Drovers New Horse - RG Colorado
- Thread starter Drover
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- colorado holden colorado
No @bigcol it was a Century deep cycle, a wet one though not a gel as it sits outside so it can vent till the cows come home.
Soon to order new front springs and shocks, Blue Max gear, I have come to the conclusion that I don't think I like McPherson struts, going to be a lot of stuffing around and since I have spring compressors hanging on the board in shed, I must have fought them before on one of my lads vehicle's. Blue Max springs with Sachs shocks and a shortdrive to Bne if they are no good.
Have to buy a Unifilter for the engine as $80 for an Airfilter is a bit rich.
Have to buy a Unifilter for the engine as $80 for an Airfilter is a bit rich.
The mods I did to the solar panels on the back made a heap of differnce !!!!!! Just by giving them about 10 mm clearance from the roof, allowing better air flow has meant the power to the battery is way better, with the fridge running the battery is keeping at 13v even with the fridge cranked up where before it was dropping eventually down to near 12.3 at times, so air flow is crucial it seems. Just have to dot all the "I's"......................................
Replaced the original saggy old front Macpherson's today, the new ones are fantastic, front end is up about 80mm and the vehicle is now nice and level as the rear got done a few weeks back.
Found the squeeky bit in the front as well, seem a common complaint of noisy front ends on Colorado's and dealers have a hard time finding why, I found the why and the easy fix is replace the front struts with decent non genuine units.
Here's the old flogged out Macpherson mounting plate, the shocky bolt had flogged the hole on both sides and would do it again unless you use a better unit.
If you want to DIY I would suggest getting the struts mounted as I didn't and could only get to within 15mm compressing the spring, these new buggers are strong and while my compressors managed the old ones and other stock springs it couldn't do the new jobs, so raced up to the smoke and spent $25 getting them set up ( or buy bigger compressors at $150 plus nah ) once the spring and shock were together then we could get things going but the normal spring/shock combination is a damn sight easier than these mongrel Macpherson struts...............
With no manuals available for the Colorado it's a bit of trial and error.
Strut out.
New one in place......
.............Not as hard as I thought it was going to be and the Spring mob said if I had a Ranger or BT50 I would be spewing as they can be a big pain.....................So all the suspension is now upgraded and it was about $1300 all up but thats doing it myself, I had quotes of $1,600 to $2000 for it to be done in a shop.
So @Smergen and @boots33 if you have noisy front ends here's the fix...........also nearly fell flat on my face when I jumped out the first time, bigger step needed.
Found the squeeky bit in the front as well, seem a common complaint of noisy front ends on Colorado's and dealers have a hard time finding why, I found the why and the easy fix is replace the front struts with decent non genuine units.
Here's the old flogged out Macpherson mounting plate, the shocky bolt had flogged the hole on both sides and would do it again unless you use a better unit.
If you want to DIY I would suggest getting the struts mounted as I didn't and could only get to within 15mm compressing the spring, these new buggers are strong and while my compressors managed the old ones and other stock springs it couldn't do the new jobs, so raced up to the smoke and spent $25 getting them set up ( or buy bigger compressors at $150 plus nah ) once the spring and shock were together then we could get things going but the normal spring/shock combination is a damn sight easier than these mongrel Macpherson struts...............
With no manuals available for the Colorado it's a bit of trial and error.
Strut out.New one in place......
.............Not as hard as I thought it was going to be and the Spring mob said if I had a Ranger or BT50 I would be spewing as they can be a big pain.....................So all the suspension is now upgraded and it was about $1300 all up but thats doing it myself, I had quotes of $1,600 to $2000 for it to be done in a shop.So @Smergen and @boots33 if you have noisy front ends here's the fix...........also nearly fell flat on my face when I jumped out the first time, bigger step needed.
Thanks @Drover. I'm not one to muck around with the suspension as I don't have really have the tools, know how or brass monkeys. I tend to leave this kind of mucking around to the professionals. The suspension will be getting an overhaul next year, just got to work out which ones I'm leaning towards. I'll be interested here how the truck goes with the improved gear.
