Following recent bad weather and Southend Council's speed bump obsession spreading almost to my door, the Multi has developed some knocking from the rear suspension. I put my head under her this morning and this is what I saw:




Am I looking forward to trouble come MOT time? Is the corroded collar part of the subframe itself, or part of the mount (in which case it looks an easy fix)?

The front bushes look fine.

Just bumping this back to first page. I jacked the car today and checked for movement between the subframe and body and there doesn't seem to be any. The knocking I'm hearing turns out to be from the off side rear trailing arm bush, for which I'd appreciate any hints on replacement (£18.94 on Shop4parts).

Maybe the corroded collars are just part of the mount assemblies?

Well the bad news is the rear subframe mounts come as part of the subframe. But there someone who is making solid ones for alfa's which look virtually the same.

http://www.alfa155.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28358&highlight=subframe

Do a search on this forum for advice on the rear swingarms as they have been covered a few times.

This is what the bush should look like.

Thanks JTD man. A couple of questions:

Are Multiplas Tipo based? I thought they had a unique platform (sorry for my ignorance).

What is the function of the collar around the bush that has corroded? Are these just keeping the rubber is shape and, if so, would it not be sufficient to get something made up to slip over?

Mark, I would be very interested in seeing what action you take here as sooner or later we will all need to deal with this if we keep our Multipla's long enough. Surely there must be a cheaper fix than having to purchase a whole new subframe. This sort of thing can certainly make the creative part of us kick into action to improvise. I would imagine if the bush is still functioning ok inside then why should it fail the MOT ? Maybe your idea of something to cover the rubber bush to protect it will be sufficient. Jim.

Ive just had a look at the ones fitted in my spare and the metal collar is how can i put this mushroomed ? at the top so the bushes are knocked or pressed into the subframe from the top so they cannot come out once fitted.
I dont think there is a viable fix for an existing one as the bush comes out over the metal collar either end so maybe if i take some measurements we can source ones that will do the job.
The link i posted to the alfa site shows how they are getting around it but i can only assume it would make a firmer ride.
Tipo based ? dunno could well be the alfa 155 is tipo based and this shares the bushes with the fiat coupe so maybe as the subframe looks pretty much the same.
I wouldnt be suprised if the coupe / 155 / multi are all the same and in fact share the bush with the newer lancia delta not sold here so maybe a italian ebay search is on.

Mark, These are on sale on ebay right now and the large ones look similar to the Multi. I wonder what the upper diameter is though?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marea-Weekend...CarParts_SM?hash=item45f1b01d27#ht_500wt_1153

Well if its any use the length of the bush from upper to lowest part including the fixed washers appears to be 70 mm, i try and dig out my micrometer and measure the diameter in the morning.
Its a bit hard as the subframe is burried in the outhouse.

The smaller bush appears to be 45 mm from top to bottom.

Looking on the eper system it seems the subframes are not compatible accross the ranges whether it be tipo marea 155 but there is no code to check if the bushes are different so it looks like you would have to measure it properly and get the closest you can.

Some interesting bushes on the bay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fiat-Punto-1-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item1e57ca042b

Thanks JTDman for your continued support with this.

Would you be kind enough to provide us with the dimensions of the large rear bush especially the overall height and the diameter of the upper casing that fits snugly into the arm? Thanks.

Think these may do job from firstline, the boys on the alfa forum seem to think so anyway .
They are from a tipo i think.

http://www.firstline.co.uk/op3/f_graphic_show.php?graphic[]=FSM+2028.jpg&graphic[]=FSM+2029.jpg&product=Rear+Suspension&action=graphics

Should be the same as these if you prefare ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Subframe-Moun...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item439d8c703a

Hi JTDMan,

thanks for your help; I've been tied up with work so not been on here for a while. I spotted those Punto bushes on Ebay earlier and was wondering if they might work. I assume the subframe would have to come out to fit them though?

155s are Tipo based (I'm an ex-155 owner myself) as are Coupes, Deltas, Dedras and I believe 145s, 146s, 916 series GTVs & Spiders.

I'll have another look at the 155 site - I didn't get much time before. I recognised a couple of the user names from my 155 days.

Well its a small world when you have a keyboard, had 3 155's myself and really miss my old one ( 96 widebody Q4 ) , going from that to the multi was well ............. hard.

I'm sure there's a lot of crossover between Fiat,Alfa & Lancia ownership. My 155 was lowered and had to go due to the speed bump epidemic in Southend. I spent as much time under it rehanging the exhaust as I spent driving it. I got myself a 156 with 60 series tyres - perfect for those humps!

I'm assuming that the job of replacing the mount would be much the same whether it was the trick ones from the 155/Coupe guys or the Punto one on ebay. As the Multi has no pretentions to performance, I'm inclined towards the cheaper option. In your first reply you said that the mount was part of the subframe - do you mean they come in a kit with the frame, or are fixed to it? In the latter case, is it an angle grinder job to get them off?

I've got a slightly sloppy trailing arm bush on the drivers side too, so would probably fix that (or get it fixed if the mount job is beyond me) at the same time.

Well i think the bush was available seperate (not sure) but the other night i tried to remove one so i could measure the hole properly but they seem pretty shoved in there, poss its kinda crimped in if you know what i mean.
My trailing arms are poss a bit loose so my plan was to build up a whole new rear suspension off the car then fit in one go ( dont really know if its possible) .
I managed to break the larger washer that is fitted to the bush via flimsy rivets through the bush smacking it with a hammer .
I bought the rear subframe complete with bushes from the bay brand new for £20 .

But like yourself im missing the alfa and debating getting into a sportwagon but unsure if its gonna be big enough for all of us with 2 kiddy seats .

You would prob need a press to get the old ones out / new ones in, although dont think the guy with the upgraded ones mentions it.

If a subframe can be picked up for as little as £20, maybe I'll look out for one and do as you have. I've got until late June before MOT is up.

You might find the Sportwagon a bit small - I'm certain the 155 sedan's boot is much bigger than the Sportwagon's. You probably need a 166, which is what I was after when I got the 156 (I couldn't find one with the right spec and price).

Thanks again for your help. I'll post when I've fixed the mounts, however I do it.