Off topic rant and rave - non Porsche

[Hilux]

I am enjoying my Xmas break as I`m not due back until next Tuesday and like everyone else trying to economise but......................

A membership fee for my professional body has just dropped on the doormat! (money)

The insurance for the Land Cruiser has just dropped on the doormat! (money)

The tax reminder for the L/C has just dropped on the doormat! (more money)

Yesterday I found out that two of the tyres on the L/C seem to have perished (they are half worn, six years old) even though I only travel 8 miles each way to the station and do less than 5000 miles a year. They are Falken all terrain

The tyres have very slow leaks that are getting worse and cant be repaired!

The tyres are 32 10.50 R15`s and there are none around I have been told unless I want to spend £220 per tyre for BFG!! or change the whole lot for a cheaper make (if I can find any as there is a european shortage of tyres)!!!

Does anyone know where I can get some? [&:] (even more money)

Also.....................

I`ve been finding time to work on my Mk1 Golf................

A new OEM master cylinder stem/shaft seal failed (bought off E-bay just under a year ago) as I noticed fluid exiting the servo so I have had to buy another one! I cannot get any contact/reply from the information I have so assume I will take the hit! (more money)

The servo is toast due to the leak of fluid internally so I have to source another!!!!!! (even more money)

I have been uprating the fuel supply system as it now has a Mk3 ABF in it and noticing a smell of petrol when driving it I have tested it and discovered the old tank is porous/weeping so I now have to buy another! (lots more money)

I dropped the rear suspension to remove the tank and refurbished it complete with new bushes and decided to renew the pads even though they dont do a great deal of work and cant wind back one of the rear caliper pistons so will need to take it apart or source another if it is toast! (even more money)

`Kin `ell - I know I shouldnt moan and am employed and healthy etc but I am moaning................................and enjoying every bl**dy expensive minute of it.......................ok!

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Add in the joy of having to pay the accountant and tax bill due in January for those of us who enjoy the many benefits of being self-employed. Like sick pay, holiday pay etc. [:'(][:'(]

 

[DavidL]

Ltd company Paul, makes life a little easier []

 

[ukmastiff]

I was going to post a short reply starting with " I wont go in to a major rant because I could ! "

I started typing it and it just got longer and longer and longer so I scrapped it []

Regards

Mas

Hard working , decent and currently being fleeced in Rip Off Britain

 

[homesea]

Paul I'm guessing you already have mk2 16v brakes on it, as you talk of rear calipers. If not then now is a good time to use the mk2 16v master cylinder and servo, made a big difference on my old one. Also the rear calipers are rubbish for sticking, best using a set of mk4 ones (more money!).

Sorry cant help with the tyres, but a european shortage sounds a load of balls and a way of trying to put the prices up.

 

[Hilux]

Hi

Yes I have VX calipers on the front and Mk2 Golf on the rear with a 22.2mm m/c and 9" servo and proportioning valve to the rears.

Thanks for the comments.

I will research the Mk4 rears but the calipers have been fine up to now with the lever free and the cables running without sticking.

It must be the screw handbrake adjuster thingy in the piston at fault because I was winding it around without issue but it wasnt returning however I used a puller tee and the puller bolt to press against the piston and it returned ok with only finger pressure on the bolt so it might have been the piston `sticking` on the seal. I lifted the dust cover prior and there was no corrosion.

 

[VanhireBoys]

I have nowt to moan about apart from the Government making a pigs ear of the economy which will last a generation...![]

And the price of Diesel has gone up []

Ive started a rant now .... Cut Cut Cut... and relax.....

We used to have a Mk1 '77 Golf 1.5 Diesel when I was a lad... The father used to put red in it....... Times were simpler then before all this political correctness came about...! I dont think the customs were as smart...

Chat about Customs... A friend got stopped in his twin wheel Transit near the border by the customs... They asked to take a sample and promptly dipped the tank... After getting the sample the customs man said " This sample is petrol" .. My friend said " Thats becuse its a petrol Transit"......![]

 

[Neil Haughey]

Paul I know how you feel. I had plenty of periods like that last year with both the 44 and the 68, seemed like it would never end and of course as many know on the 44 it hasn't. Just one of those things sometimes the luck is against you but it means hopefully a good spell is around the corner.

My p38 Rangie OTOH always seems to surprise me, every time something has needed doing I fear the worst and it ends up being something really simple. Last one felt like the DMF had blown turned out to be UJ's on front prop shaft. Still though I have ended up spending a grand on the thing already in 6 months yet nothing much has actually gone wrong with it. How does that happen.

 

[Hilux]

Thanks Neil

I feel a bit silly now but at the time I was really pi**ed off!

Ho hum.................ever onward.

 

[Melv]

Paul

If u r being quoted 220 for the BFG's u r being robbed!

Try Dunlop A/T's or Kumho Ventura -having set of latter fitted next week..

 

[zcacogp]

It's an expensive time of year, and I'm with you in the grumbling. I suspect that a LOT of things are going to look a LOT more expensive in 2011. Fuel, for one thing. Filled up the S2 at 130p/litre yesterday (super, admittedly), and that's before the New Year price rises ...

ORIGINAL: ukmastiff
Hard working , decent and currently being fleeced in Rip Off Britain

Utterly agree with that sentiment Mas. I am seriously beginning to question why I am working so hard to support a large number of people who see the state as a big cash cow.


Oli.

 

[Fat Albert]

This time of year is always cr@p money-wise, I have to pay the next term of School fees today (I can't wait until the go to uni, even with the new fees it will be so much cheaper than school!!) I also have Corporation Tax, which is always a hurtful one, the VAT on one of my Businesses needs paying in Dec, the other in Jan, and then there is the personal tax....that's before I start on the cars!