what have you done to your car today ?

iammooks

Active Member
Nov 27, 2018
1,784
1,172
Oh I dunno, got a pair of front shocks out with a liberal application of WD40 and a rubber mallet (and eventually an extension bit). Ok, putting the new ones in required the spreader bit but still, it was fun.

Am I the only one that copper greases the inside of the bit where the strut mounts?

I copper grease everything. I bought a small tube of copper ease when I was sixteen and it lasted until I started working on this car.

Now I buy tubs.


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MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
823
653
Northants
I copper grease everything. I bought a small tube of copper ease when I was sixteen and it lasted until I started working on this car.

Now I buy tubs.

A lesser man would say something about fetishes….

But hey, I’m not judging. Got normal, hi temp, spray, stick copper grease because let’s face it, chances of having to take it apart again are high
 
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Yellow fr

Gone to new owner so seat less for now
Sep 6, 2018
1,547
1,062
Sandbeds West Yorkshire
Oh I dunno, got a pair of front shocks out with a liberal application of WD40 and a rubber mallet (and eventually an extension bit). Ok, putting the new ones in required the spreader bit but still, it was fun.

Am I the only one that copper greases the inside of the bit where the strut mounts?
I use General grease on the shocker and the hub oh and the bolts too
 

CupraChris1981

Active Member
Mar 24, 2021
124
12
Plugged this cable in (one of many consequences of my engine mount failing methinks), anyone have any idea what it is for?!
 

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Dazzalcr

Active Member
Aug 10, 2019
302
284
Lancashire
Luckily I did the top mounts on the front a couple of months ago, so I know I'm not going to have any trouble getting them off, but the other bolts I'm a little nervous about. As far as I can tell, the shocks are what came with the car or were replaced last before I got the car in 2008, so I'm always going to be nervous about getting the bolts out - especially the rears. The lower mounts on the rear I replaced because one of them seized, but it's the top mounts there that I hope don't snap, given they bolt into the body.

On the front, it's more about undoing the lower bolt and getting them out of and into the knuckle. I've watched plenty of videos and read how-to guides, but we all know it's never that straightforward sometimes.

I might wait until I can visit the parents and stretch out a bit on their driveway - the thought of doing the nearside while I'm half lying in the road isn't something that fills me with confidence - it was bad enough trying to do the ball joints.
Wow you've had her since 2008 I've had mine roughly 7 years now almost, dont intent to part with her, I have pretty much re built or upgraded the entire car. I hope it comes off ok for you, I remember when I swapped my struts the fronts were an absolute nightmare got to have been the originals nothing wanted to move even with big hammer, heat and airlines on erm lots of swearing and cuts and we won, hope yours play nicer but yeah playing chicken with your legs in the road may not be best, but good luck bud
 
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iammooks

Active Member
Nov 27, 2018
1,784
1,172
Wow you've had her since 2008 I've had mine roughly 7 years now almost, dont intent to part with her, I have pretty much re built or upgraded the entire car. I hope it comes off ok for you, I remember when I swapped my struts the fronts were an absolute nightmare got to have been the originals nothing wanted to move even with big hammer, heat and airlines on erm lots of swearing and cuts and we won, hope yours play nicer but yeah playing chicken with your legs in the road may not be best, but good luck bud

Yep - before I got my hands on it, it was a fleet car, so it was pretty well looked after for the most part - regular servicing and the like. In all honesty it’s me that’s not looked after it. In the first couple of years I had a 35k mile a year commute and the salary to keep myself in tyres and servicing, but since I got made redundant I didn’t have the money to do the little jobs that end up being big jobs - and I didn’t know that I was putting more strain on the engine doing short drives rather than going out and doing long runs. Then I was totally broke with a failed MoT, which brought me here, and I’ve done more or less everything myself since.

I’m going to start spraying the bolts over the next couple of weeks so they’re less of a pain when I come to doing them all. Now that it’s getting warmer too, it means I can break out the spray cans and sort the bonnet and bumpers - that’s if I don’t find an LS7Y Cupra R front bumper in the next few weeks at a decent price...


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iammooks

Active Member
Nov 27, 2018
1,784
1,172
My advise is to buy the absolute best you can afford or you'll be disappointed.

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I narrowed it down to Milwaukee or Ryobi and there's some money off on eBay today on Milwaukee, but I can't decide between 3/8 or 1/2 etc. Both the stubby ones seem to be around 350nm but for a little more I can get an 18v one...


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Thai-wronghorse

Self proclaimed Cupra R addict & butcher!
Dec 3, 2015
2,240
1,093
Kent
Realistically what's your budget? And if you want it to shift properly stuck **** then I'd opt for 1/2" all day long.

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MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
823
653
Northants
I narrowed it down to Milwaukee or Ryobi and there's some money off on eBay today on Milwaukee, but I can't decide between 3/8 or 1/2 etc. Both the stubby ones seem to be around 350nm but for a little more I can get an 18v one...


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As the ladies say, size matters
 
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