Great to see you uploading again! The Brera is a surefire classic: looks to die for, and very low production numbers. The last Alfa Romeo styled by the great Giorgetto Giugiaro. I should definitely find one myself for a video on my channel!
The weld to be successful needs to be a pretty constant weld your stop start technique might fool the MOT inspector but would not be a useful repair otherwise and the patch metal is too thin for a subframe
Neil, I think the 3.2 JTS engine was manufactured by Holden here in Australia, and sent back to Alfa for tuning. There is no way you can go from the opera of a Busso, to Kylie Minogue!!
Nice video!! I bought one (2.2 JTS) a few months ago and love it. I can confirm the UK weather is the problem with the rust as mine doesn't have a single spot - I'm in the north of Italy. Another reason I left the UK!!
Ace video, just what I needed on this dreary Sunday thanks Neil 👍 The Brera was a confusing addition to Alfa's line up when they already had the Busso in the GT.
Terrific work. Speaking as an utter ignoramus (but owner of a beloved GTV6 3.0.) it makes for hypnotic watching to see such Alfa expertise and TLC in action. Thanks Neil.
Great video Neil. Just done my 159 ti springs and I'm glad they came apart more easily than that Brera. I did mine on axle stands on the drive for added pain.
Ace video Neil, this car will be a corker once the respray work is done. Personally I had a 159 2.2 and I loved it because it was quiet, beautiful and well made. They're not sporty cars but they are really nice to live with. For me the styling was enough.
I have literally just swapped the springs on my GTV using the same suicidal spring compressors 😂. Had them for years but they do the job. Nice video Neil 👍🏼
@@robertjusic9097 if you’ve done springs before then you should find it easy. It’s always a little bit fiddly but it isn’t difficult at all. I have a video coming in the next week coving the full job front and rear on my GTV but Neil has covered the basis of coil spring removal.
Good to see the mig come out. I remember reading about the Brera before it was released. It was designed with a V8 in mind but the bean counters at GM got involved and this is what we are left with. A great looking but overweight and underpowered coupe. The GT is a much better choice.
For me, a decatted, remapped 2.4 20v is a much more exciting engine....Ive had a 2.5 v6 156 before and yes, its smooooth, but not necessarily exciting. Great video again Nelly.
@Graham Hobbs the dervy sounds awesome with a straight through pipe on, but you're definitely right about the soundtrack Grezzer. The v6 is surely heavier?
@@stewarthaddon3219 well I doubt that as traditionally diesel engines need strong blocks to give reliability with the high compressions used - whereas the Busso had a tight 60,° V made from aluminium. Likewise maybe the crank but certainly the flywheel of the Busso would be lighter
That is so strange to me when someone buys and installs tuning belstien parts without replacing the dust cover with a new one. Do they want suspension to die faster? 😅😅😅 It's not a KYB Excel G to keep an old ones. Also, I would use some stretch to keep springs from scratching. But the work with a frame is awesome. I was worried about primer and coating but you did everything the best way.
Did you 'Kurust' treat the whole subframe before primer and stoneguard? I refurbished and re-bushed the rear arms on my 159 q4 last summer at the same time as replacing the rear shocks and springs and Kurust treated the whole of both arms before any further primer and paint. I decided on chassis paint for the finishing coat on my arms.
Nice video Neil. I got Brera 2.4 2009 have oill leak between engine and gearbox ben to garage and they said need new engine. Any chance this to be repaired...? Thanks
How do you stop the inside surface from rusting? Don't they dip the parts from the factory to get primer inside the tubes? Good to see another video of yours again.
Nice video Nail😜. Have you ever considered to install an AUTODELTA kit? I have a Brera 2.2 JTS 2006 and if I am not wrong there is a compressor and turbo kit to power up this engine. Great to see you back. Take care mate.
I did the front and rear suspension refurbishment on my 156 some months ago in my privat garage. It was horrible work, especially to get the shock absorbers removed from the aluminium fork. For info, it’s same construction as on the Brera. The aluminium fork can be changed against an iron cast part, as the aluminium part is no longer available. I wonder about the use of grease for the clamp area, which significant reduces clamp force and might cause screw be stressed by shear force. Also grease at the screw/nut area forged the required screw torques. I personally would not put any grease or other friction reducing lubricants to any clamp connection. Just a question regarding the subframe. As far as I know the Hammerit rust converter must be removed by washing after residence time, because it is an acid and would accelerate new rust if not washed away. However, good repair work. I did similar work with a Alfa 147 subframe a year ago. Subsequent I did a complete rust protection with Mike Sanders inside and painting with special stone chip protection, similar as you did. Thanks for that video👍
Watching these videos, I'm really astonished how cars are rusting in UK....weather at home is quite the same as it is in Uk (at least south UK) & I have no reports of cars rusting the same way...I don't know why rust seems to be a bigger problem in UK than here, could it be a larger use of salt on the roads?
