The Robin Decided to Break in a Fun Way

[@ZGryphon]

In the alternate universe where the Robant exists, there is presumably a hilariously-badly-made English car called the Reliant Trabin. And that universe's Robert Dunn has both of them.

[@brendancross2767]

You mean Dobert Runn

[@lasskinn474]

reliant niva, it's a an offroad 3wd'er.

[@hyperturbotechnomike]

An alternate universe where he finished the bus, but his workshop is just a pit, which doesn't have walls or a roof yet.

[@RockyFoxxowo]

@@hyperturbotechnomike his geewho broke

[@Elena14204]

@@brendancross2767 my immediate thoughts

[@Asher.Yodaah]

A three wheeled Trabant. A dream car. A nightmare is a type of dream.

[@mrjed6912]

That does exist. Bond Minicar

[@denryaron6238]

Tri-bant

[@greylocke100]

Back when I worked as a delivery courier in St. Louis, I used to pick up spring packs from St. Louis Spring 2,3, sometimes 7 or 8 times a week. A few times I picked up there 6 times in one day. My poor Ford Ranger got a work out picking up there, because several times they would need a fork lift to load up the spring packs I was delivering to service shops. The employees there were some of the absolute NICEST, people I ever had to pick up from. They never made me wait, every time I showed up, I was usually loaded up and back on the road in less then 15 minutes.

[@calvarycustoms6681]

I’m in LOS ANGELES, the veritable center of the universe… and I’ll bet dollars to donuts that I have not the slightest chance of finding a spring shop like that. I actually want to give them some business JUST BECAUSE. 👍🏼

[@wolfshanze5980]

@@calvarycustoms6681 the reason the rest of the world hates LA is because everyone in LA thinks LA is the center of the universe (news flash, it isn't)

[@e_filippo]

Can't believe how reasonable the price was for those springs.

[@stevenbrannen1568]

Probably because they were like, "He has a what? Sell at cost he will be back." LOL

[@remyllebeau77]

Well, it is a reasonably priced car. Now all we need is a course and some celebrities to drive it round.

[@michaelkrenzer3296]

Most decent size cities have leaf spring place and they cater 99% for heavy trucks. Much like axle shops, electric motor rebuilders, actual radiator shops that recore/tank radiators, these services have become 100% obsolete for modern cars. What once would have been been 5-6 axle/diff/friction (for example) shops in a city of 300K people it is down to 3 for the entire Metro Chicago area including NWI...but they still exist and they are still "way more reasonable than I would have expected" because much the equipment, tooling, jigs have been in service since the 1950's or before.

[@xani666]

Well, it is just piece of steel bent right way.

[@rogersmith7396]

@@michaelkrenzer3296 Price drum brakes. They usually give them away.

[@amnflury]

Your rear axle is off to one side because you tightened that side with the higher rate spring first. Your best course of action would be to loosen all the bolts, set the car on the ground, work the suspension a bit (bounce the car by hand), then re-tighten all the bolts with the weight of the car on the suspension.

[@davidjernigan8161]

Also since you had a broken spring check the spring hangers didn't get bent

[@willingmrkay]

You beat me to it!

[@x66Hawk66x]

I don't think it's that simple, in this case, the car has had allot of bodgery done. Ideally he should have had OEM standard leaf springs shipped from the UK , along with the correct U bolts, he can also bin the odd none standard home made spacers too.

[@foodhatesme]

@@x66Hawk66x the aftermarket parts aren't the problem, they're likely better than factory. It just requires adjusting, which can be a major pain in the ass.

[@1950sAmericanFather]

@@LazloNQ i believe you meant Dunn Right.

[@nikha1291]

It's always useful to have a can't of lubrican on hand

[@raven4k998]

the leaf spring shop saved Robert from shoddy work he did not know about on the other side of his robin professionalism to the rescue😃

[@DeviantOllam]

Only you can find so much joy in annoying and unexpected repairs and the fact that you choose to convey that joy to all of us is what makes you special. ☺️👍

[@NaoPb]

To be fair, it would make me happy too to find out that a local shop can replace parts on my unique little vehicle for a fair price.

[@perplxxd]

luckily leaf springs are pretty interchangeable, only thing you have to worry about is size

[@rogersmith7396]

Some KZbinrs spend $40,000 to get cars to disassemble for content.

[@Chronic2001]

Lol figured you'd be around these parts after a mention in one of your latest vids.

