Anton's build

[Anton]

Jordi: Yes, it's been out a few times, but only offroad - it's never been driven on the road. At least, not since I've had it.

Scottie - yeah, I am pretty sure I cut it down enough, but now that the wheels are on, there *is* a little play when I really pull on it.

The discs are wobbling laterally as well as vertically, so checking that I've cut them down sufficiently might be worth checking.

[Jordi]

Never know. Could be real lucky and just have a bit of crud in between something.

[Anton]

This is me we're talking about Jordi - it's never going to be that simple.

If it can be properly b0rked, it will be. Sods law.

Oh well, I was planning on replacement bearings anyway, perhaps it's time to strip the axle and check out everything properly.

[Anton]

Ok, gingerly drove the 200 yards or so to the test centre, and dropped off the SJ this afternoon.

It failed. On:

• Offside winscreen wiper is not touching the windscreen in the middle (the new one is bowed slightly)
• Nearside headlamp is aimed too high
• Rear fog lamp isn't working (actually it is - just only on main beam, because I was told that's how it's supposed to work - this may have been wrong)
• Front steering arm (actually, it's the steering damper) has "relative movement at it's fixings" - the bushes are worn out.
• Nearside front axle swivel joint has excessive play (sounds to me like it needs new kingpin bearings?)
• Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
• Rubber bush perished on driver's side body mount (the one under the driver's foot) lose

Advisories:

• Temporary fuel cap fitted
• Offside rear inner wheel arch corroded (it's not, there's a split - I guess their computer has a limited number of things it can list)

I'm actually happy with that list, believe it or not - I'm not driving it anywhere with those rear halfshafts/backing plates/whatever wobbling about like that, so it's not going to be moving for a while, but at least now I have a list of things I need to work on.

Yeah, it'd have been nice if it'd have just passed - but now I have a list of easy fixes.

Well, apart from the axles - I think I need to pull both axles and do a complete overhaul of both of them. Check them for trueness (thinking of using a laser level for this), then fit all new bearings and seals.

Also want to get my x-eng handbrake kit onto the 410 t-case, build it a nice heavy duty bucket to live in, and mount it with new heavy duty mounts both sides (going to cut off the suzuki mounts and fit something much, much meatier).

So that's it for now, the SJ is definitely not going on the road for a while yet, as the axle rebuilds are going to take *a while*.

Still, I got a taste of what she drives like on the road - and even at pedestrian speeds, she's a fun little beast! Couldn't feel the shudder that the rear axle should've been causing, but I did hear the brakes squeak a bit.

So the (re)build continues. New goals, new timetable. I'm going to take a little break though, until I can afford everything I'll need to rebuild the axles. I'll just do the rest of the little MOT failure jobs in the meantime, and talk to a man I know who should know a thing or two about tuning SU's. I think I'm running *crazy* rich...

But the SJ's been out today. That's all she's getting until I can afford to sort out the rest of the problems. Still, it's good to have an official list to work off of! Next MOT should have me fly through with no failures at all, hopefully!

[Jordi]

I know its no surpise but still a shame you haven't got it through.

Not too much of a list there and nothing too major. Surprised they never picked up on the axle.

May the work continue bud.

[Edweird]

Your fog lights should work when on dip-beam, not high beams. Some cars they actually work on side-lights too.

Just wind up your idle screw to pass the carbon monoxide test.

I got a replacement lockable petrol cap on eBay. It's good too, better than the standard one I had before I lost it.

Click Here for Ebay Listing

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOCKING-FUEL- ... 5d3e310d01

[Anton]

I know its no surpise but still a shame you haven't got it through.

Not too much of a list there and nothing too major. Surprised they never picked up on the axle.

May the work continue bud.

No, not a major surprise - I had my fingers crossed, but I wasn't expecting too much. I'll sort out the little stuff over the next couple of days, but the axle stuff is going to require more time/effort/money than I have available at the moment.

Still, I have no intention of giving up - if I have to, I'll get a new rear axle! I have a 413 case sitting around, I'd love to full float it and chuck it under - but no money to do that!

Your fog lights should work when on dip-beam, not high beams. Some cars they actually work on side-lights too.

Really? I'm getting conflicting information here, and I can't find anything definitive on the VOSA website (not saying it's not there, just that I can't find it). I would imagine that if you wired them up to the dips, they'd *also* need to work on high, surely?

Anyone know what the official story is? Can I just rewire them into the sidelights and have them work on sides, dips and mainbeam, or do I have to rewire them so they work only on dip/main?

Or do I have to wire them up so they don't work except on dips?

Just wind up your idle screw to pass the carbon monoxide test.

I already wound up my idle to 1100 for the test, and still got 7.88% (pass mark is 4.5%). I have a feeling I could wind that up to 6000rpm and I'd still fail!

Colourtune time, I think.

I got a replacement lockable petrol cap on eBay. It's good too, better than the standard one I had before I lost it.

I have an ebay list for SJ bits, I'll put that on there for when I'm not so *monumentally* skint...

The misfuelling fiasco has left me wanting for funds.

[Anton]

I know its no surpise but still a shame you haven't got it through.

Not too much of a list there and nothing too major. Surprised they never picked up on the axle.

May the work continue bud.

No, not a major surprise - I had my fingers crossed, but I wasn't expecting too much. I'll sort out the little stuff over the next couple of days, but the axle stuff is going to require more time/effort/money than I have available at the moment.

Still, I have no intention of giving up - if I have to, I'll get a new rear axle! I have a 413 case sitting around, I'd love to full float it and chuck it under - but no money to do that!

Your fog lights should work when on dip-beam, not high beams. Some cars they actually work on side-lights too.

Really? I'm getting conflicting information here, and I can't find anything definitive on the VOSA website (not saying it's not there, just that I can't find it). I would imagine that if you wired them up to the dips, they'd *also* need to work on high, surely?

Anyone know what the official story is? Can I just rewire them into the sidelights and have them work on sides, dips and mainbeam, or do I have to rewire them so they work only on dip/main?

Or do I have to wire them up so they don't work except on dips?

Searching google only brought this up, which seems to suggest (under section 16) that they should work on dips.

Just wind up your idle screw to pass the carbon monoxide test.

I already wound up my idle to 1100 for the test, and still got 7.88% (pass mark is 4.5%). I have a feeling I could wind that up to 6000rpm and I'd still fail!

Colourtune time, I think.

I got a replacement lockable petrol cap on eBay. It's good too, better than the standard one I had before I lost it.

I have an ebay list for SJ bits, I'll put that on there for when I'm not so *monumentally* skint...

The misfuelling fiasco has left me wanting for funds.

[Darrell]

Really? I'm getting conflicting information here, and I can't find anything definitive on the VOSA website (not saying it's not there, just that I can't find it). I would imagine that if you wired them up to the dips, they'd *also* need to work on high, surely?

Anyone know what the official story is? Can I just rewire them into the sidelights and have them work on sides, dips and mainbeam, or do I have to rewire them so they work only on dip/main?

Or do I have to wire them up so they don't work except on dips?

Suzuki wire them so they work on high or low beam.

[ScottieJ]

My fog light is wired independently, its not an MOT fail but apparently would fail an IVA like that bizarrely