I tend to walk away from car related things if I am in any combination of tired, angry or irritated and it was the right moment last week to close the bonnet and leave the car for a week. The pressure of Harry ('Harry's car' seems to have become abbreviated and stuck as the car's name now) not being my sole mode of transport is quite refreshing, no swearing and throwing tools around at midnight on a Sunday because I need the car to get to work the next morning!
Decided to buy some new stainless steel set screws, and then undecided (sic) to do that when it occurred to me that it wasn't a good idea to put stainless steel into aluminium, so instead bought a big pack of assorted zinc plated nuts, bolts and washers from Wrights Auto Supplies. Also got a length of servo hose whilst I was at it, original looked a little tired.
I neglected to mention that the set screw snapped right by the head, so as you predicted Jonners it easily came out with a pair of pliers on the end. I did consider your thoughts of using a stud instead, but must admit I went for the easy option of replacing like for like, just zinc plated and with a dollop of copper slip grease. Filled up with 1/3 Comma antifreeze mix, checked for airlocks and all was well from the word go. Not quite like an experience I had with my Cavalier, thought it was bled fine, going down the road it suddenly rather dramatically boiled, gurgled, steamed and corrected itself in the centre of town at a pedestrian crossing like it belonged on the Ffestiniog Railway.
Doing a fluid check I noticed that both the clutch and brake master cylinders had lost a small amount of fluid, and strongly suspect the rear wheel cylinders and clutch slave cylinder have leaks as all is dry at the top end. Went back to check my meagre documentation as I could have sworn that I had read that these very bits had been replaced in the previous owners notes, and yes, all replaced. Oh dear.
As the car was sat there nice and warmed up, and it was such a gorgeous day today, the golden autumn sun shining through the lightests of hazes scattering playfully off the chrome bumpers onto the delicious mimosa paintwork, I quietly shut the bonnet, ignored the to do list, sat in the driver's seat and just went for a long drive...