[@Dje4321]

Strange seeing you here. Love the content (Both of you :D)

[@Turk380]

St. Louis Spring is a godsend to St. Louis. twice i've used them for what I thought would be completely esoteric spring orders (a 1958 Plymouth Fury, and a 1956 Studebaker pickup) and in both cases they not only had the ORIGINAL SPECS on-hand, but made them up in less than 24hrs!

[@Noah_E]

If you still have the truck and need parts in the future check out Studebaker International. I have a 1963 Lark and 1955 and 1953 trucks. They've had everything I needed over the years that I wanted new vs grabbing it from my dad's collection. He ran Early Restorations for thirty years before retiring and still has two twelve car garages full of Studebaker cars and parts going back to 1942.

[@compu85]

Isn't it amazing when you find a vendor like this!

[@firefly2k7uk]

Keep these places in business. They are one in a million

[@bachaddict]

@@firefly2k7uk Pretty sure they're in no danger of losing business, apart from copying old stuff there's a lot of people needing completely custom springs for offroad rigs, and of course commercial trucks needing beefier springs etc.

[@OdiesGarage]

@@Noah_E I was about to ask if that's where he went when he said a local place..... we use them

[@brendancross2767]

I just checked the website for the spring people, at least a decade is an understatement "Since 1945, this family-owned business has provided leaf springs and accessories for St. Louis and surrounds"

[@adamengelhart5159]

The *whole metro area?* Those must be some *gigantic* leaf springs! 😮

[@drussell_]

Yeah, our local shop (Standen's) has been around since 1924. I think they're even still in the original location.

[@robpeabo509]

Robert was referring to their prices being a decade old, not the business.

[@AgentTasmania]

@@adamengelhart5159 I believe there's a big arch in St Louis

[@zane1os]

In the landrover leaf spring world you are always advised to leave all bolts loose until the weight of the vehicle is on its wheels. This will allow everything to sit correctly. Them you tighten it up.

[@RyanKlapperich]

I feel like this would be standard for most vehicles. I haven't done leaf springs on anything, but when I did front control arms, that was the instruction. Don't torque them to spec until the suspension is under load.

[@zorktxandnand3774]

I guess in the robin you better put some weight in the back first.

[@popuptoaster]

@@RyanKlapperich that applies to pretty much any part that has rubber bushings, they need to be settled in the load bearing position before being tightened up or they will have permanent tension in them leading to early failure or weird handling.

[@MichaelOnines]

If you are delivering a batch of birthday balloons the weight on the rear will be the same as when on the lift rack.

[@beardyface8492]

That's about what it says in the Haynes book for the Robin too, the difference is you can get under a Land Rover to do it, to tighten everything with a Robin on the ground you need to be built like an eight year old, or own a modified 4 post lift with an extra wheel platform up the centre.

[@piccalillipit9211]

*A FEW YEARS AGO* I needed a new output transformer for a vintage tube amplifier - I was astonished to fund a company 20 miles from me in the Uk that would custom wind a vacuum tube output transformer for me next day - £25 I was TOTALLY blown away - Called PENNINE RADIO LTD - if you make / repair vacuum tube amplifiers - look them up. GOD BLESS these old companies that still exist.

[@turbo_alice]

robert, i heard you really meant it when you said "thanks for watching", and i just wanted to remind you that you are doing great, and your comunity will always be there for you if you need.

[@KevCampbell]

Small specialist businesses like the spring guys are an absolute treasure - I've had the good fortune to find a few such across the years.

[@MoultrieGeek]

and unfortunately a dying breed. Support your local small business!

[@Ampera_]

Robant had me imagining what a three wheeled Trabant would be like. Hilarious, and terrifying no doubt.

[@warmstrong5612]

That would be the Reliant Regal.

[@robertlewis4216]

@@warmstrong5612 Or a Bond Minicar

[@rogersmith7396]

At least they are landfill compatible. Bio degradable.

[@crackedemerald4930]

It would probably be faster

[@zorktxandnand3774]

So a 2 stroke Robin with front wheel drive AKA a 3X1.

[@ionstorm66]

Spring shops are no joke. I need some front leafs for a 95 F250, as one side had flattened. Rock auto was $300 each for Chinese ones. Went to the local shop and they quoted me $250 for a pair. They called me an hour after I dropped them off and ask if I just wanted to re arch the existing ones as they looked good. Had no idea that was a thing. They temper the springs, bend them back, then temper them again. Then pressed in new bushings, and painted them. Total cost? $50. 50 bucks??? I asked him if he was sure, and he literally said it took him 15 minutes, plus 10 minutes from his helper to paint them. Definitely not 2022 pricing.

