The good and the bad.

  1. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #1
    Does anyone remember the saga that's been going on with my rear axle? That horrible 'clank' type of sound when going over rough ground / small bumps? Well, it's all sorted! Woohoo. It turned out it was the anti roll bar after all. For whatever reason, the ARB end plate didn't seem to fit snug into the trailing arm. That tiny amount of moment was causing the sound. When we took the ARB out, everything was pretty much spot on, so it was difficult to figure out what was really amiss. Anyhow, we decided to put the other ARB I bought second hand recently, and there was no movement at all. SO that's that really, no more horrible CLANK anymore, wonderful!

    Now, the not so good news: When we took the ARB out, we noticed at the near side end, there was some rust inside. I then grabbed the trailing arm and gave it a good wiggle, and there was the tinniest amount of play, a rough guesstimate of 1mm. This is bad news I guess, as it can only get worse. Sounds to me like new bearings are ringing...?

    One other thing, when we did the ARB, we dropped the ride height at the rear, as it was really high since I took all the crap out of the car! It took a drop of 25mm!!! to get it back in sync with the front. Anyway, it looks perfect now, so I'm well chuffed. BUT, something that's got me a tad confused, and that's the stiffness of the rear. I can push downward on the rear of the car, and it seems a little too easy for the suspension to move, almost as if it's too soft. This has got me quite worried! We didn't change anything to the dampers. Does anyone have any ideas? MANY thanks!
  2. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2005 somewhere on this planet, doing something..... around northumberland or in the middle of the sea Posts: 8774 Mk2 VTS track mk1 turbo vts scooby engined 2CV
    #2
    sounds like you need new bearings matey, if you are doing one, side you may as well do the other and fit poly bushes to, will tighten it all up.
    just make sure you check the stub pins for any signs of wear, if you fit new bearings to a worn pin, they will just were out again in no time at all.
    1mm play on trailing arm with the wheel of, will increase over the diameter of your wheel, sounds like its goosed mate.

    these pins are a tw@ to get out, i know williams had 60tonne on the press to get his out! they aint cheap either, but defo worth doing if you have a worn pin.

    your dampers may be worn?? you got uprated ones on?
  3. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #3
    Bad news on the bearings. It's certainly a job I can't do myself! I wouldn't know where to take it, everywhere you go, you mention bearings, and they tell you they ain't interested.

    The dampers are Koni, and should be adjustable to the best of my knowledge. The are not that old either, about 12 months. Perhaps I need to set them stiffer.

    Thanks for the info.
  4. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2005 somewhere on this planet, doing something..... around northumberland or in the middle of the sea Posts: 8774 Mk2 VTS track mk1 turbo vts scooby engined 2CV
    #4
    its not too hard to do mate, honest.
    if you know how to use a spanner and a hammer you will be fine

    have a look at williams progress thread in the your photos section. he has a load of pics from when we did his

    the bearings are pritty cheap. it would take you a few days to sort it, same with a garage i would imagine.

    if you were to buy a second hand beam, you dont get any garantees that its not fooked too, only way to tell is when its on the car.

    have a check
  5. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #5
    Yeah, I've been reading through Williams' thread quite frequently. It's really something I wouldn't try and do. I don't have the skills or the correct equipment to do a job like that. Bummer. I can't believe it, such low mileage and the axle is on its way out already!
  6. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2005 somewhere on this planet, doing something..... around northumberland or in the middle of the sea Posts: 8774 Mk2 VTS track mk1 turbo vts scooby engined 2CV
    #6
    its not that hard to do, just takes time.

    just have a bash at it, you wont need to take the axle off just get the trailing arm off.
    best way to learn is to get stuck in, wont learn by letting someone else do it lol
  7. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #7
    nah, I would need help on this for sure. Even Peugeot specialists wont touch rear axle bearings. I'd be insane to try it myself.
  8. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi
    #8
    mate, if you want your beam rebuild you can send it up to me and i wil do it. unless you wanna buy a new 2nd hand beam? i would also replace arb seals when lowering it, thats probably why the bearings have started to go.

    but tbh, the only bit you couldnt do with basic tools would be pressing in the pin in. so you could sent just the beam up to me and i'll get that pressed in?
  9. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #9
    That's a really kind offer mate! Out of interest, how long do you think the repair would take you?
  10. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi
    #10
    could be done in a day.
  11. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #11
    Any B&B's near your area?
  12. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi
    #12
    yeah a few. try travel lodges.
  13. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #13
    I'll defiantely have to take you up on the offer some time. Cheers mate.