Glendal's Favorite Reviews

Glendal's Favorite Reviews

What makes an iconic car? That was the question posed by Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche at the recent launch of the new G-Wagen. Mr Zetsche had his own views, and it was hard to quibble with any of them. Firstly, he said, an icon had to offer 鈥渘o compromises鈥?in its performance. It should also be instantly recognisable, having defined a look. And finally, he mooted, there had to be what he described as 鈥渁 built-in story鈥? Alongside the G-Class, four models which he felt ticked the necessary boxes to be considered icons were the Porsche 911, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Mustang and his own company鈥檚 300 SL. I鈥檇 struggle to argue with any of that quartet. To that list, I would tentatively add the Fiat 500 and Mini/MINI, which continue to thrive in their own respective areas of the market, despite ever-changing fashions. However, one thing that all these cars highlight is just how difficult it is for a manufacturer to move an icon on design-wise. That鈥檚 the reason the MINI hasn鈥檛 changed all that much since its 2001 rebirth, and why I鈥檓 sure the next Fiat 500 will be a very close copy of the current one. Because make no mistake: while achieving iconic status is incredibly difficult, losing it is fairly easy, a mere design mis-step away. As evidence, I鈥檇 point you towards the current Volkswagen Beetle, which to my eyes at least, is a cartoonish pastiche of the much loved original. Of course, there鈥檚 one other car that鈥檚 impossible to ignore in a debate about motoring icons: Britain鈥檚 own Land Rover Defender. The fact that two years later we are still waiting to see its successor suggests that Land Rover knows only too well what a fine line it has to tread to produce a design that lives up to the legend. Britain has built plenty of motoring icons, but which ones make the top 50?

Open bleeder screw on one wheel and depress brake pedal and the light should light up. 3. Close bleeder screw, replenish the brake fluid and bleed system, check that light goes out after testing and if not; differential pressure pin in the master cylinder must be reset. 1. Raise vehicle and remove wheels, remove upper hex head caliper bolt. 2. Pull clip of the brake pad wear sensor out of plug by opening cap on plug, rotate caliper downward and remove pads from carrier. 3. Standard front disc brake pad assembly thickness including lining backing plate is 17.5 m.m. Standard rear pad assembly thickness is 15.5 m.m.. 4. Front backing plate thickness is 4.5 m.m. Rear backing plate thickness is 5mm Minimum pad thickness is 2 m.m.. Mercedes Benz Single Piston Disc Brake Caliper cleaning. 1. Using brass cylinder brush clean disc pad guide surface in caliper, siphon fluid from master cylinder to prevent overflowing press piston to bottom of bore.

2. Install disc pads and wear sensor wires, reverse removal procedure to complete installation and check that dash light goes out. 1. Raise vehicle and remove wheels, remove cover plate from caliper and disconnect wear indicator wires. 2. Drive out retaining pins toward inside of vehicle, on Bendix brakes retaining pins have locking pins, then remove the locking pins and retaining pins then the cross spring retainers. 3. Remove disc pads from caliper, if not reusable note condition and location of pads for re installation. 4. Standard front disc brake pad assembly thickness including lining backing plate is 17.5 m.m. Standard rear pad assembly thickness is 15 m.m.. 5. Front backing plate thickness is 4.5 m.m. 5 m.m. minimum pad thickness is 2 m.m.. 1. Using cylinder brush clean disc pad guide surface in caliper, siphon fluid from master cylinder reservoir to prevent overflowing, press pistons to bottom. 2. Mercedes Benz Disc Brake Pads. 3. Install cover plate retaining pin locking keys and wear sensor wires, check that dash light goes out, and the reset pin at master cylinder.

1. Raise and support vehicle remove the wheel, open bleeder screw on caliper assembly and pump out fluid, disconnect and plug brake lines at caliper assembly. 2. Remove caliper bolts, remove caliper assembly from vehicle. Installation To install reverse removal procedure, tighten all nuts and bolts and then bleed hydraulic system and check that the dash light goes out, reset pin in master cylinder if necessary. 1. Remove caliper assembly and hub grease cap, remove contact spring for radio shielding, loosen clamping nut socket screw on wheel spindle. 2. Remove clamping nut and washer, remove wheel hub and rotor assembly, remove bolts securing hub to rotor, remove rotor. 1. Clean disc and check for cracks, scoring or excessive wear, replace as necessary. 2. Before installing stock replacement disc, use solvent to remove nitrocellulose corrosion preventive paint from rotor surface. Installation To install reverse removal, tighten all bolts and fittings evenly, bleed hydraulic system if necessary, lubricate and adjust wheel bearings, see appropriate article in suspension section.

1. Remove rear wheel and tire and disconnect and plug brake lines, remove caliper assembly. 1. To install reverse procedure, coat the axle splines with high temperature lubricant grease wheel bearings and install seal if necessary. 2. Tighten all bolts and fittings evenly and bleed hydraulic system. 1. Remove rear wheel and tire and release locking plates, remove mount bolts and caliper, wire caliper out of the way. 2. On vehicles with starting torque compensation, disconnect brake hose holder and hang caliper assembly with wire. 3. Loosen and remove 8 m.m. 12 m.m. bolt with spacing sleeve and clamping disc at center of rear brake rotor. 4. Using rear axle shaft Assembly Tool, remove rotor from rear axle shaft flange and pry rear axle seal from rotor at inner wheel bearing and discard. If the brake rotor is difficult to free from the axle flange strike the outer circumference lightly with a plastic hammer and ensure parking brake is released.