[@davebrittain9216]

Hey just a tip, loosen the bolts on the springs on either end as well as the U bolts. Push hard on the back of the car and make it bounce up and down and you will most likely find that the axle will settle where it is supposed to be.

[@chassegallerie2910]

Robert, you're a piece of work! PLEASE never change the way you work around your silly odd cars! You video was so entertaining! And I laughed so hard when you went in your coop with your machete! Hope you didn't traumatise your turkeys too much!

[@rogersmith7396]

I was waiting for him to pull the car off the lift and onto his head.

[@arthuralford]

One of those turkeys is going to get the ultimate trauma in a few days, I bet

[@Timbobjr]

He was just basting the fear turkey, as a certain vampire would say

[@vintageshed965]

To the theme of broken suspension. Check your rear arms on your Trabant. They're made from stamped sheet metal welded together, the corrosion resistance is atrocious and they are known to rust profusely. They either break in half, or the end that hold the busing splits open. They tend to fail in the worst way possible, either while braking or going trough the corner, if you are unlucky, the wheel stuffs itself inside the wheel well, car looses control, snaps sideways and starts rolling over its roof.

[@BooVeMan]

I almost dare not to ask, but how do you know? (and live to tell)

[@vintageshed965]

@@BooVeMan Fortunately, I changed mine right as they were about to fail. Those who weren't so lucky documented everything on the owners forum.

[@RawcomputerAZ]

40 years ago, I broke a leaf spring on my Pinto. I don't remember how much the dealer wanted for them but I found a local shop that made them many times cheaper. Glad to see there are still shops that do this.

[@raven4k998]

yeah and they will always be out there cause leaf spring will always break and need replacement and people need work to pay there bills

[@corringhamdepot4434]

I drove a Robin in the UK on my motorcycle license around 1980. I seem to remember there being a recall on the steering box mounts. Which had a habit of breaking off. I did enjoy driving it as fast as I could around twisty country lanes. Remember having to drive it backwards up an icy hill to get to work. As pushing the front wheel up hill on ice, just made it slide sideways. People used to buy them thinking that "plastic" never rusted, but the chassis melted like sugar in water, when driven on salt treated winter roads.

[@mrjed6912]

The galvanized chassis helped though right? I'm planning on testing my Reliant Rialto in winter this year.

[@corringhamdepot4434]

@@mrjed6912 The galvanized chassis was introduced on the Rialto. A few late Robins may have had them. Back in the 70s/80s we treated cars with lashings of Waxoyl before manufacturers started rustproofing cars properly.

[@mrjed6912]

@@corringhamdepot4434 Thanks. I'll try to do some skids in it in a safe area. If it even snows

[@x66Hawk66x]

The early mk.1 Robins did have steering boxes issues, Reliant motors did fix the issue in later mk.1 Robins, however the Robins reputation was badly damaged because of this, it was the reason Reliant changed the cars name to Rialto.

[@mrjed6912]

@@x66Hawk66x So the Rialto is basically just a MK2 Robin meaning the one from 2000 could be considered a MK4?

[@Broke4speed]

I like Robert Dunn and Aging Wheels because he always triumphs in a competent, yet dangerous, way. It's very relateable :).

[@ralphlongo1975]

When you said lubri can't, I thought "What you need is some Lubri Can." Then you made me very proud!

[@Phiyedough]

I find Americans often pronounce can't as can anyway, in UK we pronounce it "carnt", which is less ambiguous.

[@HomebrewHorsepower]

Your spring shop would have definitely swapped that incorrect bushing for you for free. Of course I understand not wanting to deal with taking it back. My town has a spring shop like that too. They're just as awesome.

[@the_undead]

He is also demonstrated many times on both of his channels that he likes doing stupid fiddly things because he finds it fun. So seeing is he would enjoy fixing the problem himself and could probably do it faster than taking it back to the spring shop to get the correct part. That was really the only option he was ever going to do. Remember this is the same guy that basically rebuilt his table saw from the ground up just because

[@johnr8856]

Before tackling a project that requires assisting gravity with a strap tied to the frame, proper etiquette mandates a note, coffee, and snacks are placed nearby for EMS/first responders. Loved the video, couldn't stop laughing.

