Once you start!!!

[Jack Daw]

Knowing when to stop, so sills removed , rear bumper, spare wheel plus carrier. Wheels dispatch for refurbishment , brake pads, rotors all round, Diff and gearbox oils changed.More to follow!! Thanks Bazza for help and guidance.

 

[Nodzed]

You fixing it or breaking it
Good job so far

 

[andyglym]

Nice job

 

[Sean d]

Apparently that's the wrong oil for a torsen diff as it doesn't have clutches, @DiffManDave may come along and advise

 

[ktnez99]

Checking the doughnut spare is a very good idea.

 

[Mazza]

Great work.... look forward to seeing more pics

 

[PKRS]

Update us as you improve

 

[e36Ballen]

Removed my spare tire well few months ago. Tire is 20 plus years old and a family of snails lived under it.

By the way, is it okay to just remove the spare tire well? Would it affect the aerodynamic? I removed mine way back but there seems to be no issues.

 

[mwpe]

No problem with removing the spare and carrier but on our potholed roads you never know when you might need the spare.

 

[Shelly]

Looks like your doing a great job

 

[Ianmc]

No problem with removing the spare and carrier but on our potholed roads you never know when you might need the spare.

I removed and cleaned/repainted mine last year. Had considered doing without but reinstalled for reasons above. Also, the wheel is quite heavy and its omission likely impacts the design weight balance of the car (lighter rear RHS).

 

[Stevo7682]

No problem with removing the spare and carrier but on our potholed roads you never know when you might need the spare.

Definitely Mike

Also helps to have a spare forum member to hand to drive your wheel about on the passenger seat .

 

[Jack Daw]

I removed and cleaned/repainted mine last year. Had considered doing without but reinstalled for reasons above. Also, the wheel is quite heavy and its omission likely impacts the design weight balance of the car (lighter rear RHS).

All ways intended to fit the spare wheel once cleaned/ repainted, the bumper had a knock which broke the corner supporting rivets hence the removal ,bumper now repaired and refitted . New sill on order, worth checking the forum first !! The under carriage looks OK for rust but the moving parts need a clean, treatment and paint. The fuel tank support straps are in poor condition, brake back plates look sound just need a clean and paint. Next I will contact Opie oils again to question there recommendations for final drive oil. Rust inhibitors, Bilt Hamber Deox C on order. Still away to go .

 

[Delk]

Interesting read.

https://torsen.com/lubricant-part-2/

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Checking the doughnut spare is a very good idea.

The age of these cars, the spare will need throwing away by now.

 

[mwpe]

If they are looked after the spares are still perfectly serviceable for what they are meant for.

 

[Sean d]

As most of the guys on here know, we where on Skye last year and I hit the mother of all potholes and broke one of my beloved style 42 rims, I carry no spare and was helped out by some very generous members, used @Mint spare and @mwpe carried my broken wheel for the rest of the day, I made the decision that I would carry a spare, got the bits together and then it occurred to me that when I was doing the corrosion work under the rear end, i removed the bracket that holds the carrier

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I spent many years working as a commercial tyre fitter, having moved sideways from being a mechanic, and wouldn't trust any tyre over 5-6 years old. Any spare that's spent the last twenty or so years hanging under a car needs disposing of. In a sensitive manner, of course.

 

[t-tony]

The original spare wheel may be serviceable but the original tyres should be binned. The idea of carrying a spare if you're unlucky enough to have a problem as Sean encountered last year then a canister of Tyreweld is useless but for 99% of "flat tyres" it would get you home. How many of us don't have breakdown cover? Oh, and having been in the motor trade all my life I have never heard of people not carrying a spare being charged for recovery?

Tony.

ps. Happily Mike was available to carry Sean's broken wheel but if he had not been what to do with a big tyre and wheel ?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

And, as a not-entirely-relevant observation, a few years back I had an e90 that came from the factory without a spare wheel, seems to be a normal thing these days. Going from the number of times I was called-out to cars with flat tyres at the side of the road, there's an awful lot of people around that aren't capable of changing a wheel on a car.