Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

[RichardW]

Those ball joints can come out hard sometimes! They don't cut the thread in the bottom of the hub very well, which can lead to them being tight. I've had heat and a 6ft tube on them before.

The oil should be obvious if it's engine (black) or gearbox (stinky!). If the oil cooler seal or turbo is leaking it tends to just run down the front of the block. They can leak from the rocker cover, or the cam carrier, or the vac pump, which is above the gearbox and could run down. I would expect the top of the box to be oily in this case.

[MattBLancs]

Those ball joints can come out hard sometimes! They don't cut the thread in the bottom of the hub very well, which can lead to them being tight. I've had heat and a 6ft tube on them before.

I'll definitely count myself lucky on that basis! My nice long breaker bar still needed a reasonable pull, but it did the job without too much drama.

The oil should be obvious if it's engine (black) or gearbox (stinky!). If the oil cooler seal or turbo is leaking it tends to just run down the front of the block. They can leak from the rocker cover, or the cam carrier, or the vac pump, which is above the gearbox and could run down. I would expect the top of the box to be oily in this case.

Good info, thanks. Yes seems more black engine oily than smelly gearbox oily I think.
Will have a good look from above tomorrow when digging towards the tip of the box for it's oil refill task. Can't see a load of oil on top from a cursory look. Might get my borescope on the go and see how near oil filter housing I can view.

[Huskyxantia]

Brake caliper bolts: top one is 13 mm, bottom one is 12 mm head. Supposed to have loctite but nope it's copper grease instead.
Why does finding out how the car has been worked on in the past generally not fill me with confidence!?

I know how that feels,

[Stickyfinger]

Brake caliper bolts: top one is 13 mm, bottom one is 12 mm head. Supposed to have loctite but nope it's copper grease instead.
Why does finding out how the car has been worked on in the past generally not fill me with confidence!?

I know how that feels,

You can see the remains of the factory "loctite" (the blue band on the top one) as well

[MattBLancs]

You can see the remains of the factory "loctite" (the blue band on the top one) as well

Exactly, it's staring you in the face as what's needed and still got it wrong!

I'd various brake caliper bolts in my "recycling" bucket but they are all standard M8 thread pitch (1.25) these are a much finer thread (1.0 mm pitch I think) I suppose, given the apparent quality of workmanship, it's fortunate that the substitute bolt is at least the correct pitch! That would have been a bigger headache!

Finishing off the job this afternoon (sump resealing will be another day's job) this morning was an enjoyable stroll with my two boys to here:
https://www.britishcommercialvehiclemuseum.com/

[MattBLancs]

Not too oily under vac pump

Just trying to see if can spot source of the grey 308 oil leak.

Bit grubby under oil filter cap

Top of gearbox is quite oily

[MattBLancs]

Bell housing bolts, top of gearbox, oily

[MattBLancs]

Grey 308 SW passenger side gearbox oil seal:

I do not have this one in stock (or I don't think so!)

Otherwise I'm same view as you both, get it changed. Next time I'm in the area will look to change it.

Changed earlier on in our ownership of this car!
viewtopic.php?p=802723&hilit=Gearbox+oil#p802723
I'd forgotten that!

[MattBLancs]

I thought I had a perfect no mess transfer system for gearbox oil from me big unwealdy 20 litre container: a syphon.

From big tub to default Vimto receptacle

Unfortunately I am not sure I'll live long enough for a couple of litres to amble its way out this method!

[MattBLancs]

Ah, business as usual has prevailed

Mr Messy is in the building

[Stickyfinger]

Ah, business as usual has prevailed

Is it not best just to use the loo ?

[MattBLancs]

Ah, business as usual has prevailed

Is it not best just to use the loo ?

Should have gone earlier if 2.1 litres excreted!
Fortunately that act requires neither syphon, nor funnel

[CitroJim]

^^^

[MattBLancs]

Blue 308, last week's trip to Reading and back, plus to the office and back on Monday:
583 miles, 43.49l, 141.7ppl £61.63
9.58 gallons

60.8 mpg

Very happy with that

[CitroJim]

That's awesome Matt