My Ultra Red 197

[humpty dumpty]

Well folks, I've been on the forum for roughly 6 months after I sold my 172 an replaced it with a 56plate 197 with 23k on the clock. I made quite a few modifications to my old 172 including coilovers, grp N exhaust and fully polybushed. I have a few plans for my 197 and hope to keep this thread upto date.

My old 172







My 197



First impressions when i got the car was that it wasn't quite as 'Raw' as my old 172 and i wasn't quite sure if I 100% liked it. After owning it for a while and having some rather quick drives in it I love it! Out the box the car handles great

I have a few plans for the car mainly to improve the experience these will include new suspension, uprated brake pads an maybe a few breathing mods and a remap.

 

[humpty dumpty]

Well today has been the first time I have laid a spanner to my 197, came out of work the other morning after a long night shift to find my handbrake wouldn't release. After giving it some abuse it realeased but the pads were still binding a little so seeing as they were rather low I thought I'd replace them.

New pads from my local dealer



Not the best weather conditions for work.



Car jacked up



The old brakes looking sorry for themselves, measured discs with vernier caliper guages to check thickness is within spec.



Old pads have certainly seen better days



Giving the pad carrier a nice clean up in the vice.



Trial fitting the new pads making sure they slide nice an free.



All fitted





Then just to repeat on other side an road test an glad to say its sorted it

An a cheeky little pic

 

[jimpy9]

looking good fella

 

[N0ddie]

Sack doing that in that weather lol.

Car looks awesome.

 

[marshall]

Id be weary using copper grease on anything with ABS...it naffs the sensors up..

 

[humpty dumpty]

looking good fella

cheers matey

Sack doing that in that weather lol.

Car looks awesome.

Lol I would of left it too till better weather but missus needs her car back for work lol

Id be weary using copper grease on anything with ABS...it naffs the sensors up..

Really? Can't say I've had a problem tbh an i've been in the motor trade for 7 years as a mechanic but never say never i suppose

 

[Roy]

Very nice when you want to do mine

 

[humpty dumpty]

Very nice when you want to do mine

whenever you want roy, cross my hands with beer tokens an I'll be more then happy

 

[humpty dumpty]

Just popped back to me mum an dads to find i'd had a little parcel dropped off.



ferodo DS2500, ordered them from demon tweeks at the weekend, they were the cheapest around for them. Now just waiting on some of the 'new' design caliper pins of mr pink an i'm going to drop them on with some goodridge braided hoses

 

[Richy200]

Those pads are fantastic!! Transforms the brakes so much!!

 

[humpty dumpty]

Yea, I had them on the front of my old 172 an they were great. Once there fitted thats the brakes done! Then onto the suspension

 

[Giles]

nice car mate!

 

[Tom]

Nice car man. Your old 172 was sweet too!

 

[humpty dumpty]

Well bin a while since last update but bin busy with other stuff (work, fixing others motors etc), well on me last update I mentioned I'd brought some ds2500 front pads as I didn't rate the standard stuff. Well no wonder I didn't rate um, front pads looked low so I thought I'd better get me arse into gear an change um. Well I was well prepared, new brake pins (diiferent design that don't get stuck) an nice weather. Started on the passenger side, pins shot out nice an swift an outer pad was removed with ease. As for the inner pad that was a different story, it hadn't worn so much so it was clearly stuck in position so no wonder they were naff so I un bolted the caliper for better access an knocked the old pad out.

Refitted the new pads an moved onto the drivers side. Well pin number 1 shot out but pin number 2 was playing silly sods. Hitting it that hard it started to bend so I pulled out the angle grinder an cut the old one out. Then a little more work with hammer an punch it was out. So after 20mins all was good an new pads were in. Didn't take many pics cause I just wanted to get on but heres a few.

Old pins an old knackered pin next to new design pin.



Tools, tools an me in action.



Had to remove the overalls cus i was a tad warm



All back together



Well pads are bedded in an i must say the brakes are epic, that good i thinked i've shaved a bit of time off my country lane commute

 

[Giles]

looking good

 

[humpty dumpty]

Well finally got round to servicing the 197 today (always to busy sorting other folks motors), so thought I'd post up some pictures.

So heres the 197 sat ready an waiting for some tlc, an the sun beaming down for a change!



Nice clean bay, always a pleasure to work on



First of abit of battery maintenance, checking the electrolyte levels an grease the terminals



Then check the bonnet release an all the other locks an hinges on the car an give them abit of grease.



Then check the air filter element (was only replaced other week but always worth a check)



Then down to changing the plugs,



checking all the coils for any visual damage



new an old (an a cheeky volvo plug socket)



Now to get it in the air an change the oil and have a good poke round underneath checking all the bushes, balljoints an a general look over for anything out of the ordinary.



Draining the oil



Now onto removing the old filter, which I did from underneath.



New oil an filter



then onto the pollen filter, must say it was one of the easiest ever (change for a renault)



new filter



An all done an ready to fight another day



An heres a little teaser for my next installment, little package from me renault dealer



Cambelt locking tools



Been borrowing them for quite a while from me friendly renault dealer but thought it was about time i'd by myself a set.