Trailing arm suspension flexing!!

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps..I and others have noticed some serious rear wheel flexing when i lay the power down when driving..Im aware they should move but my camber looks excessive, From a 90 degree they look like they are about an 83-85 degree angle when looking from the rear of the car or what seems like a considerable negative camber..There is some visible Toe in as well..When moving they flex from 83-85 to 90..They move the opposite way when coasting over a speed bump!..I did have the trailing arm pins and mounts changed a while back and the geo was done as well but the rear wheels did still look like they had a negative camber, I also got the bushes on the wishbones and lower suspension checked and they were reportedly ok..Today at the park meet i compared mine with another trailing arm wedge and it had what looked like no negative camber whatsoever..Now im wondering if the suspension is knackered or if there is a more serious issue going on with the set up..How would i tell if i have the seperate hub carrier design..Any info appreciated as im not fitting a supercharger until everything that needs to be checked gets checked!..Cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate..Would they be shot after only 8 months?..One side is a little older but not much, When Dan taylor did the N/S the pin was bent and the mount was fugged but it has been replaced...Cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Cheers for the replies chaps...I just thought maybe the movement on acceleration was a bit on the excessive side, If you were to measure the outer lower rear tyre edge position stationery to lead foot it would be around 4-5"..There is a tiny amount of feathering on the O/S rear tyre..The tyres are around 6 months old...Im just being thorough as when the blower goes on i dont want to be ripping out driveshafts and having serious rear suspension failure on a runway gunning for england!..

Cheers..Will check the circlips as well..

Edited by mrzigazaga on Saturday 12th January 18:57

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps..I spoke to RT this morning as regards to the negative camber on the rear wheels and he said there shouldnt be any!!..Movement as i described rang alarm bells in his head and he said there is definitely something wrong with the trailing arm..I need to get under there and have a poke about and take some pics to send him..I just hope that its not too serious but knowing delilah it will be!...Cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Here is a picture after the geo was done in sept 2011 along with the changing of a bent trailing arm pin and knackered bush..There is still a noticeable negative camber..recently though it looks as if it has become more excessive...I will try to get an up to date pic tomorrow if its not raining..Cheers...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Thing is mine look like the pic when staionery but as soon as i accelerate the bottom of the tyre move's inward's levelling the line of the camber to a 90 degree..Is that normal??..I cant feel any sloppy tail end or excessive movement when driving..Hard cornering is very gripperlicious..I wonder why.....

Actually i just remembered there was a heavy clunk or knock at the N/S rear when i went over a speed bump one afternoon..I was going 5mph and it felt like 30.......Maybe i should check the rear springs..What if its a corroded rear suspension top mount..That looks a proper nightmare....Or a diff mount........Or BOTH ....

[mrzigazaga]

Danny Hoffman said:

How do you know the camber changes as you accelerate?

Hi Mate..Me and a few other wedgers have a meet on a saturday and it was a friend following behind who first noticed it..I have adjusted my O/S mirror to see the wheel and i have seen it doing it for myself, I can see the other side doing it as well...Cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Its like the weight of the car is making it bow..Its making me think that the springs could be knackered and its putting stress elsewhere?..I had the inner and outer UJs done on the driveshafts about the same time and have kept them greased..Last year a good few times..The rear wheel bearings were checked for play around six months ago but will check them again..Bit of a headfuken..

[mrzigazaga]

adam quantrill said:

I wonder if it could be something to do with the diff - if the diff bearings are a bit shagged will they move much (thereby allowing the driveshafts to move in/out slightly) or if the diff it a bit loose and moves as a whole. Under acceleration the diff or output shafts might be moving outwards slightly - which would straighen the wheels up. Maybe a long shot.

Or else it could be the bottom links or rather the bushes in them.

If you can hang on till the fest maybe we can take a look on the rolling road - maybe with a cheap webcam under the car (rather than sticking your head under there!)