[@snuups]

This is so touching seeing you caring for these DEATHTRAPS. I love your show a lot. A big woof from Switzerland.

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[@lofty7180]

weve owned a Regal and 3 Robins , ive never seen a spring snap like that before. Great to see you working on this fun little car/tricycle.

[@x66Hawk66x]

Looking at his setup, it's has allot of bodge work done in the past, A double leaf setup and the spacers are not normal on a Reliant. It appears that something heavy has been put in the car in the past and the owner reinforced the spring by adding a extra leaf to stop them sagging, but also propped the hight of the car to compensate for clearance issues because of the weight added. The original leaf springs have two small locating pins one them centre the axel, on the leaf, however with the added spacers, that would have required longer pins. The original pins were drilled out and new ones fitted, it's hard to say based on the video, but when compared to stock leaf's the pins also appear to be a larger diameter. I think in this case the springs were weakened at that point because of the pin replacement.

[@mrjed6912]

@@x66Hawk66x well said

[@PrestoTarantula]

Never stop being you, this as all the other videos are just such spark of joy and involvement

[@TheComputerGuyDR]

HEY! My dad used these guys quite often when we did Trailer repair. His shop closed back in 2009, but still. Glad to hear they are still doing good. ☺

[@riyadth]

Thanks for all the work you put in to share your stories with us! I hope to see many more in the future. But, as I often tell students at my high school robotics club, "wear your safety glasses!" Your eyes are important to me, as I don't think it would be easy for you to edit video without them 😞

[@TheDistur]

Working under rusty old cars I have come to appreciate a face shield.

[@bryco32]

St Louis Spring is Awesome! I've had several springs set's made there! Suzuki lift springs, Jeep CJ lift springs and 4 ton truck springs. They have always taken care of me. My Dad used them when he was younger as well.

[@michaelcoe5628]

My dad owned two reliants, one being a Reliant Regal van that he converted to an estate (station wagon). I can attest to watching his own work on the reliant that some of what you found is quite possibly factory-normal for reliant.

[@DahVoozel]

Reliant. Built by hand, one at a time?

[@mrjed6912]

I don't think it's factory standard. I think it's because people who bought them and fixed them had almost no work experience

[@MrDuncl]

@@mrjed6912 The people who bought Robins were usually the type who thought the original Mini was expensive and extravagant.

[@mrjed6912]

@@MrDuncl Well the Reliant did offer more. If I'm honest with you, if i were alive at the time I'd buy a Regal over a mini any day. I just love them for what they are.

[@watchout5508]

I love this guys humor and charisma! Every new video makes me smile with joy

[@rogersmith7396]

It must have worn thin on the wife.

[@watchout5508]

@@rogersmith7396 was thinking the same lol

[@BuzzinsPetRock78]

Now I might be a noob here, but wouldn't it have saved you the acrobatics if you tied the ratchet strap to the underside of the axel jack?

[@agingwheels]

Oh my god. I'm an idiot. I was in the process of writing out a comment telling you the jack isn't heavy enough when I realized it's UNDER THE AXLE

[@Count_Smackula]

Or run the ratchet strap from the frame, under the axle, and back up to the frame.

[@arthuralford]

@@Count_Smackula That was my first thought

[@jorrdanna6219]

​@@agingwheels I think the easier thing to do would be to bolt the front of the spring first (loosely) , Then attach the back of the spring (loosely again,) and then attach the axle(loosely,) and then put the car on the ground and tighten it up. Then you can do the shocks and stuff last.

[@llearch]

Yeah, but it wouldn't have been anything like as entertaining as sitting here watching him (try to) stand on it, now, would it? ;-] Love the videos, love the work.

[@mattwalker4034]

Cool car, the front number plate cracks me up every time I see it

[@tbray]

This is one of those cars that I've wanted since I was a kid visiting my Nana in the UK and saw them *everywhere*. I love your videos, but the Reliant ones are definitely my favourites.

[@mrjed6912]

Same! My brother bought a Rialto not too long ago. Constantly trying to stop him from selling it.

[@dingo137]

Must have been a while ago - I haven't seen one for years.

[@MrDuncl]

@@dingo137 I very occasionally see one, usually with a pensioner driving it. Nowadays, it is probably easier to pass your car test than a full size motorbike test so the days of riding a Triumph Trident and driving a Robin on the same easily obtained licence (which is what a colleague did in the 1980s) are over.