Looks like I’m looking for another gtv 6 then. I gotta say I’m a little disappointed about the brera not being as much fun but it is better to find from someone’s opinion I trust! The idea of the brera was a good option for me as I could do with the boot space but if I’m not going to get what I got from my gtv then there’s no point, so I’ll keep looking out for the right gtv👍❤️
@@ItaliaAutos thanks for getting back to me fella but I really wanted a v6 again and definitely not a diesel as it’s not just the performance but sound is a huge part. I couldn’t stretch to a Quadrafolio so I will think on it but if you don’t mind I wouldn’t mind your opinion on the model before I commit. I’m not in a rush as the lease isn’t up on this car till next year so I have a bit of time unless the right car comes up! I’ve loved all my Alfa’s but my sud and gtv have always been in my heart lol x
Neil, thank you for another interesting video, containing no nonsense, hard work. That subframe looked to be in poor shape...is that usual on Breras of this age?
The suspension on these was never right from the start. No matter what you try it will always be crashy. The issue was it used the old 155 frame technology
Excellent video Neil, I have a question regarding the suspension, I'm assuming you've put the eibach pro kit and b6 dampers or a b12 like set. Has the harshness on bumpy roads went up. I'm to go a bit more comfy on b4 dampers. I'm on a 159 sw TI with tbi engine but very tempted to get the b6 dampers.
Great job! I wonder why they don't supply new dust covers with these new shocks, seems a bit of a shame to put the old and torn ones on again? And I always wonder how you protect the inside of the subframe against rust, or any patches for that matter. Isn't that necessary?
Hi, good job..but...what is strange...you don't clean old parts from rust and put toogether with the new ones...Why ? Also, why didn't you put a new protect rubber for shockabsorber...? lots of water and mud will attack them....anyway I like watching your jobs...Greetings from Poland (Alfa 159 2.0 jtdm owner) :)
Neil, what was the cause of these subframe issues originally? Was it poor corrosion protection from the factory or the gauge of metal used being too thin?
Good work neil.i take it the large patch uou welded in is not interfering with the clearamce or the car doesnt sit on that area given thst its now slightly prouder than the other side?
Had a nearly new 166 back in the day but the paintwork was like orange peel to the point when I traded it in for a Fiat JTD that the dealer thought it had been crashed and repainted! Alfa’s of the era seemed to have variable quality paint jobs from the factory. It was a real head turner 20 years ago though to be fair.
It varies. My 2005 GT came from Austria when it was barely a year old and lived on Hungarian roads and there's some rust on it and the side skirts need mending but it's not the worst. My 2014 Ford Focus that came from Germany has a lot more rust on it.
I have a 2009 brera 2.4 with 160k here in southern inland spain, it came from Italy and it is literaly like new underneath, original exhaust etc. very dry climate here.
Fair play, as I say to the mrs it’s not the size of the tool it’s knowing what to do with it... you could see by the look on your face that you’re not into these Breras.
There is no way they could stick v8 in there. Even that V6 barely fits. People always judge it by sports car standards, which it isn't. Not with V6 under the hood and definitely not with a diesel. What are the alternatives: E90 coupe? a 996? a V8 Vantage? Okey. Last one ticks all the boxes, but now you are spending ~5x more.
@@timhancock6626 In saying 'UK conditions' you mean salted roads right? I ask as I live in a cold wet climate with a bit of snow on occasions and my cars are fine but we don't use salt. I'm surprised there isn't pressure to stop doing that as it simply kills everyone's vehicles (dunno what the fish in the creeks think about it?) to the tune of billions of dollars a year. Does northern Europe have the same rust issues as the UK?
![Alfa Romeo 156 Selespeed // RESTORATION [9:16]](/img/n.gif)
Great to see you uploading again! The Brera is a surefire classic: looks to die for, and very low production numbers. The last Alfa Romeo styled by the great Giorgetto Giugiaro. I should definitely find one myself for a video on my channel!
Was the 159 styled by Giugiaro as well? Thanks!