Hi Adam..I hope its not the diff...It does leak oil and im not sure how much is left in there..I meant to get it filled /topped up when i had the mounts and pins changed but it slipped past me..Will i be able to move it easily by hand if its loose?..Not sure if it can wait till the fest..I dont like leaving things once i know about them..Especially if leaving them can become costly..I have an endoscope but im waiting for a second hand laptop from a mate so i can have a look about under the car, If the bearings are knackered in the diff would it make any noise..i:e grinding/Vibration..Whinning/knocking?..Cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps..Got a mate to help by rocking the wheel as i found a lot of movement of the trailing arm..I dont think it should be so easy to move?...I couldnt see anything else moving other than a slight amount on the lower suspension bush..Could the mount fail after just a year?, Im also wondering if maybe the holes that the pins go through have become oval or something has snapped and will need welding?..Cheers..Ziga

http://s1114.beta.photobucket.com/user/mrzigazaga1...

PS:Does anyone else see a green horizontal line through the video?

Edited by mrzigazaga on Tuesday 15th January 15:31

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate..The movement is more in the trailing arm pin and mount where it bolts to the chassis..The other end hardly moves..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Cheers Ralph..I have spoke to Dan taylor who fitted the pins & Mounts a year ago and he wants to have a look on thursday, He said it might just be a case of tightening the bolts up..(Theres alway's hope)..Or some welding may be needed if the holes have become oval or something has snapped..
Thanks for the offer though and if the weather is ok on sunday then i might just take a drive over anyway for a cuppa..Thanks..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

adam quantrill said:

with any luck it's just loose nuts you have.

Mmmm..Perhaps i need to look for a woman whos eye's look like spanners!...At least everytime i look into them my nuts will tighten...

Edited by mrzigazaga on Tuesday 15th January 23:22

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Dave..Happy new year to you too..I did read your post on gavlar's trailing arm isssue, I agree that it does seem a bit of a crazy set up..putting all that stress on a bit of rubber doesnt seem right!..I did read that Tower view racing did an upgrade on the trailing arm with some sort of stabiliser bar..Does anyone know of anyone that had that done?..The cage idea looks better also..Cheers to all for the info, Im hoping that the bolts are a bit loose but im not that lucky!..I will know for sure hopefully tomorrow...Cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mark...That would be cool to see some pics..I did do a search for Tower view but like you say i think they no longer trade..Depending on the mod it may be something someone else could do...Cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks Danny..I have found an address in north london for Tower View Race services and will contact them soon to see if they still can provide the upgrade..If not i will email Steve heath..Thanks...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

I wonder if a culmination of all three would make a huge difference?..Upgraded mounts, caged and then the stabiliser fitted..Might be worth looking into....cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

adam quantrill said:

Or there's some other fault that's causing it to fail prematurely?

Hi Adam..Thats what's in the back of my mind!..The pins & Mounts came from RT and im sure he is not in the habit of selling shyte..So im wondering if at any time petrol has made its way onto the O/S bush and made it perish quicktime causing the other side to become worn quicker than usual?..I have had more than my share of fuel leaking..Anything is possible although the O/S old trailing arm pin was bent when Dan taylor replaced it..And its that side that is the worst again..Maybe its not just a coincidence..I will have a good look with Dan tomorrow and take some pics..Cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...Just got back from Dan taylor and the O/S Trailing arm bush is knackered albeit only a year old!..The one on the N/S is fine..He checked for play in the half shafts and lower suspension but its all good..We came to the conclusion that he may of spilt a little drop of petrol as he changed some hoses for me a little while back and there is one directly above it..I think i will go for the upgraded superflex bush and probably cage it..Dan also said that it might be an idea as there is a fixing above it to put a little shield over the top to stop any petrol from perishing it again..So all in all not bad news..Well done gavlar you got it right..Thanks to everyone else for their input,I will bookmark this post for future reference..Cheers...Ziga

Cheers for this link too...
http://superflex.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=SF111-1...

PS:I wonder if a re-engineered mount with a smaller bush might be better?..Less surface area = Less movement.

MJG280 said:

Here's an example from somewhere

This is something we discussed earlier and it could actually be a good mod..You obviously need up and down movement but dont need sideways movement..I think its Something worth a little bit of research..

Edited by mrzigazaga on Thursday 17th January 15:47

[mrzigazaga]

Wedg1e said:

Fundamemtally, the original bush TVR used was up to the job IF they'd supported it on both sides.

Hi Ian..So would it be better to cage the bush as some have done?..And if so can you machine some plates..I only need 2..

Wedg1e said:

The current issue ones are made in bloody India or somewhere from chewing gum and yak dung.

..I make you right mate....Cheers...Ziga