[@tbray]

@@dingo137 It was - I lived there in 1983 to go to art college and sadly haven't been back since. I remember my uncle bought my cousin a Fiat 500 for 50 pounds while I was there - I was *so* jealous.

[@supersimon126]

I'm starting to think the reason you mixed Reliant Robin and Trabant at one point is because the Robin is just as much of a deathtrap after having seen the suspension "work" that a previous owner did to it.

[@MrLothsmodelmaking]

Best to get new mudflaps or an anti gravel undercoat for the udnerside of the rear body panel. Otherwise gravel and road dirt will eat away at that cheap paint and then the fiberglass underneath in the underside area right behind the wheel.

[@squirrelmanbob]

I drove one of these when I was a motorbike mechanic (big fast Japanese bikes not Harley type bikes with the occasional exception), here in the UK people back in the day used to buy them because you can drive one on a motorbike licence so they didn't have to pass a car test too. It came in to work as a trade in deal for a bike but had a notchy steering box so I had to change it and road test after. It was the most frightening thing I've driven or ridden in my life, I've driven plenty of fast cars such as Aston Martin Vanquish, Impreza group A rally cars, I spent a year of my life working at Bentley so I got to play in the Arnage black label and Continental GT and the list goes on including a host of highly modified Ford RS cars and couple of Impreza STI's I've owned but nothing scared me like the Robin did.

[@thedungeondelver]

I'm just over here waiting for an episode of Junkyard Digs where they find a Trabant (a Trabin?) in a garage or field somewhere in Iowa and we have this amazing collab between you and JYD.

[@LoveTriscuit]

I have next to no interest in cars or mechanic things, I found you through the woodworking channel. I have watched hours of Aging Wheels now because you are simply incredible to watch. I could watch videos of you cutting grass. In fact, I have!

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

When you found St Louis Spring Co it must have been such a releaf

[@J.R.in_WV]

Spring shops are one business I can honestly say every one I ever dealt with provided good products, did good work in a reasonable timeframe, and charged a reasonable price. I’ve dealt with 4 different shops in 2 different geographic areas and they were all great. Support your local spring shop!!!

[@rhiantaylor3446]

You've had a Trabant and a Reliant Robin, surely now its time for a Bond Bug ?

[@CalgarGTX]

I'm always amazed that something as janky as leaf springs was invented at any point and someone looked at it and said : 'yeah this will work as a suspension component'

[@davidjones332]

You have to remember that they've been around on horse-drawn vehicles for at least 300 years -there's a reason they're often called "cart springs"....

[@andrewallen9993]

Not only do leafs act as springs but also as friction shock absorbers and dampers. Coil springs don't.

[@the_undead]

The biggest advantage that I can tell leaf springs have is their simple to implement and when they do break they're relatively easy to make, as far as I can tell, they've been used for over 300 years which implies that with relatively simple metal working tools you could probably make one yourself. It won't be up to modern standards but you could do it

[@davebrittain9216]

You definitely have to get a set of ratchet wrenches! One of the best inventions in the last 50 years!

[@the_undead]

Technically he does have a ratcheting wrench, It's that Milwaukee powered wrench thing. It just doesn't fit in all spaces so he wouldn't use a traditional ratcheting wrench much if at all

[@davebrittain9216]

@@the_undead That actually is not a ratchet wrench. I am talking about a ratchet wrench/gear wrench. It looks like a typical combination wrench but the box end works like a ratchet. I am not sure if it will let me post a link here here but after this comment I will try. I really like the flex head ones. They work so very well!

[@the_undead]

@@davebrittain9216 a ratcheting wrench is a wrench that doesn't require you to remove set wrench from the bolt in order to reorient it, that powered thing from Milwaukee can absolutely be used as a manual wrench and is ratcheting when used in this manner. So a ratcheting wrench can be all kinds of things because the definition is vague and not an exact set of dimensions and capabilities

[@elc7795]

Saint Louis spring is awesome! I have used them for year for everything from a 3/4 ton to my dump trucks. They are the too good yet true shop!

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

Seeing those springs reminded me that people here in Brazil make takedown bows outta VW Beetle springs.

Beetles do not have leaf springs. They have torsion bars...

