When I started out as an apprentice mechanic, some 55 years ago ☹️, we used trammel bars to check the tracking. Our boss then upgraded to one of these Dunlop tracking tools, so much easier to do.
This reminds me of a Cortina estate my dad had, which was eating tyres. The garage couldn't sort it until one day the mechanic asked him if it carried a lot of weight (it did). Despite the manual saying the setup had to be done empty, he did it with some barrels of water in the back and the drivers seat. Never had a problem after that. Perfect slow and even wear. One thing that can cause random mysterious clunks, is suspension bushes. If they go dry (no lubricant) the inner and outer part can stick to the metal, and when it releases it makes a slight clunk noise which is transmitted through the suspension etc. That can start overnight, and disappear just as quickly with temperature, humidity, use etc.
Love the sudden urgency with which your Dad said Whoa! Reminds me of a story that my Dad told me of a time he worked in Guinness’. A fella was guiding a reversing truck onto a loading bay and yelled, without the slightest pause “Back away there, back away, tons of room, back away, whoa whoa you’ve hit it…”!
Not sure if this applies to Doblos but you don't usually need to fully take the wheel off to fit or remove Fiat wheel trims. The bolt that's closest to the valve stem can stay on.
Yes in my Fiat Tipo the factory option wheeltrims had one bigger hole so one bolt could be put on to secure the rim and the trim put in place with the 3 other bolts going through and trapping the trim. I wonder if the previous tyre wear was down to cheapo tyres that should have been increased load spec (XL) for a van ? And yes those wheeltrims are like the 16" Rover 75 Union alloy wheels.
Concerning an impact wrench, If you are satisfied with the Makita cordless screwdriver, I think it makes sense to buy a Makita impact wrench as well. On my Wishlist is the DTW301Z from Makita.
I’ve been looking at little vans, I once had a Corsa that used the 90hp Fiat Diesel, Doblo adverts have all different opinions on the annual road tax… cars are £35 but what is this van please, difficult to understand if it’s £335 .. 🤔
I asked an oven service guy how he liked his Doblo and he said he was always having to have work done on the front suspension. Possibly down to second rate replacement parts but it is disappointing... these are quite cheaply-built vehicles though with a fairly weird Fiat front end setup...
When I started out as an apprentice mechanic, some 55 years ago ☹️, we used trammel bars to check the tracking. Our boss then upgraded to one of these Dunlop tracking tools, so much easier to do.
Bet that felt like a major improvement! Thanks for watching
This reminds me of a Cortina estate my dad had, which was eating tyres. The garage couldn't sort it until one day the mechanic asked him if it carried a lot of weight (it did). Despite the manual saying the setup had to be done empty, he did it with some barrels of water in the back and the drivers seat. Never had a problem after that. Perfect slow and even wear.
One thing that can cause random mysterious clunks, is suspension bushes. If they go dry (no lubricant) the inner and outer part can stick to the metal, and when it releases it makes a slight clunk noise which is transmitted through the suspension etc. That can start overnight, and disappear just as quickly with temperature, humidity, use etc.
Love the sudden urgency with which your Dad said Whoa!
Reminds me of a story that my Dad told me of a time he worked in Guinness’. A fella was guiding a reversing truck onto a loading bay and yelled, without the slightest pause
“Back away there, back away, tons of room, back away, whoa whoa you’ve hit it…”!
Jon Coupland working with something old but perfectly functional. And his Dad.
🤣🤣 love it
Not sure if this applies to Doblos but you don't usually need to fully take the wheel off to fit or remove Fiat wheel trims. The bolt that's closest to the valve stem can stay on.
Ah that's interesting. This does indeed need all the bolts out to remove the trim 😁👍
Yes in my Fiat Tipo the factory option wheeltrims had one bigger hole so one bolt could be put on to secure the rim and the trim put in place with the 3 other bolts going through and trapping the trim.
I wonder if the previous tyre wear was down to cheapo tyres that should have been increased load spec (XL) for a van ?
And yes those wheeltrims are like the 16" Rover 75 Union alloy wheels.
£20 very well spent. No electronics to go wrong. The tool will outlast both of you and save a mint in prematurely worn tyres.
Absolutely 😁
It's been awhile since we last saw your RoyalSnail Van how it's going
Concerning an impact wrench, If you are satisfied with the Makita cordless screwdriver, I think it makes sense to buy a Makita impact wrench as well. On my Wishlist is the DTW301Z from Makita.
Dad's got it on his Christmas list 😂
nice one boys
Cheers 👍🙂
Would have thought that type of gauges were 60s type
Later model numbers were from the 60s but I cross referenced the number 😁👍
I’ve been looking at little vans, I once had a Corsa that used the 90hp Fiat Diesel, Doblo adverts have all different opinions on the annual road tax… cars are £35 but what is this van please, difficult to understand if it’s £335 .. 🤔
I think vans often get penalties for being 'commercial' vehicles. This is £336 a year
It would have been great if you could have shown the adjustment of the track rods, i.e. the screwing, too. Thx for the entertainment.
I did try but sadly not much to see and not much room to get the camera in there 😁 (don't want Dad to hurl the production team across the lawn too!)
Good old sensible equipment for me his much more reliable
It did the job 😂
Looks like it has too much camber but I see that more often with Doblòs
Yes apparently it's a common thing!? We never knew
@@JonCoupland maybe the struts and springs need replacing
I asked an oven service guy how he liked his Doblo and he said he was always having to have work done on the front suspension. Possibly down to second rate replacement parts but it is disappointing... these are quite cheaply-built vehicles though with a fairly weird Fiat front end setup...
if its a genuine mail van it will have mounted more kerbs than Katy Price
Thankfully it's not had a kerb bashing. It was made as a demo vehicle for RM but not used on the rounds 😁