Technical Load Compensator?

[TonyM19]

Hi

First post.

I had a new exhaust fitted to my 53 plate Punto 1.2 about 4 months ago. I noticed a noise from underneath the car that sounded like something was catching whenever I went over a speed bump (at normal low speeds). I had two passengers in the back recently and the noise was repeated but whenever I went over the slightest bump in the road. I've been back to the exhaust fitter today (National). They had the car up on ramps and showed me that the exhaust wasn't catching but that there there was something else. The fitter didn't know the exact name of the part but said it was a 'load compensator'. It was a heavy spring about 4in long and 3/4 inch diameter. It had clearly sheared off at the bottom and was dangling down. It was about 2/3 of the way down the car on the drivers side. They said they would ring back with a price (about 3 hours ago!). Can anybody cast any light onto exactly what the component is called (from my very vague description)?

Cheers

 

[MikeSalt]

It is a load-proportioning brake valve. Basically, it puts more braking pressure to the rears when you've got a heavy load or adults on the back seat. Item 7 in the diagram...

 

[TonyM19]

Wow! That was quick! Especially from my vague description.

Thanks for the response. Is it vital that I get one of these fitted immediately? Is the car safe to drive? Is it a pain to fit myself? Any idea on how much (in a ballpark estimate) to get it supplied and fitted at a garage?

Cheers

 

[sixpotman]

Get it sorted asap please as it knocks the whole braking
system out of balance. In an emergency situation
you could end up doing a 360 degree turn and having
a nasty accident.

John

 

[MikeSalt]

sixpotman is correct - if the valve has seized in the loaded position, the valve will pass too much pressure to the rear brakes for the weight, causing the rears to lock and your car to spin.

 

[TonyM19]

It's actually sheared off at the bottom and is hanging loose. It must have been like that for some time. I'll get some prices tomorrow for getting it fixed and put them on here (in case anybody searches for a similar problem).

Thanks for the responses so far

Cheers

 

[D4nny8oy]

So everything was fine before the rear exhaust box was fitted, then afterwards there was knocking (which 99% of the time is an incorrectly fitted exhaust), but conveniently they found something else wrong with the car, which in my experience, has never broken before?

Sounds a tad suspicious. If it's only the linkage rod/spring assembly, I'd get one from a breakers.