'm impressed with it.

He said "new" stud

just get the Toyota one. Its been on the car and withstood at least 12 years of abuse, wheel on and off likely many, many times and repeated tightening to who-knows what torques Would you really trust an ebay one of indeterminate origins to do the same? don't forget, these hold your wheels on lol

do you get a self-opening tailgate if you put spoiler struts on a non spoiler car? lol, I'm genuinely curious because I kinda want a self opening boot

they only have one part number, and they come with the brackets. So can you swap the bracket around for the other side?

*breaks out the bank card* a couple of those 2 tonne low profile trolley jacks are just what I need now I'm lowered - its difficult getting my normal trolley jacks under the car lol. thanks for the heads up - those are good prices

holy moly those are cheap

I never get a free sump washer from them any more. Since they changed the people working at their parts desk its all gone downhill. They are very by-the-book now and all three of them seem to have zero knowledge about what they are selling. The one girl they have there is nice eye candy though

how about 200 PLUS vat for a Power Steering reservoir - that's right over 200 quid for a piece of blow moulded plastic Sometimes I find Toyota pretty reasonable - £169+vat for a rear subfram - that's pretty good. Few quid for some intake gaskets? sure take my money. Wait, what? £38 for a bolt ??

after lowering my 7 I got tired of my knackered old undertrays rubbing on everything. Problem with them was that all the pop clip holes were torn or elongated, and the plastic had gone saggy especially around the oil change panel. I cut them up with a knife so I still have the wheel arch sections, and about 2 inches of panel on the drivers side (to protect all the pulleys), and fitted a flywheel cover from AMS because mine was just....gone 30 mins with a knife later - factory looking wheel arches, but nothing underneath Tell you what though - not having the undertrays makes any engine, oil change, gearbox oil change etc an absolute doddle.

I cant be bothered with it now to be honest - was one of those "would be nice" things for asthetics only. Let us know if you have any future success