My 2000 petrol uglybug has just failed MOT due to rear suspension problem.

The offside rear wheel leans inward at the top and has resulted in a lot of tyre wear on the inside and the tyre has also rubbed a patch on the inside of the wheel arch. The nearside isn't affected. Is this the dreaded 'unavailable bush' problem ?
I'd like to think that the car is salvageable, it passed everything else apart from a small patch of welding required on side member and an advisory on a bit of play in a front balljoint.

I have had a quick look, can't see how a subframe mounting problem could produce this result. Is it possible for wear in the suspension arm mounting bolt to allow the wheel to'skew' ?

It'll be the swingarm bearings, not the subframe bushes. There are a few threads on here about replacing them.

Thanks for the quick reply. It seems like Lui's L.B Autos are, by general consensus, the people to talk to. They are about 25 miles away, will give them a call in the morning.

ps which dark and deep part of Wiltshire are you in ? I'm down near the Somerset/Dorset borders.

Don't let them try to convince you it needs a whole new Arm Assembly.
Unless it's been driven for many thousands of miles with totally knackered Bearings, the Arm will be fine.
The Bearing Kits contain all the parts needed to make them as-new again.

Trailing Arm issues1

T-A issues2

3

4, with pictures.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info, Loui says that he'll get an arm, just in case, but will not use it unless he has to; as it is I will be happy to pay the price he's mentioned, it's far lower than I was expecting.

It's in for repair tomorrow morning, that and a little bit of welding on the side member will cost far less than the sum I'd mentally put aside for getting it through the MOT.

I've just fitted a space-saver wheel so that I can safely drive it to the garage, the skinny tyre gives clearance on the bodywork. I noticed that the full size steel spare wheel that was sold with the car,( towbar is fitted so the wheel lives 'indoors'), is too deeply dished to fit the car in any case. It's a good job I have never got a puncture in the two years I've owned the car.

I spent today with Loui and his man John finding problems and fixing them.

The rear radius arm was well rusted up and took a bit of beasting to remove, a replacement was fitted. The 'bit of play' noted as an advisory, in the front ball joint was a bit optimistic, it was shot, so the wishbone arm was replaced too. While up on the ramps it was obvious that a gearbox boot was split as a pool of oil soon formed, Lord only knows why these things were not picked up at the MOT.
The rear drums were just about solid and showed signs of overheating so after a bit of a tussle getting the drums the shoes were replaced along with the cylinders that were weeping fluid. One drum was ridged so needed some fettling to refit it.
A new tyre replaced the one chamfered by wear against the bodywork and the underside general given a good looking at and a spray with some magic fluid.
Total bill was 6 hours labour and with parts I'm about £560 lighter but I'm reassured that the wheels are not about to fall off. There's some play in the other rear suspension but that will have to wait until I've saved some more pennies.

They know what they are up to there, a day of banter and tea with some good service.

It's Sod's Law that he has spacesaver wheels cluttering up the place but I needed one to get there.

I have no reservations at all about recommending him if you are reasonably near to Somerton and need work done, he knows his Fiats and has the tools and bits and pieces to hand or for quick delivery.

Next job before the year is out is to find a sound, clean, rear subframe so that it can be replaced for next year's MOT.

The Subframes can look horrendous, but most of the time they'll clean up OK.
Both mine looked badly rusted, but once the flaking Paint was removed (what there was left), the Metal itself was OK.
Takes a bit of graft, but works out much cheaper.