Track control arm bushes needed to be replaced.
I replaced the whole braking system, shoes, wheel cylinders, pipes, hoses, disks, pads, calipers, master cylinder and fluid. The brakes were still spongy..
I never got to the bottom of a nasty 'clunk' from the front suspension when reversing at manouevering speed.
The old T5 gearbox was getting a bit difficult to put into gear, but a new clutch sorted that out.
The rear wheel arches were starting to bubble up through the plastic trim pieces, but all in all it wasn't too rusty for the age.
Leaky fuel tank was replaced with a new one, and a rusted fuel line was replaced with a stainless braided flexi pipe.
Trim and seats were showing signs of age and creaked quite a bit.
Performance exhaust really needed to be replaced, but I just kept patching it up.
I reckon the XR4i was the last rear drive muscle car that Ford released in the UK. It was very fast in a straight line, and handled well enough in the dry. In the wet though it was a real handful. Roundabouts could be fun!
The performance exhaust sounded fantastic. It went from a V8-type rumble at low rpm to a wailing banshee scream at high rpm.
I never got the brakes up to a level matching the power of the car. Maybe a new servo would have helped.
The fuel consumption was pretty typical of a 2.8i, 30 MPG on a run, but down to the low teens if I used the power.
The 4x4 I've replaced it with is much more understated, has far more traction, better brakes (with ABS), and just feels much safer. The 2.9i goes just as well, with a little more torque at the bottom end. Still, nothing matches the XR4i for sheer boy racer looks, noise and tyre-burning, over-steering fun.
Oops I meant to say the gearbox was a type 9, not a T5.
My XR4i has just got to the end of it's 22 year life, with a corroded rear sub-frame. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the old girl for many-a-good power slide! I loved her for the sheer fun on wet roads! I had Ashley manifolds and exhaust on mine, and she was the sweetest sounding car I've ever owned.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.
(sob)
In the process of restoring one of these old brutes. Not a bad example all in all. Usual rust in the usual places, cracked dash etc. but what a scream to drive. Excellent car to annoy the saxo driving boy racers up in. Had some fun with an XR3i driver on the M1 as well.
IF YOU WANT A REAL CAR TO DRIVE GET ONE OF THESE BEFORE THEY ALL ROT AWAY IN THE SCRAP YARDS.
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