[@haydnroberts8614]

Had 3 of these in the UK. Great Fun to drive and very simple to maintain. This guy has the right idea and goes with the points of least resistance …

[@micrashed]

These videos are brilliant. I do enjoy them. The Reliant tripods are an "interesting" drive.

[@ModelA]

I hope that Robert never changes, just like that spring shop.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

there's an alternate timeline where instead of importing cars from the USSR, britain exported Robins to the USSR

[@RichieRouge206]

This car is a hoot. You never see them on the roads here in the UK anymore but they’re fun! Great repair/upgrade Rob

[@philgrimsey3637]

Last one I saw was demonstrating the down side of an open differential and had got itself stuck on a metal manhole (f'nar) cover. Much unleashing of its 850cc, a little smoke and a high pitch squeal that had me laughing. Lots. Also saw one nearly tip over in a car park but that's another story.....

[@Zeem4]

I see them around occasionally. There's one in my home town, one I've seen in Mablethorpe, and I overtook a beige Rialto on the A46 near Lincoln recently. Even more recently I saw a "rat look" Mk 2 Robin in Morrisons car park, which I instantly fell in love with.

[@RilsR]

I wonder if you could've used the ratchet strap to pull the axle up to the frame.

[@dwaynezilla]

That leaf spring work and price is really good! Especially on that turnaround (like mentioned)! St. Louis Spring Co doing good work. Always nice to see and use businesses with products & services like that.

[@AlanTOwen]

The whole time you were pulling the car DOWN with the ratchet strap, you had my nerves on edge! The Robin- light as a feather- that can crush you. 😂

[@agingwheels]

Doing it was one thing. Watching it float around over the lift arm while I was editing was a completely different experience 😬

[@flaturiah]

@@agingwheels That's 2 steps of danger ahead of me pulling on my truck before realising I had my jack stand *DIRECTLY ON* the leaf spring. Don't ask me what I was thinking, I only realised my mistake until after there was a horrible shifting noise!

[@Poppy323F]

As someone from the North of England where these are almost all located, this is truly amazing.

[@BungleBare]

Fellow Northern Monkey here😉 Surviving former Reliant owners round my way (average age; 91) seem to have transferred their affections to three vehicles. 1) Suzuki Celerio. Almost invariably in white. 2) Hyundai i10. Usually in silver. Hyundai must have done a deal with free metallic paint though - these are not the kind of “fellas” who would pay for fripperies such as metallic paint. 3) Dacia Sandero. But only the Billy Basic “Access” trim level, in Hotpoint white, with black plastic bumpers and no goodies - not even the optional radio. All three vehicles are driven at no more than 47mph (the “safe” cruising speed of a Robin - they’re used to that), and display kerbed front wheels (often to the point of wheel trims having popped off, where applicable - the Dacias don’t have decadent trim like wheel trims; no doubt a combination of being used to a Robin’s single front wheel never hitting kerbs in the past and a shockingly low level of driving ability. More advanced former Robin owners can even skilfully remove all markings from the sidewalls of their near-side front tyres by repeated scuffing along a kerb, resulting in the enigma that is a “mystery brand” tyre on that corner of the car. Their dogged pursuit of automotive misery is something to behold. But only from a safe distance. They’re modern-day Mr Magoos.

[@juststeve5542]

So here I am, a Brit, watching an American dismantle a Reliant Robin... Something I've never seen an Englishman do either online, or in real life.

[@mrjed6912]

There's people who do it. They just have minimal views

[@Adderkleet]

Thank you for the explicit declaration of sponsorship at the very start of the video. Now to continue watching the video.

[@lateefcarrere1649]

This video was a great break from the quiet monotony of my day. Thanks!😁 BTW, that's a heck of a blade.

[@richardhalliday6469]

Great video, the Reliant 3 wheeler, fantastic bread and butter motoring, a throw back to more simpler times when you could actually repair cars for a reasonable cost.

[@rogersmith7396]

Clarkson was'nt a fan.

[@rogersmith7396]

They did shoot one into space.

[@MrDuncl]

@@rogersmith7396 He wasn't a fan of the Maserati biturbo either. Too much of a poor mans car for him ?

[@drumbrakes]

C'mon, Hanging your weight on a ratchet strap might be good for comedy video moments, but not for easily working on the vehicle. Just put the ratchet strap around the frame and the axle and tighten the two against each other till the damper (not a shock absorber!) is in position. Rubber Leaf spring bushes and leaf U-bolts should be tightened with the springs loaded, so leave the ratchet strap in place while you do that. For the forward back alignment - do you have one of the springs in back-to-front? The locating pin might not be exactly in the middle.

