Team Green Tiger - BX19TGD - Back on the road

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:10 pm

Dollywobbler wrote: She's going so well though. An absolute pleasure to drive and the only 'modern' car I've owned that I haven't got bored of after 6000 miles. I just can't see me ever selling this car.

That is a bit akin to me saying a similar thing about a car Yan, you know that dont you

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:44 pm

It's a special car that gets the 'keeper' treatment from me. The 2CV has managed 10 years this summer. I fear the BX may also have won me over.

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:19 am

Well blimey, nice one

Im actually worried that this St Tropez from 'the baron' might grow on me WAAAY more than i was expecting.

BTW, that first pic of your scotland jaunt, Rachel looks freezing!!!!!

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:54 pm

To be fair, she was hamming it up a bit. We'd just been for a walk so we were quite warm.

The St Tropez should be ace.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:09 pm

Oh, some BX fail today. Handbrake wouldn't release properly. Light kept flashing on unless I held the handbrake down. This still didn't release it, as i discovered when she was flat out at 55mph and smelling horrible.

Pulled over, stamped on the brake pedal and yanked the handbrake a few times. Seemed to do it. Handbrake tightened up and released properly.

I know something's still amiss as for the whole time I've owned the car, it feels a bit 'sticky' when coming to a halt, but the wheels don't get warm, so I'm not sure it's a brake issue.

She's in for a (belated) service on Tuesday, so we'll see what's what.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:34 pm

Probably a sticking caliper, that when you engage the handbrake the brakes then stick on, even when released. My temporary solution was never to use the handbrake as the footbrake never seemed to stick on (there must be more pressure in the system than just a cable which when releasing the footbrake creates enought pressure to unstick it), obviously when parking leave the car in gear, never had any problems with this method. Eventually got a replacement caliper & now i can use the handbrake ok.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:40 pm

Must admit, she's resting on bricks tonight! Handbrake not to be trusted. Being a 2CV owner, I'm quite used to this.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:43 pm

I've got a decent spare caliper (not sure which side) if you need it Ian.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:52 pm

Thanks Mat. I'll see what Barry discovers on Tuesday. Returning to LHM so we'll see what that does for the ride and steering...

Oh and hopefully fitting a new rear disc shroud after losing one on the BXagon. No, not got around to replacing it yet...

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 9:16 am

Snow chaos is no issue for the BX! Calmly sauntering past all the skidding BMWs is great fun!

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:33 pm

Francine the BX now has a new (reconditioned) front strut, as she was blowing the return pipe off. Hopefully that'll cure it. Handbrake seems to be binding a touch so new handbrake cables probably needed. The existing ones look shagged. She'll be getting a new cambelt fitted at the end of the week too.

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:47 pm

Im worried about front struts. As ive recently learnt, thanks to some excellent BX'ers, Citroen no longer supply the rebuild kits or parts.

SO

where do plaedies get the parts to do the re-con on the struts?

If anyone knows please do pipe up

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 5:12 pm

Chap I visited sells 'em at £100 each or £120 fitted. I've no idea where he gets the bits for though. Should've asked...

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:32 pm

Stinkwheel wrote:where do plaedies get the parts to do the re-con on the struts?

The question is, DO plaedies actually do the struts? and when was the last time they actually reconned any parts? I don't know anyone who's actually managed to purchase from them for some time. The last time i tried to buy something from them, they where a lot less than interested in any custom.

Linegeist · Post by **Linegeist** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:44 pm

Vanny wrote:The question is, DO plaedies actually do the struts? and when was the last time they actually reconned any parts? I don't know anyone who's actually managed to purchase from them for some time. The last time i tried to buy something from them, they where a lot less than interested in any custom.

Well, I'm dealing with them at the moment ... in fact I'm waiting for HP Pump #3 to arrive, the first two having exhibited 'interesting' behaviour.

I don't want to jump to conclusions but ....................... if parts are now getting scarce, and if you're in the reconditioning business, there are only so many units you can refurb (using part-worn bits) before quality starts to nosedive. The law of diminishing returns I believe it's called.

I kind've suspect the BX might be currently in that grey area where they're not rare enough to be seriously collectible like the DS/Traction Avant, but sufficiently old/scarce not to warrant the manufacture of new parts to keep them on the road.