New to Forum

Good evening forum,

This week I bought a 1992 Clipper K570RBX which is now in the car register (46K, 3 owners, 22 VW dealer services).  She's in lovely condition and I'd like to sort out a couple of issues:

- the steering is quite heavy when moving off from a standstill, and seems to understeer when going round sharp corners at medium speed.  Is there anything that can be done about this?
- The car has a modern aerial (not the one in the photo).  Id like to fit a period match electric aerial, and period cassette or CD player modified with bluetooth.  Does anyone know if this is feasible and where to purchase such an item.

Many thanks for your help and I might see you at AG2021!

Matt

The steering is heavy at low speeds especially if used to a more modern power assisted car.. Assuming nothing wrong with yours these cars do understeer in my opinion..

abfmk1 said

The steering is heavy at low speeds especially if used to a more modern power assisted car.. Assuming nothing wrong with yours these cars do understeer in my opinion..

Thank you and I have the car back after a new gasket was fitted under the rocker cover to stop a small oil leak.  The garage owner says my shocks are in good condition so I think I might try replacing the top mounts and spacers, which it is suggested (in this forum) improves the steering.

Mat

If the tracking and camber angle are out it won't help with the steering also tyres make a massive difference.

If you are getting the top mounts changed I would wait till that's done as it will mess up the camber angle when the struts are removed.

Most tyre places won't be able to do the camber angle so phone around 1st to check.

mark1gls said

If the tracking and camber angle are out it won't help with the steering also tyres make a massive difference.

If you are getting the top mounts changed I would wait till that's done as it will mess up the camber angle when the struts are removed.

Most tyre places won't be able to do the camber angle so phone around 1st to check.

Thank you Mark that is very useful.  Are you saying I should have the tracking and camber angles adjusted before or after replacing the top mounts, or both before and after?

Matthew

He is saying any adjustment ie tracking  / camber should be done after the work is completed..

What abfmk1 said, change stuff 1st then get the car set up.

What make of tyres do you have and how old are they?

A lower strut brace is well worth as that will reduce under steer as well as new rubber bushes for the wishbones if they are the original ones.

I've just replaced my bushes and fitted a lower strut brace and the car handles much better when pushing it hard around the corners.

mark1gls said

What abfmk1 said, change stuff 1st then get the car set up.

What make of tyres do you have and how old are they?

A lower strut brace is well worth as that will reduce under steer as well as new rubber bushes for the wishbones if they are the original ones.

I've just replaced my bushes and fitted a lower strut brace and the car handles much better when pushing it hard around the corners.

Thank you I will check and report back the make of tyres though they look reasonably new.  Is there a best choice of tyre for a 1992 1.8 Clipper?  I will also find out if the wishbones are original although I strongly suspect they are.

Thanks, Matthew

There nothing wrong if the wishbones are the original ones as they are better than aftermarket ones it's the rubber bushes you may need to check.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184151902813?hash=item2ae04f0a5d:g:YfcAAOSw0XVeMZC~

Tyres I’m on Goodyear efficient grip performance and very happy with them as good grip in the dry and wet.

like these.
https://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/goodyear-efficientgrip-performance-tyres?size=185-60-14&speed=h&load=82&id=1856014GY1HP  .


    You can check how old the tyres are as they should have the year of manufacture stamped onto the side wall 

Lower brace I fitted.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191991884333?epid=8017025102&hash=item2cb39baa2d:g:gskAAOSwXEdahxI5

Worn top mount




Good top mount, only buy Febi mounts if you can.




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It's not so much the top mount rubber stretching thats the problem with heavy steering. Inside there is a greased ball-race to allows the the strut to turn with the steering/wheels. This can get water and debris in and turn into a rusty blob which doesn't make for easy smooth steering.

Being a late Cabrolet it will have a factory 'K' front lower brace already fitted?

There’s a couple or three videos on YouTube on adding Bluetooth modules into retro radios.
Hirschman Auta 2050 electric Ariel if memory serves me correct is what I fitted to mine.
Some won’t fit because they’re long in the body.


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chortle said

There’s a couple or three videos on YouTube on adding Bluetooth modules into retro radios.
Hirschman Auta 2050 electric Ariel if memory serves me correct is what I fitted to mine.
Some won’t fit because they’re long in the body.


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Thank you Chortle and I just found a Blaupunkt Bremen fitted with Bluetooth, plus Hischmann aerial which has been purchased.  I'll let you know how the fitting goes!