[@agingwheels]

Okay, but there was no good place to attach the strap to the frame. Where I did hook it on was a good foot in front of the axle. And no, the springs are not back to front.

[@1unsung971]

Wonderfully eclectic, ingenious and entertaining. Bravo Sir and thank you for all your hard work in preparing videos for your excellent channel. Our first family car was a 1950s Reliant; devastatingly simple to take apart, so my Dad and Grandad replaced floor boards, undersealed the chassis and got the engine running smoothly again. Registration cost the same as a motorbike in the UK back then, so it was the cheapest car all round that Dad could afford. It was agony to travel in the back as young teenagers and the front wheel would lift in a decent crosswind. Wild ride for sure. All the best to you from Wellington, New Zealand.

[@lorenzo_br5803]

There's a red Lada next to the Trabant! 1:05 You haven't made a video about that car - new purchase? ;)

[@agingwheels]

Got it about two months ago. I procrastinated making the video and now it's winter and salty. You'll find out about it eventually!

[@lorenzo_br5803]

@@agingwheels neat!! I’ll be waiting!

[@docnele]

That is the thing he keeps for the black ice on the road ;) Kid you not, that beast can be driven on it using throttle, brakes, and the handbrake for steering (as it always pulls to one side). Steering wheel is just in the way :)

[@MasticinaAkicta]

Always nice to see local businesses make high quality replacement products for such old cars. With those springs it will be happily bouncing alone for a while. Seeing the rest... eh, well, probably long enough to see the bottom of the car rust away.

[@I_am_Allan]

The Robin is ... hibernating?

[@kerbalized]

I absolutely LOVE these old school parts shops When we were rebuilding the engine on my old Mazdaspeed3, my dad found a local head exchange place. Literally just 3 old school machinists in a shop thats had the mortgage paid off for 20 years. Brought in the bad head, walked out with a shiny remanufactured one. 1/2 the price of online stores, 1/3rd the price of a new one (with an employee discount), only needed 3 days notice so they could confirm they had the right one on hand

[@OfficialZachsTechTurf-b8e]

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[@dgpsf]

At about 8:35 when you were hanging from the car trying to knock it off the lift to crush you, only the fact that the beginning of the video didn't feature a eulogy by your wife kept me from panicking. BE CAREFUL, FOR GOD'S SAKE!

[@stevemonkey6666]

It's good to see there are still old-school businesses who actually do something for a living and charge reasonably for it.

[@McCarronMotorWorks]

Local spring shops are the last of a dying breed. Got a couple awesome spring places by me that are the same way, they don't price gouge and have quality USA made springs. Recently had some made for my buddies 1 ton truck after his China ebay specials flattened out and cracked after one year of use.

[@ozztelorman7057]

The irony that this car is called "Reliant" never ceases to amaze me 😊 The Robant would be a sight to behold - the project car of my life!

[@x66Hawk66x]

Nothing unreliable about the Reliant, as you seem to imply. the failure here is the result of bodge work.

[@therustedtincan3385]

You, Aging Wheels, run a very refreshing channel. Thank you.

[@Quackalott]

When you do drive it come Spring, put some ballast in the back like a couple of (or more) sand bags or paving slabs, it'll wear the springs in quicker and improve the ride while doing so. Your channel rocks man!

[@SpikerDragon95]

4:50 stuff went from 0 to 100 real quick

[@albertstadt9853]

You have changed my life. After 57 years, I will henceforth be using the term Lubrican instead of Lubricant. No more negativity!

[@scatmancraig1974]

As far as I know, later Robins have a galvanised chassis, so driving in the winter should be fine. Early ones didn't, and I can attest to that when I attempted to carry 6 people in my Regal (the predecessor to the original Robin), and the spring mount rusted off the chassis and came through the floor...

[@mrjed6912]

It's also a very basic chassis. I'm sure it would be easy to protect. Especially the front wheel arm

[@Zeem4]

All Reliants from the Rialto onwards have galvanised chassis. They can still rust in certain places though.

[@nevco8774]

This channel is amazing: it is focused on such cars which were notoriously used as a but of some jokes even yet with some love most weird vehicles in the world are driven here for fun. Long live the genuine love to extremely quirky vehicles!

