(G) Steering link knocking, rear suspension squeaking, etc.

Mods will have to wait - four new faults on my Mary....

- on breaking, accelerating and sudden yank of a steering wheel I can hear a single silent knock. Steering link gone, I think. Will have to fix both sides.
- while driving though "sleeping policemen" there's a squeak in left rear. Rear arm's bearings gone, I suppose. Ibid
- back box's rubber mount gone. Fixed with some cable ties for now.
- RUST!!! on right rear wheel arch. Bubbles show, so it is eating it's way out.

She's turning 10 this year and it shows...

Turning 10? You got an old one then!

May well be worth doing a few parts of the suspension while you're in there.

I'm collecting drop links, track rod ends and wishbones for a front suspension replacement. Depending on the condition of the brakes they might get done too.

This year it will be 10 years from the date of manufacture, 9 years from the date of sale. And I've been with it for four years.

Until now I've replaced:
- front wishbones twice (first I tried to replace the bushes with no luck, then first change at some 100 kkm to Turkish tofas, then after 140 kkm to German SWAG),
- drop links three times (first change at some 80 kkm to Polish cheap sh&*#t, then after 90 kkm to German expensive cr&#p, then after 115 decided for the originals which last until now),
- front brake disks to Brembo after 140 kkm,
- front brake pads twice (now it is Ferodo),
- rear shocks to AFAIR Delphi after some 80 kkm.

Not much done to the rear yet (except for cleaning the brakes and the shocks) and now it pays off. I actually expected the arms to break at a certain moment. Luckily, the repair (bearing replacement) is bearable.

Well I have all the bits - now just need to put some time aside to fit them all. Might start with the lower arms and drop links and do the track-rod ends later.

Edit on status

Checked the front and steering links are not loose and drop links are not loose
Seems like it is the wishbone that produces this knock + squeak. Will wait until it develops. Hope it is not the top mount.

Suprisingly, rear arms are healthy. Squeak must have been coming from the front.

Fixed - costed me some 3Ł for the rubber.

In fixing - i sanded it down and covered with minium to stop the process. Will improve.

In the meantime I experienced braking problems while braking from 130kmph to some 90kmph - the right front wheel started humming and I could smell the pads. Plus fading was so strong I felt as if I had no brakes afterwards.

First thought was - warped disks - which would be really bad since I had replaced the whole set last year. Checked them and no signs of overheating or warpage were visible. Called my friend who advised me that old fluid can boil and act ABS-like (compressing and decompressing)...

I'd paid for the fluid last year, too, but let's see. To my amazement, what was coming down from the pipes looked more like engine oil, not brake fluid. Dark, almost black crap from all four valves. Must have been there for ages.

We flushed the system with brand new fluid, bled it and topped up - the pedal is stiff now and seems to react more quickly than before.

And I'll never go to that mechanic again.

If it's that dark then it's probably the rubber flexible hoses breaking down. I noticed mine were looking cracked and aged on the outside, brake fluid quite dark too so a change of fluid is coming with a set of either new hoses or if she's good she might get a set of stainless steel brake hoses

i got my rear exhaust mount FREE! i just asked a garage for one

Bulldog whats happened to your N\side rear panels ?

Hi mate, can you allow private messaging please as this shoudlnt really be so off topic on the forum, some nob hit me

How do I do that

Go into 'User CP'

click on 'Edit Options'

tick the box that says 'Enable private messaging'

I have replaced front ones some two years ago or so. Rear ones are still factory.

Status report part two...

Unfortunately, it was wishbone again. This time - the ball joint
Suprisingly, rubber bushes were in perfect condition. Not even a crack, which irritates me even more.

The SWAG Germany product lasted less than a year even though it costed a lot. Too bad warranty has expired already.