Technical Replace rear suspension?

[TwyRob]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to the site but I've been reading alot over the last few days...

I've bought an 03 Doblo SX JTD so that I can take my girlfriend out with her electric wheelchair. It's perfect except for one thing.

The rear suspension creaks when I go over speed bumps or bumpy roads. The Fiat dealer says new rear suspension is required to eliminate the noise but that it isn't anything to worry about. This is fine, except that I don't have the time to put the car in for all that work seeing as I need to use it.

Is it worth doing? Is it really the only way to cure it? Have tried WD40 (sounds silly I know) and they sprayed with silicone lubricant it at Fiat but that didn't help.

Just wondered if it was serious from your experience or if it's no big deal.

Thanks

 

[Ozzie1989]

Hello there and welcome to the forum

Yes this is a well known problem with the suspension - just do a search on it and you'll see our other posts - but it doesn't happen to everyone only a select few. I have the same problem myself. To be honest it's only a small problem that doesn't warrant a whole replacement or the time and hassle to do that. The problem is with the rear anti-roll bar mount bushes, they were never greased at the factory and so will have now dried up and gone brittle with the heat from the exhast and other things.

The problem is, you can't just buy the bushes, you have to buy the whole bar and bushes together, plus you have to remove the fuel tank to get to one of them which is quite a pain - especially if your vehicles still under warranty.

Have you tried using "real" grease, not the stuff you spray in or WD40, as both were tried on mine to no avail. I haven't tried using actual grease yet as it's a bugger to get to them, but apparently this helps as it works it's way into the brittle bush helping to soften it up as well as creating a slippery surface on the mount for the bush to flex over.

 

[Doblotaximan]

The problem is not usually the rear anti roll bar, but the rear spring shackles,they run on a metat to metal fit. I have removed these and reassembled them using copper ease grease, this worked for a few months, then the squeek came back.I have just replaced the rear anti roll bar and both rear drop links, for its Taxi test, I greased the rubber bushes with vasaline, but this did not cure the squeek.

 

[Ozzie1989]

Intresting, one local Fiat dealer near me actually knows about this problem (but not the other 5) and they say it is the Anit-Roll Bar Bushes. Perhaps I need to look into doing the same with my spring shackles and if that solves the problem - even for a short time - then I can take it to the dealer and show them and maybe they can then come up with a better more long term solution.

Out of intrest, did you have any difficulty doing the Anti-Roll Bar? I'm guessing it took you a while cause of removing the tank etc.? Thanks for the infomation though

 

[Doblotaximan]

Its not a hard job. The tank does not need to be removed, just droped enough to allow for access to the near side mounting, and to allow you to get the roll bar out, the off side mount is above the exhaust heat shield. Yhe hard part is the removai of the 2 drop links, they rust on, I had to grind one off. The job took less than two hours, does not include waiting for two drop links, and cost £96 for roll bar and £40 for drop links.
Greasing the rear spring shackles is a different matter you need to remove the shackles, cover everything with grease and try to line everything up again, the springs come off easy but don't go back as easily.They should really have a brass washer fitted between the spring bush and the shackle, maby next tine I will try this.

 

[TwyRob]

Hi again,

My problem has changed. Now it's more of a creak or a crunch than a squeak! Mechanic at dealership seems to see no problem, mentioned it at 60k service last saturday and he said it wasn't an issue. There again the car did cut out 5 mins after as well because the brake pedal sensor had been knocked! Fuel cut off or something, he said. But anyway, have you heard this creak before? Is it the same problem or something new again?

Love my Doblo, hate FIAT.

 

[Doblotaximan]

I would think so, mine is the same, especialy over speed bumps, and pot holes, but it does not seem as bad when loaded.

 

[TwyRob]

Fixed it! Took it too a local independant garage who replaced the bushes at the front of the springs. All sorted. However, look out for heavy-duty suspension. My Dobbie had it, from new apparently, and I was none the wiser until the mechanic tried to fit the bushes and they wouldn't fit! If any suspension work is being done check for this!

(An un-related matter, think EGR is wrecked. Fiat say Diesel Pump Vacumn valve/sensor/something but it feels like the EGR. No power up to 2000rpm when warm fine when cold. Seems to be worst after holding the revs just below 2000. Happened after stupidly buying Tesco diesel, could be a conincidence though. Any ideas?)