Alba 7

This is doing my head in :-(

Alex, Another VX owner to the rescue! Ric has got it in one with his first suggestion - looks like the bolt come with a spacer and the bracket (the latter can go on the shelf for the moment) unless the parts dept will sell the spacer on its own.

Technically the MOT regs say from the rear bumperbut my MOT man couldn't find the bumper, so he went for the rear wheel as above. The regs don't say you need to have a side indicator just that the indicator must be visible (and it has to be the lens itself and not simply a reflection of the light emitting from the lens) as specified above. After much arguement and measuring out, my MOT man said that technically the front mounted indicator did conform to the regs as written but that he didn't like it. @rse hole, if I had wanted his opinion on my car I would have asked him. Have taken my business elsewhere.

Gary, Interested in the dry sump pan. Any photos available to show condition? Nick.

I've seen this car and the finish could only be classed (in the nicest possible way) as anal 😬 Richard has made a perfect job of tasks I didn't even realise needed doing. Other than having the steering wheel on the wrong side, it is a perfect car. Would really suit any budding carbon tarts

The JPE screen has a series of small blocks (5 I think) on the drivers side of the screen. On my car these are bolted through the scuttle, so yes you will need to take a drill to the car if it is the same as a JPE screen. Fore and aft placement is vital. Previous owner had placed it far too near the dash but Mick Attree advised a more suitable position and the wind deflection is fantastic. OK, I couldn't wear a hat but having driven a few miles with no wind deflector, it is amazing the difference a well placed bit of perspex can make! Nick

Philip, I've a Dremel you can have a shot of, if you need one. Nick

Neal, Easiest way to see if a lsd is fitted is to jack up the back end so that both wheels are clear of the ground and turn one of them by hand. The other wheel (if a lsd is fitted) should turn in the same direction. If it goes the opposite way it is an open diff. Vaguely recall someone saying that one brand of lsd bucks this rule. Other way is to find a quiet car park, stop in the middle of it, turn the steering hard one way or the other (I find it easier to apply right lock), engage 1st gear, take the revs to 4,000 and dump the clutch, if you find yourself going areound in circles shrouded in typre smoke, it is probably a lsd 😬

Roger, My local VX specialist had a Titan dry sump pan in stock on Friday when I dropped in for an idle chat and got around to possible upgrades. I know he has at least one as he got it out of the wrapping to show me. Contact Nigel Bridger at Clark Motorsport on 01339 885666 or Clark Motorsport Sounds like he has fitted several to Caterhams and uses this over other pans he has tried and rejected.

Kenny, See this thread here. They are a caravan part and were still readily available this time last year.

Roger, Not sure if this any help, but my Stack never shows more than 73 psi. This is on a caterham wet sump, standard engine other than D2H injection. HTH, Nick.

Just had a quick errand to run and the sound actually lessens on extreme lock but come back as soon as it gets to nearer to straight ahead. I've checked wheel nuts as Neil and others have suggested - not as tight as I would have done them myself, so jumped up and down on the wheel wrench a bit to tighten them up. Wil see if this makes a difference but I'll be surprised. Have done a fair bit of reversing to get into parking spots and this doesn't seem to have lessened the noise any ☹️ Rolling to a stop is most disconcerting as the whole wheel seems to groan just before coming to rest. Pulling away again seems to be accompanied by a definite clonk sound. If it is the CV joint, is it just coincidence that on both occassions Costco had replaced tyres immediately prior to it failing, or could they be doing something clumsy? Last one (only just 6 months ago) cost me a fortune in labour as the garage couldn't separate it due to some sealant that had been used.

Jono, This happened before (again when Costco had fitted tyres) and the same CV joint was replaced in Jan this year. I can't imagine what they might have done but there does seem to be a pattern emerging - of course it could just be unfortunate coincidence.

Calling the Blatchat oracle.... This morning my 'other' car (2003 Skoda Octavia diesel) started making the most appaling noises. It only seems to be coming from the offside front wheel and it only happens on the overrun, when the clutch is dipped and other no / low engine load situations. As soon as a reasonable amount of engine load is applied the noise goes away. It is clearly road speed related and at 30mph and above it is a low grumbling / rumbling sound. At lower speeds it far more noticeable and is a graunchy sound (possibly with a bit of metal on metal mixed in as well). At walking speed through a car park it was noticeable to pedestrians, one who said it sounded like a rock crushing machine. At walking speed I could also sense a very slight vibration in the steering wheel with the same frequency as the noise that was coming from the wheel. The sound doesn't appear to be affected by applying the brakes (it continues unabated) and neither is it impacted by applying steering angle in either direction - this makes me think it is not disc / pad related or a wheel bearing (I could be wrong though). Any clues as to what it mighht be and is safe to continue driving it (I've a 20 mile jouney to make this afternoon)? Not sure if it is a coincidence but Costco replaced two tyres on the front of the car on Sunday. It definitely wasn't doing this before the work was done. Thanks for your help, Nick.

Richard, I have my 93 vx in the lower hole and it is fine (though this is with Nitron 150lb springs and dampers). Compared to the race Bilstein dampers and rock hard springs that the car came with this, it is now a pleasure to drive - previously I had considered selling it as it was too much of a handful on anything but perfectly smooth roads.