@@gearhead9828 Yes it was. The two cars were designed simultaneously, as part of the same project.
@@Matteo_Licata Thanks Matteo!
The weld to be successful needs to be a pretty constant weld your stop start technique might fool the MOT inspector but would not be a useful repair otherwise and the patch metal is too thin for a subframe
Neil, I think the 3.2 JTS engine was manufactured by Holden here in Australia, and sent back to Alfa for tuning. There is no way you can go from the opera of a Busso, to Kylie Minogue!!
Very true.
Nice video!! I bought one (2.2 JTS) a few months ago and love it. I can confirm the UK weather is the problem with the rust as mine doesn't have a single spot - I'm in the north of Italy. Another reason I left the UK!!
Ace video, just what I needed on this dreary Sunday thanks Neil 👍
The Brera was a confusing addition to Alfa's line up when they already had the Busso in the GT.
Thanks for watching.
The subframe looks excellent. I love how you fix the part rather than bin it and get another 👍
23:10 an allegorical, existential masterpiece of symbolism that represents so much more, than just a Dud strut at the end of it's life.
Terrific work. Speaking as an utter ignoramus (but owner of a beloved GTV6 3.0.) it makes for hypnotic watching to see such Alfa expertise and TLC in action. Thanks Neil.
Excellent video, Thanks... and loved the roadtest comments at the end which really summarised the car's character.
Thanks for watching
Really interesting video - especially the sub frame repair.
Well...I don't know about any one else...but...I couldn't even see where that welding repair had been made....Alfa Romo quality at it's best
Great video Neil. Just done my 159 ti springs and I'm glad they came apart more easily than that Brera. I did mine on axle stands on the drive for added pain.
Good stuff.
Ace video Neil, this car will be a corker once the respray work is done.
Personally I had a 159 2.2 and I loved it because it was quiet, beautiful and well made. They're not sporty cars but they are really nice to live with. For me the styling was enough.
Great to see you back Neil. Another top job and keep the videos coming. Take care mate.
Cheers. Thanks for watching.
Fantastic video you explain stuff really well, the Brera is my favourite Alfa. Please keep uploading videos 👍
Thanks for watching. 👍😀
Good to see you back Neil - and now of course I'm looking at Alfas on Autotrader again! Must.....resist.....temptation......
Lol
I have literally just swapped the springs on my GTV using the same suicidal spring compressors 😂. Had them for years but they do the job. Nice video Neil 👍🏼
Yeah it is easier but you risk your fingers lol
How hard is it to change the springs?
@@robertjusic9097 if you’ve done springs before then you should find it easy. It’s always a little bit fiddly but it isn’t difficult at all. I have a video coming in the next week coving the full job front and rear on my GTV but Neil has covered the basis of coil spring removal.
@@robertjusic9097 it's easy enough, did the rears on my 2.4 saturday, probably 2 hours all in while figuring it out as i went.
Nice work, I wouldn't say no even with that engine when it's painted and detailed.
I was so excited to wait 2 day for a premier
Enjoy
Good to see you back on the TH-cams, Neil!
Good to see the mig come out. I remember reading about the Brera before it was released. It was designed with a V8 in mind but the bean counters at GM got involved and this is what we are left with. A great looking but overweight and underpowered coupe. The GT is a much better choice.
For me, a decatted, remapped 2.4 20v is a much more exciting engine....Ive had a 2.5 v6 156 before and yes, its smooooth, but not necessarily exciting.
Great video again Nelly.
Interesting comment.....I'm a massive derv fan - but there's no comparison in the audio feedback. Do you know how the weight of each engine compares?
@Graham Hobbs the dervy sounds awesome with a straight through pipe on, but you're definitely right about the soundtrack Grezzer. The v6 is surely heavier?
@@stewarthaddon3219 well I doubt that as traditionally diesel engines need strong blocks to give reliability with the high compressions used - whereas the Busso had a tight 60,° V made from aluminium. Likewise maybe the crank but certainly the flywheel of the Busso would be lighter
That is so strange to me when someone buys and installs tuning belstien parts without replacing the dust cover with a new one. Do they want suspension to die faster? 😅😅😅
It's not a KYB Excel G to keep an old ones.
Also, I would use some stretch to keep springs from scratching.
But the work with a frame is awesome.
I was worried about primer and coating but you did everything the best way.
Welcome back Neil, great content 👏
Love it! Exactly as I would have done!