[@grumpyglyn1065]

I am glad that you drive the 'crap' out of it. Here in the UK they always seemed to be driven that way. My mother had a Reliant Kitten, which was the 4 wheel version of the Robin. It was great fun to drive, like a go - kart !

[@iana6713]

There's some brave soul who still drives one of those things around my home town in Scotland - a powder blue Kitten. It is...ahem... enthusiastically driven too!

[@grumpyglyn1065]

@@iana6713 There is something about them, you get in them, and a bit of crazy takes over !

[@Donald_Shaw]

Another great DIY educational video. Thanks Robert -- you're the best!!!

[@TailSpinRCSpain]

I had a Supervan 3 (1971 model) then a Robin (1974 model) before I passed my car license. Put ladder bars on the roof for transporting my hang glider. Put a spacer kit and 10 inch Mini wheels with wider tyres on the rear. It was a BEAST, LOL.

[@Madiba100]

Thanks for that, It was amusing and entertaining. Robins certainly are a good indication of why mud island has no car industry any more!

[@bobk2111]

St.louis spring rocks! Ive used them TONS! Always a great experience

[@paulwaldrop]

You are a very handy individual. Necessity is the mother of invention. Great job.

[@tastitas3]

You can tie the frame to the legs of the lift and push the axle up to put the shock back on the axle. Alternatively, a big ratchet swap around the axle tied to the subframe/frame and a pry bar to actuate the ratchet strap for extra strength.

[@brandonlehman7440]

aging wheels is 100% my comfort KZbin channel

[@BlueOvals24]

"Robant" now I would love to see the Frankenstein mobile that would make!

[@across8339]

Over here in Blighty I once saw an old boy loading paving slabs into the back of his ageing Robin Reliant, at a DIY store. He already had around 10 in the back, the wheels were disappearing into the arches and he had at least 8 more to go; that makes around 250kg load! I didn't hang around to see the comedy wheelies or inevitable breakdown truck arriving.

[@nickwheeler8231]

Axle U-bolts are consumables. And you knew yours were knackered, so undoing them was daft. Cut them off with the grinder or gas axe and save a load of time and hassle. And cut off the extra length once you've fitted the new ones....

[@sweetpigfarm3645]

St. Louis we still have 2 starter and alternator rebuilders in the area that I know of. They will even sell you brushes if thats all you need. STL spring is a good shop!

[@doctorspooger5966]

Adding that extra step of rounding off the nut is best done when tightening something you'll have to remove during your next maintenance

[@berkkarsi]

Teacher: What's so funny? Me: Nothing My brain: Robant

[@ProjectEurobeat]

Relyin Robant

[@garyslentzii2796]

TRW selected my dad's yellow 1974 Corvette Stingray to try out their new composite rear leaf spring, that was about 35+ years ago. It was still on it when it was sold with no issues.

[@ScottHammet]

The knife gag with the turkeys was unexpected, and quite funny.

[@SpikerDragon95]

3:02 "oh boy... oh noOOoOOooO" yeap everyone who owns old cars say that

[@ColonelVermel]

Thank you for the video. Your optimism and humour are refreshing and very entertaining!

[@fredmahar5431]

Great video Robert!!!!....absolutely love the Robin....and the Trabant too...thanks!

[@caseygunn9627]

Wow at the work man.. Glad you had some help sorta. Thanks for taking us along.

[@OfficialZachsTechTurf-b8e]

👆👆👆👆👆 Thanks for Commenting👍 Congratulations 🎊 You have been randomly selected for the ongoing Giveaway📦🎁!!!.… contact me Above for prize

[@hetile]

I'm not into cars at all.. I've never actually fixed anything myself on a car. I'm subscribed to you channel and watch because you are very entertaining to watch (and suffer). Very nice content!

[@richardbell7678]

The nuts on the u-bolts seem to have gotten loose. I used to perform fatigue tests on leaf springs and they usually break just outside the clamped region (the clamped region is between the two u-bolts). For the main leaf of the spring to break at the middle, it must not have been solidly clamped. Find out the maximum torque that the bolts can bear and then snug the nuts to that torque.

[@Lee01Mr]

I always enjoy these videos. And atleast I don't feel alone when something random breaks in a funny way😄

[@gryfandjane]

I knew what this issue was as soon as I saw the first photo. I’ve had the rear springs break on both sides of my MG Midget, and was able to rebuild each of them with a main leaf from a donor spring.