The story I got was you had to compress the strut and pull stuff off to get them off ? @cruza driver, Though looking at the Son in laws BT, I couldn't see why, it looked easier than mine, I had to unbolt the upper ball joint from the upper wishbone.
So far the ride and handling has improved, but then anything would be an improvement on the old set up, they died quickly with van behind only had 70,000km when I chucked em.
So far the ride and handling has improved, but then anything would be an improvement on the old set up, they died quickly with van behind only had 70,000km when I chucked em.
Yep @G Daddy , will get a wheel alighn done next week, might go for some new rubber as well........it's not really 80mm lift as the suspension was that sagged probably 50 at most I think, have to check the RVD docs and see what it was supposed to be when new.......It is nice though, very pleased with it.
New rubber, set of Falken's fitted, had to keep cost down, toe was 23deg out after popping the balljoints so doing the wheels was a must.
Big question ? Need to do some vents on the shed (canopy) as it's getting too bloody hot in there and the fridge is running all the time. So trying to figure out how to move the air but not let dust in without some fancy filter set up.
Thinking of a computer fan to extract with temp switch but stumped on a inlet thats okay when driving .
Big question ? Need to do some vents on the shed (canopy) as it's getting too bloody hot in there and the fridge is running all the time. So trying to figure out how to move the air but not let dust in without some fancy filter set up.
Thinking of a computer fan to extract with temp switch but stumped on a inlet thats okay when driving .
think I mentioned this before in another thread............?
air vent out of the back of the old Ford Escort Vans.......
maybe something to check out wreckers for mate............
Was thinking that sort of venturi vent or mini whirly bird to extract but what to use to get air in and not dust or rain ? Without getting complicated.
A small donaldson intake off a forklift might be the go, swirl any dust and moisture............thinking cap time.
The back is well sealed, I thought the computer fan for when parked, comes on when it gets hot.
A small donaldson intake off a forklift might be the go, swirl any dust and moisture............thinking cap time.
The back is well sealed, I thought the computer fan for when parked, comes on when it gets hot.
Well kiddies , been awhile since I've written about anything on the mighty Colorado, other things have required my attention so I can say thankfully the Ute hasn't given me any trouble while I've been busy, it's nearly loaded for the big move in a few weeks, just serviced it and doing the fuel filters is such a pleasure. The new suspension has performed very well with Big Mal hanging off it, the WDH improved things though later it may get air bags as it only needs a touch of help and the WDH can come off, time will tell.
Getting around 13.1lt/100 with Big Mal so very happy.
Just haven't had a chance to mod the fuel filler so I can use High Flow, thats gonna be a pain in a month or so when we are up around Karumba and Julia Creek, might have to jury rig something......................................
Getting around 13.1lt/100 with Big Mal so very happy.
Just haven't had a chance to mod the fuel filler so I can use High Flow, thats gonna be a pain in a month or so when we are up around Karumba and Julia Creek, might have to jury rig something......................................
Hey Drover, have you replaced the air filter on the Collie as yet? Went to give it a clean out on the weekend after a heap of dust driving, but couldn't easily get access to it. Was wondering if you had similar difficulties or was I going about it all wrong.
Sure have a couple of times actually, other than the 3 screws it's easier if you pop the air hose off, otherwise it's a big pain, when you change the oil filter you need to pop the air hose off so it will swing out of the way and you can get to it.........I buy Western Filters on Ebay.
Thanks mate, worked it out, definitely not straight forward or as easy as it should be.
Got fed up with fishing rods getting in the flamin way in The Shed, stopped at the hardware and got the gear to make some rod tubes to fit under the tray, a couple of surprises but managed to get a good set up, 2 x100mm x 1900mm tube just used standard pipe saddles Tek screwed with a dash of sikaflex under the tray and the beach, river and Yak rods all fit.............I so miss my ramps, this laying on the ground to work under the truck is a big pain.....
The little grey cells have come up with a brilliant plan for the new workshop, make some long ramps about 400mm high so I can drive the ute onto and at least sit down to work under it and when not in use can be pushed to side or maybe have wheels and be wheeled outside for storage...........only thing that will stop it will be when I cost it, steel is so flamin expensive nowadays.......a hoist is a bit overboard for just servicing one vehicle.