The "Paving Slabs" Story

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HampshireCapri
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The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by HampshireCapri »

I've owned and been driving my Ford Capri on a daily basis for 7 months now, including my 20mile drive to work and back up the M27/M3

In this time I've managed to hear the story about "the friend of mine who used to put paving slabs in the boot to keep it from spinning out." At least six times from random strangers at petrol stations and the like - is there actually any truth to these and has anyone else had similar stories?
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by Caprigear »

I think the two words that spring to mind are bollocks and bullshit!
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gilley576
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by gilley576 »

Have a look at the "2.8i john player special" thread. Its exactly what your describing.
Far too many people have forgotten the joy of just going out to drive!
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Ghia15
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by Ghia15 »

I've heard all this before, sounds like bollocks to me.

When my 2.0 was std there was no problem, now it is tuned I really notice the difference between a full and empty fuel tank, but mainly when I have lead foot moments. Never a problem and it is always predictable. Mainly a problem in the wet, which lets face it, is the weakness for any classic RWD car.

Also driven a 3.0 and never had a desire to put weight in the boot and would never dream of it as all it will do, IMHO, is reduce performance and increase the amount spent on fuel.

I think it is just a rumour that keeps circulating without any basis in truth.
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gilley576
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by gilley576 »

If you end up in a ditch its either because you were driving like a tool, or you don't know how to drive..... In either case, you should be driving a capri!
Far too many people have forgotten the joy of just going out to drive!
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Andrew 2.8i
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

Hi,
Yeah, I've heard these stories a few times as well. Although the only times I've actually seen patio slabs/ bag of cement/ breeze blocks in the boot is when someone is on their way back home from B&Q!
I'm no expert either, but wouldn't putting weight in the boot behind the axle line make the car more likely to slide and harder to catch the back end when it does?
I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong.
All the best,
Andrew.
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Jayman
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by Jayman »

Some bloke at a petrol station told me he used to put wd40 on his fan belt to stop it squeaking...
Since I got a capri I've said "over the moon" a lot more than ever before.
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by Swishy »

Some bloke at a petrol station told me he used to put wd40 on his fan belt to stop it squeaking...
Once encountered someone who had a binding brake caliper - making a squealing noise - so he copper greased his pads (front and back) and put a little WD40 on the discs for good measure.
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pbar
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by pbar »

Jayman wrote:Some bloke at a petrol station told me he used to put wd40 on his fan belt to stop it squeaking...
That's quite common actually, heard of many people doing that in place of proper belt lubricant/changing the belt.

As far as paving slabs in a Capri boot goes, I've lost count the amount of times I've heard that. As well as girders in the back and removing the spare wheel to fill the well with concrete, etc.
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by Adlen85 »

Heard it a hundred times, I don't mind putting up with people's bullshit but it's when the old boys tell me to do it like it's good advice.

I'm young and I drive a Capri, usually low on fuel so there's less weight back there and I've never had a serious accident.

I've spun out a couple of times in the wet and snow taking corners too fast but you live and learn, no amount of concrete is gonna help me being a twat because my car is fun to drive :lol:
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by 280Brooklands »

Jayman wrote:Some bloke at a petrol station told me he used to put wd40 on his fan belt to stop it squeaking...
It works! As does brake fluid. not excessive amounts though!
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stevemarl
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by stevemarl »

:agree: In fact I`m sure I even read that in Haynes once (brake fluid - not WD...)
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pbar
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by pbar »

Silicone spray works too. Only for a limited time though.
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Jayman
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by Jayman »

So does tightening it and a bit of belt dressing too though :P
Since I got a capri I've said "over the moon" a lot more than ever before.
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pbar
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by pbar »

So, on hearing the good old paving slabs 'advice' for the millionth time from someone, how do you guys react? Do you give a groan and give your 'you're an idiot' face, or do you smile politely and give a tactful 'oh really'? I do the latter.
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by Jayman »

pbar wrote:So, on hearing the good old paving slabs 'advice' for the millionth time from someone, how do you guys react? Do you give a groan and give your 'you're an idiot' face, or do you smile politely and give a tactful 'oh really'? I do the latter.
They get a smile and nod from me. They wont listen to anything you tell them otherwise if "you weren't even born" when it used to "happen"
Since I got a capri I've said "over the moon" a lot more than ever before.
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by Sean007 »

i said to my dad about the old paving slab/breeze block story and as all the other numpts, he said it helps, he got the look if shame from me, so as you do i asked him how it helped, funny thing he couldn't answer the question but came out with, "well thats what they all used to do".. my reply was bollocks..
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by nigecapri »

More weight over the back wheels will mean more friction between rubber and tarmac. If you took all the weight out of and off the car ( made of superlightweight air/spaceshuttle alloy ) then went on a crash-diet :| then filled the tyres with helium, then drove off down the road in it, the first little bump you hit would have your car floating off the road and over that ditch/hedge.
The extra weight of a sack of cement would hold your car down more and marginally increase tyre grip on cornering. The downside would be that due to some mysterious inversely proportionate equation, the extra weight also produces extra velocity (mass in a straight line etc. etc.) meaning that your car is more reluctant to turn a corner - it wants to keep going straight. So you try to go fast round a corner with slab in boot, you can go maybe one or two mph faster but you're then even more certain to end up in that ditch/hedge.
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by stevemarl »

nigecapri wrote: due to some mysterious inversely proportionate equation
F = ma
There is a trade off between the extra side force when cornering which increases linearly and the extra friction due to downforce at the tyre which may not be linear??
Another factor is that the greater the mass the greater the difficulty in damping the springs tendency to oscillate. (if you`ve ever driven a Viva with 8 people in it you`ll know....)
Overall, I know concrete would also improve the ratio of sprung to unsprung mass ( not a capri strong point) but I still don`t think it holds water. AND I`m bloody certain that no-one I knew `back in the day` actually had concrete in boot. Although we WERE told the police did.... :)
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Re: The "Paving Slabs" Story

Post by pbar »

That could be a good challenge, to find someone who, back in the day, did actually have a boot full of concrete! Instead of just the myth, folklore and fairy stories.
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