Bonnet Alignment

So this weeks task was to try to get better bonnet alignment.

So I had been bugging me that the drivers side bonnet alignment was about 2cm higher than the other. You could even get your fingers passed the seal.

So I took a few videos of the hinges while closing and pushing down:

As you can see there is a large amount of movement around the hinge pivot.

So Took the bonnet off

Then removed the circlip off the spring and the left hinge bracket just fell off!

After checking the pivot hinge point was completely seized and the bracket hole left in place

So the hinge pivot had seized and then was just ripping the bodywork metal around the bracket. This was the cause of the downard movement upon closing.

So removed the bolt from the hinge - This was completely seized and needed heat from the blow tourch and still it snaped the bolt so had to drill out and retap the captive nut.

So after alot of struggling cleaning up around the bracket and body work I managed to tack and re-weld the whole bracket back in. Had a few issues with access as its so tight to get a finger grider and the welding torch in such a tight space!

Had to add an addtional L shaped metal bracket to ensure it was not going anywhere. Had a few spot welds on the dash paintwork but its better than having the bonnet fly off.

The Result : Much better firm closing and opening BUT still a gap but it is now touching the seal!

Wheel Bearings

So Gus has been faithly transporting me to and from work as my Daily driver.

Been a little cold and harsh over the winter.

However I have been keeping him on the road with a few things.

Firstly - Wheel Bearings

So he has always been noisy when driving. Initially it sound like the nearside rear wheel bearings biut slowly has developed all over noise related to speed.

Purchased a set of front and rear wheel bearings.

So jacked him up on each corner and rocked the wheels top to bottom (12 to 6 o'clock)

Found the rear wheels are okay BUT the fronts have a amount of movement. So decided to change the front bearings.

Was quite glad as the rears on a swing axle require a special puller (I finally found a puller kit which might work if and when I do the rears)

So here are the Hubs, discs and bearings with the wheel off:

So once removed and cleaned and inspected you can see that they are starting to wear - Probably not enough to replace BUT while I was here I put new bearings in just to be safe.

So everything went well on Nearside BUT disaster struck on offside!

Stupid bolt had been over tightend by previous owner and when I went to tighten it back up it BREAKS!

So on a Sunday I tried to find an M7x20mm (1.0mm thread) BUT guess what. No one sells M7!

So I had to get a new clamp nut which comes with the bolt from VW hertitate ASAP.

SO bolted the wheels on and took for a drive. Found that wheels where clashing with the brake calipers!

The calipers had already been ground down and the rear side of the wheels but not enough for correctly adjusted wheel bearings. So out with the grinder and a quite skim off and all sorted.

While the wheels where off changed speedo cable as it was starting to whine.

Then I noticed that the steering damper has come off the pitman arm. Looks like it had just popped out where the rubber bush goes through the arm. Pushed back in and fitted an over sized washer to stop it from coming outr again

All is good. Still a little noise from the rear but from is much improved. Handling improved and smooth drive.

Now just wait and fw weeks and re-adjust and also grease the front beam.