The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hello there folks...

It has been a while since I've been on here I know and that's because last August my Toledo went really rather wrong! Rust in the front sub-frame had become air and things came apart when they shouldn't have...

Thanks to the help of fellow forum member Karlos, things were stitched back together with the glittery magic metal wand and I thought I'd chance my arm and take the old rust bucket for an MOT the other week...



...It really didn't go too well at all as you can see!!!

What I want to know is, from your experience, the following...

1) Should I crack on with getting it all fixed? I really do enjoy this car and the more I look at the list of fails the less scary it seems...

2) Can you give me a rough guesstimate of the cost of parts to rectify the above (maybe including the advisories I don't know)?! I know nobody can predict the labour but an idea of the parts costs would help me to make up my mind...

I don't want to lose this car but my off-shore bank accounts aren't at their most prudent at the moment so I do have to be realistic!!!

Thanks ever so much to you all in advance...

Maybe just me, but that doesn't seem that bad at all, and relatively simple stuff to rectify. The brake imbalance could be something as simple as adjustment needed on one side, or as bad as a sticking or leaking wheel cylinder. Rear wheel bearings are £15 a side. Shocks, well there are a NOS pair advertised on ebay for £22 right now, track rod ends at £17 which you can do when you replace the shocks and the whichever of the bushes there actually referring to, which probably will cost you around £30.

Weekends work, and £100 on parts doesn't sound too bad to get a 40 year old car on the road!

It doesn't sound too bad at all!

You need a pair of front shock absorbers, a pair of rear wheel bearings (might as well clear the advisory whilst you are at it), a pair of track rod end knuckles, a pair of front suspension bushes (did he explain/show you which ones?) and a pair of wiper blades; all doable at home.

You then need to investigate why one of your lights isn't working and fix/replace as appropriate and then find out what is amiss with the rear brakes, ie sticky cylinder or fluid contamination etc.

The shock absorbers are likely to be the most expensive bit...

I agree, not too bad at all. The rear wheel bearings will be the hardest thing to do unless you have a hydraulic press.

This all sound very encouraging indeed, thank you very much indeed...

Just a quick one though... When 'track rod end knuckles' is mentioned does that just mean track rod ends?! I'm not very good with the technicalities!!!

Many thanks...

Yes just track rod ends
Tony

Item 9 I would interpret as the inner track control arm bush. Toledos are unique in not having the rose joint bush here, Chris Witor does them in Poly. They are a doddle to change.
The wheel bearings are probably just a bit gummy from standing still so long. A pair of shox, a pair of track rod ends and a pair of wiper blades and you are back in business!

Steve

Whereabouts are you? I would be happy to undertake this lot for you if it's a practical distance.

get it done,,,,,,long live small triumph`s

I would question the wiper blades, are they really that bad that you didn't notice before the MOT? Or is the station less than classic friendly?
It's one thing having a modern clearing screens, try that on an MGB!
Regardless, the fail list is 'normal wear and tear' and is positively encouraging - go for it!

And not a mention of corrosion in sight, be proud of that and like everybody else is saying, fair wear and tear on easily replaced cheap items.

The difficult bit is the rear wheel bearings, I've never done them myself, I think a special hub puller is needed.
As others have said parts around £100 and a weekends work.
You could easily do the wipers yourself, myself I wouldn't argue about any of it as that may prompt even closer inspection of other stuff...

And not a mention of corrosion in sight

Actually in the "Advisories" section it mentions borderline pass on both rear arches and some corrosion on front footwells. I loved the spelling for the RUFF wheel bearing. Did you take a dog with you? All the fail points are definitely fixable.

Mike

Bumpa wrote:I loved the spelling for the RUFF wheel bearing. Did you take a dog with you?

Strange, as they spelled rough correctly further up.