Great to see you back Neil, always enjoy your videos 👍👍
Another great video from Neil!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice video, very informative
Such a shame they never got the V8 lump from the Masserati in the Brera.....would have made a epic Alfa!
New parts, ahhhh sooo satisfying. :)
Nice job Neal
Thanks 👍
Great video mate , loved my Brera to look at lol but thats about it lol . you mentioned the 166 we want a blog on it lol .
Did you 'Kurust' treat the whole subframe before primer and stoneguard? I refurbished and re-bushed the rear arms on my 159 q4 last summer at the same time as replacing the rear shocks and springs and Kurust treated the whole of both arms before any further primer and paint. I decided on chassis paint for the finishing coat on my arms.
Nice video Neil. I got Brera 2.4 2009 have oill leak between engine and gearbox ben to garage and they said need new engine. Any chance this to be repaired...? Thanks
Welcome back.
Sorely missed.
How do you stop the inside surface from rusting? Don't they dip the parts from the factory to get primer inside the tubes?
Good to see another video of yours again.
Nice video Nail😜. Have you ever considered to install an AUTODELTA kit? I have a Brera 2.2 JTS 2006 and if I am not wrong there is a compressor and turbo kit to power up this engine. Great to see you back. Take care mate.
Great video. Keep them coming.
Brilliant work as per usual (y)
Thanks
I did the front and rear suspension refurbishment on my 156 some months ago in my privat garage. It was horrible work, especially to get the shock absorbers removed from the aluminium fork. For info, it’s same construction as on the Brera. The aluminium fork can be changed against an iron cast part, as the aluminium part is no longer available.
I wonder about the use of grease for the clamp area, which significant reduces clamp force and might cause screw be stressed by shear force.
Also grease at the screw/nut area forged the required screw torques. I personally would not put any grease or other friction reducing lubricants to any clamp connection.
Just a question regarding the subframe. As far as I know the Hammerit rust converter must be removed by washing after residence time, because it is an acid and would accelerate new rust if not washed away. However, good repair work. I did similar work with a Alfa 147 subframe a year ago. Subsequent I did a complete rust protection with Mike Sanders inside and painting with special stone chip protection, similar as you did.
Thanks for that video👍
Watching these videos, I'm really astonished how cars are rusting in UK....weather at home is quite the same as it is in Uk (at least south UK) & I have no reports of cars rusting the same way...I don't know why rust seems to be a bigger problem in UK than here, could it be a larger use of salt on the roads?
Wait till you see the 159 in an upcoming video
For the amount of restorations you do, would it be worth investing in a dry ice blasting machine?
Looks like I’m looking for another gtv 6 then.
I gotta say I’m a little disappointed about the brera not being as much fun but it is better to find from someone’s opinion I trust!
The idea of the brera was a good option for me as I could do with the boot space but if I’m not going to get what I got from my gtv then there’s no point, so I’ll keep looking out for the right gtv👍❤️
Yeah skip them. Best alfa to buy now is the giulia with any engine in it.
@@ItaliaAutos thanks for getting back to me fella but I really wanted a v6 again and definitely not a diesel as it’s not just the performance but sound is a huge part. I couldn’t stretch to a Quadrafolio so I will think on it but if you don’t mind I wouldn’t mind your opinion on the model before I commit. I’m not in a rush as the lease isn’t up on this car till next year so I have a bit of time unless the right car comes up! I’ve loved all my Alfa’s but my sud and gtv have always been in my heart lol x
Great video mate btw and always look forward to the next ❤️
Nice work
Neil, thank you for another interesting video, containing no nonsense, hard work. That subframe looked to be in poor shape...is that usual on Breras of this age?
Yes it is.
Great. I enjoyed that.
The suspension on these was never right from the start. No matter what you try it will always be crashy. The issue was it used the old 155 frame technology
Excellent video Neil, I have a question regarding the suspension, I'm assuming you've put the eibach pro kit and b6 dampers or a b12 like set.
Has the harshness on bumpy roads went up. I'm to go a bit more comfy on b4 dampers. I'm on a 159 sw TI with tbi engine but very tempted to get the b6 dampers.
Great job! I wonder why they don't supply new dust covers with these new shocks, seems a bit of a shame to put the old and torn ones on again? And I always wonder how you protect the inside of the subframe against rust, or any patches for that matter. Isn't that necessary?
It gets waxoil sprayed on the inside if needed.
Enjoined that nelly thanks 🙏 👍
Good stuff.
Are these bilstein+eibach option best for brera?
