Life on the edge - the Diary of a C5

[myglaren]

When belts were mentioned I assumed timing and auxiliary belt and thought washing them was a bit extreme

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!

Today I was visited by Unka James (Hell Razor of this parish) and it is always nice to see him. Lily wanted to go for a fuss but was having a shy moment. Tommy booped his snoot. Greyhounds tend towards nervousness not because they are mistreated. They are Spoiled Rotten but in training they see the same people all the time so new people are a bit scary. Is Daddy a Greyhound? The Nation Must Be Told but not just yet.

Papa and Unka James discussed my brakes and he thinks Papa is On The Right Lines. Papa has turned me round in the drive and put my bum in the air. He has found he can bleed my front brakes with the wheels on the ground because he can just get to the bleed nipples with my steering at full lock. To get to the rears, my stylish alloy wheels need to come off. Still, this does mean I can show off my new rear brakes. He's used nearly half a tin of copper grease.

I am expecting swearing tonight. Daddy is going to try and assemble a computer to run Lexia. He is Not Good with computers. Unlike me, they do not fear his Big Hammer.

[Xantianut]

BTW, these are my Hounds.

Tommy has black fur, Lily brindle.

[Xantianut]

Hello, again!!

Papa found a pic of Xantia today!!

As you can see, I have her stylish alloy wheels. They were really too big for her anyway....

Love

Otterchops.

[Hell Razor5543]

I also explained to Papa the necessity of loosening the LDS reservoir cap before doing any work that would leave wheels hanging. If he does not do this Otterchops will, at the very minimum, trap another jack, or, at the worst, rupture the reservoir (which will then require replacing) and dump a load of LDS into the suspension pump motor which will then mix with the carbon dust in there (who thought it was a good idea to use normal motors in such an environment rather than brushless motor?), which will result in a conductive paste that will cause the motor to blow her 40A Maxi fuse!

Papa, here is the thread advising people of this, and the labels you can print off;

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... hp?t=62058

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!!!

I got the Old Fool wonderfully today.

There he was, patting himself on the back for,repairing my back,brakes, left hand balljoint and right hand track rod end plus cleaning my seat belts when I thought, I'll have him! So I split my RH CV boot,on the little test drive! He didn't click I'd done it until this afternoon so I nearly had two more visits to,the Little Man With The Big Clipboard.

Anyway, he has jacked me up and, using his big impact driver has successfully dismantled my suspension. I,made him work!!! Best bit was the curve ball I threw him when he discovered his CV joint puller would not fit my CV joints!

This means he will alter it with his angle grinder. He likes his angle grinder. It makes ZZZZZZIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!!!! type noises and sends sparks flying. Makes,a,change him not needing to use it on me!!!

Anyway, gotta go.

Love

Otterchops.

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!!!

I have had fun today. Papa does look funny when he goes purple!!!

Today he tried to replace my offside CV joint. He'd bought one awhile ago and a special puller to change it. Then discovered my heavy duty CV joints were too big for it. Anyway, this afternoon he fired up his angle grinder and made loud ZZZZZIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGG noises. This meant that his newly modded puller would fit but then I threw him a curve ball. Surely if you have enough space to get the old one off, you should be able to get the new one on, right?

Nope!!

This means that he needs to remove my driveshaft and do it properly!!!!

He has just ordered new driveshaft seals and new gearbox oil.

And his Wallet is attacking. Hear the screams!!!

Modded puller

The New Joint!!

You can see here how he has modded the puller and my nice new CV joint. Seems a shame to get it dirty.....

Love to all

Otterchops.

[CitroJim]

Ahh! I was wondering where an angel grinder came in to swap a CV boot and now I know Good work on modding a tool to do the job

Daddy's poor wallet You are a very naughty girl

[Xantianut]

Hello, Unka Jim.

I,have VERY heavy duty CV joints to handle the massive power and torque from my exquisite engine!

This CV puller is clearly meant for use on lesser machines. Don't think anyone does them for a Citroen.

Better behave myself though. Papa is getting a bit down with me throwing curve balls all over the place. CV grease should be here tomorrow with the gear oil and oil seals soon after. Please hurry, Mr Postman....

Love

Otterchops.

[CitroJim]

Ohh, CV grease That's some horrible stuff. Similar to the mud I spent 50k and nearly 7 hours running through yesterday

In fact, it could have been CV grease!

[myglaren]

CV grease stinks worse than mud though, especially when it has matured for a few years.

[CitroJim]

CV grease stinks worse than mud though, especially when it has matured for a few years.

Depends on the mud

Mud is easier to wash off though

[myglaren]

Can't argue with that!

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!!

The grease in my old joint "stinks manky" according to Papa. Gods only know what is maturing in there!

Anyway, I had a visit today from Papa. He slid underneath my powerful engine (I am up on stands) and looked at my offside driveshaft support. Then he looked at my gearbox and said "oh, dear! That does not look like it will be easy to get to. At least, that's what I THINK he said!! He also shouted "Eureka!!!" This rather surprised Bill, our next door neighbour, who asked what was going on. Papa emerged from beneath my front bumper with the knowledge that my oil leak is not from my powerful turbo but from above it! This means a rocker gasket, not expensive but it will keep him busy!

He has also realised that he should have greased the CV joint after he fitted it which is why he is struggling. He's ordered a new, clean one and will see if someone in one of the local garages will pop this one in the parts washer so it can go on the near side in the summer when he is planning to change my gearbox oil. It is nice to be pampered.

He has also discovered that the slider pins are seized. Do they just pull out with pliers?

Hope so.

Love

Ottterchops.

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!

Papa has discovered why the new CV joints won't fit.

Do the bigger engined C5s have thicker drive shafts? If so, then my new, extra powerful brakes are not the 1st mod that has been carried out. Papa re greased the Old joint then fitted it with a new rubber boot. Then he discovered that he had not fitted my wishbones properly and that they sit too high. He used some pretty good words trying to reassemble my front suspension!!

After realising his error and deciding he needed his impact driver to undo the bolt, he decided to check my slider pins and they were worse than he thought. Googats in fact. Grease had no effect so new ones have been ordered. He'll also need his impact gun to take off my caliper brackets. Heat had no effect!

Ah. I hear his Wallet is attacking him.

Poor Papa.

Love

Otterchops.

PS. Do you think this will change his mind about my new pads and discs this summer???