Your Opinions please gents?

[wiggy]

Hi all just got the new truck back from a check over at the garage yesterday... still don't quite trust myself... got quoted £300 (or around that to fix) for...

Both cv gaiters perished (see link at bottom of post for all pics)
residue oil leak
front brake disks low (thought they were pads?)
fog light out
service 80% foot brake (is that good or bad?)
service 70% hand brake (is that good or bad?)

(Quoted £180 for the brakes & 1 gaiter... parts & fitting)
Spoke to a few of you lot about changing the brakes & i may have a go at that myself (found the link) but not so sure about the cv gaiters as i don't really have the time or the tools (the way my luck is going at the moment the blinkin thing will fall to bits....).

Wanted to know your opinion as to whether the gaiters actually needed replacing as to me (uneducated i know) they don't look that bad?..the stuff on them is from my hands as im still sure there is an oil leak (not residue from rocker cover gasket being changed).

Also i wanted to replace the original radiator cap as it looked a bit old and ordered a new one from the parts shop in town (didn't have time to get it from roughtrax).. and when i replaced it today (cap says 0.9kgf/cm (88kPa) 0.9 ...which i thought was the right one?) and let it run for a while i noticed the oil leak seemed worse & a small drip developed on the bottom of the radiator (please see 'a rubbish picture' on the link below) its a steady drip and doesn't look horrific but needs sealing... but when i put the original cap back on it stopped (radiator level is ok but noticed bubbling sound... so will burp system tomorrow)...no over temp & seems to be running ok apart from a slight squeek from the belts (prob new belts noise?... don't think its the harmonic balancer...that went on the last one!!)

please see below for the pics & thanks again to everyone in advance!! (sorry for the long post!!)

http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/k.../surf3lengine/

Oh and i know there looks like an oil factory exploded underneath but haven't got round to blasting all the crud off it... missus had me putting all the nice stuff on...looks good tho!!

[Bibs]

I know you said gents but

Mine has split and there is noooo doubt - grease is everywhere. Yours looks remarkably clean but I spose that's not to say it hasn't split.

[BUSHWHACKER]

The rubber boots look fine to me. If they were split, they would look very wet and messy, so would everything else around them.

re: the oil leak, I would wash/degrease the under side of the engine to determine where the oil is coming from more easily. Worse case senario, rear oil seal which would mean transmission removal. (big spendy)
Best, rocker cover gasket at the back of the cylinder head, or sump bolt leaking and rad fan blowing the oil all over the bottom of engine. (Couple of quid)

re: the rad leak, it can be repaired or better still, replaced since you'll be saving money by NOT taking it to that garage.

re: the brakes, can you feel a large lip on the edge of the discs? if so then they are worn, if not then just re-new the pads.

[wiggy]

Sorry meant to say ladies too!!.....Thanks for the replies folks ... will have a look at the brakes tomorrow and clean off the underside (gasket cover was done last Tuesday.... seemed like a lot still dripping down but as it hasn't been cleaned off...)...sorry this posting seems a bit rushed but just been to the shop to grab a few beers as i had a bit of a stress about the radiator leak...good excuse anyhow.... there is a bit of wear on the gaiters in between the folds but not down to breaking point... would some silicon grease on the gaiters make them more pliable (i.e last longer)... moving abroad and having to drive about 1200 miles (i know but have great faith in surfs ..... even though they can be a pain in the ........ sometimes!!).

Also it seems to be idling a bit slow (about 600..thought it was supposed to be 750 for an auto?) it it just the screw you rotate on the tps on the 3.0? ...still learning my may around this one as its a bit different from the 2,4...

Oh & any ideas about the radiator cap or is it just coincidence ??

[hellmett]

Re

If it's any help, I had an oil leak that was just like that one, same places etc.

Fearing the worst I did what Vince said and washed it down, degreased etc.

Couldn't find it at all.

So I ploughed on thinking that I will drive until it gets worse!

2 Months later I changed the Oil Filter and Feck Me the Oil Leak had vanished!

Motto, CHECK THE OIL FILTER FIRST!

For some reason if these things aren't on "perfectly" and really tight then they spurt oil.

Gary

[wiggy]

Just changed it on Sunday and seemed ok (thought it was sorted after service) but just started to play up today.....well yesterday!... will do all of the above at the washdown when i get a chance tomorrow (but you are certainly right ... & shall take off/put back on...cant hurt & may just give me a bit of peace of mind).. maybe eventually get to the end of this!!

[wiggy]

Ok not oil filter all nice & clean underneath & around... still chasing the oil leak tried to take the passenger side front wheel off to check the brake pads etc but cant get the piggin wheel off!!!....... goin to go back to the garage & ask how he inspected the brake pads without taking the wheel off ..... either means he didn't take it off ....... & is trying to make some easy money by talking b*****ks (thanks for the ideas about the gaiters .. everyone at work thought they were ok too)... or he has messed up the wheel & should sort it???.... think it just hasn't been taken off in a while but cant seem to get it off.....maybe could get him to sort it???.....Karma payback for charging extortionate prices!!!