Job well done..👍🇲🇰
Hi. Do you know of a national supplier. I need two rear axel bushes
you are allowed to weld subframes in the uk ?? any structural parts are not to be welded in my country.
Yes you just can't weld suspension components
Completely off topic but do you think you will be doing video's of the Punto GT restoration?
Love you video's btw
When I start it yes
Hi, good job..but...what is strange...you don't clean old parts from rust and put toogether with the new ones...Why ? Also, why didn't you put a new protect rubber for shockabsorber...? lots of water and mud will attack them....anyway I like watching your jobs...Greetings from Poland (Alfa 159 2.0 jtdm owner) :)
Yes hurts the heart don't it
Neil, what was the cause of these subframe issues originally? Was it poor corrosion protection from the factory or the gauge of metal used being too thin?
Cheap chines metal and bad protection
Not galvanized unlike the rest of the chassis. Just painted (with crap paint).
Hi Neil, have you found some alfa models are easier to work on than others i.e. Guilia vs 159?
It just depends on what you have to fix.
Good work neil.i take it the large patch uou welded in is not interfering with the clearamce or the car doesnt sit on that area given thst its now slightly prouder than the other side?
So... about that Alfa 166. When will we see a proper video about it?
When it's fixed and doesn't break everything I look at it lol
Had a nearly new 166 back in the day but the paintwork was like orange peel to the point when I traded it in for a Fiat JTD that the dealer thought it had been crashed and repainted! Alfa’s of the era seemed to have variable quality paint jobs from the factory. It was a real head turner 20 years ago though to be fair.
@@jonathanmagee9967 I've got a very low mileage early 98' with the 2.5 cf2 busso. Special is the best word for it.
Do cars in continental Europe suffer rust on the same levels as the UK?
Here is Au rust really isn't a thing at all.
It varies. My 2005 GT came from Austria when it was barely a year old and lived on Hungarian roads and there's some rust on it and the side skirts need mending but it's not the worst. My 2014 Ford Focus that came from Germany has a lot more rust on it.
I have a 2009 brera 2.4 with 160k here in southern inland spain, it came from Italy and it is literaly like new underneath, original exhaust etc. very dry climate here.
Neil, do you ever use a copper mallet?
Rarely nowadays. Use a rubber mallet As well. If you know how hard you can hit somthing you can use what ever is bigger lol.
Fair play, as I say to the mrs it’s not the size of the tool it’s knowing what to do with it... you could see by the look on your face that you’re not into these Breras.
@@richardshaw1968 I've tried but I'm just not a fan of anything on the 159 platform.
@@ItaliaAutos I had a remapped 2.4 159, I enjoyed it but not a patch on the 2.2 giulia Speciale I have now…
Is the brera 2.2 subframe same with 159 2.2?
Yep
Those subframes quality is appaling from FCA. Even my Lancia Thesis from a few years old had these rust issues.
Love your videos, but seriously, you really need to sort out that bench vice. Surely you find it irritating..no?
Lots of things irritate me but no time to sort them all I'm that busy.
damn, i wanted to watch it now............
It’s live now
Wish u would ware gloves while grinding
Rather you than me tackling that crusty suspension 😕
Such poor preparation & finishing / protection from the factory. The black steel bits under my September 17 595 are already rusting at 8k miles😳
Why are young Alfa's still has rust problems..🤔
There is no way they could stick v8 in there. Even that V6 barely fits. People always judge it by sports car standards, which it isn't. Not with V6 under the hood and definitely not with a diesel. What are the alternatives: E90 coupe? a 996? a V8 Vantage? Okey. Last one ticks all the boxes, but now you are spending ~5x more.
I thought that modern Italian cars don't have rust issues.
I have an 11yo 159 and it hasn't a single spot of rust anywhere. Here in Au we don't cover our roads in car cancer either tho.
Top job. Top man
That's a 15 year old vehicle. How long do other cars last in UK conditions ? No longer let me assure you.
@@timhancock6626 In saying 'UK conditions' you mean salted roads right? I ask as I live in a cold wet climate with a bit of snow on occasions and my cars are fine but we don't use salt. I'm surprised there isn't pressure to stop doing that as it simply kills everyone's vehicles (dunno what the fish in the creeks think about it?) to the tune of billions of dollars a year. Does northern Europe have the same rust issues as the UK?
@Scott Taylor 10yo is not new but is still what most would reasonably call modern I would have thought.
Brera is a nice car but to heavy