What is this telling me has failed?

What is this telling me has failed?

Author
Discussion

Barreti

Original Poster:

6,680 posts

236 months

Monday 15th September 2014
quotequote all
Guys,

I noticed the car sitting low at the NSR - about 1finger depth at the wheel/arch - and seemed to have more negative camber (top in) than I remember.
Driving home I got the feeling of sudden oversteer around a roundabout and the car felt back-end 'bouncy' even on the motorways.
I also have a slight clunk on taking up drive.

I've got the wheels off and the adjustable dampers are identical heights.
But I've notice both drive shaft gaiters are split on a ridge on the offending side.
The other side are OK.

There are no tell-tales of movement on any bolts and the bushes all look ok from a visual inspection.
The diff bushes were new 18months ago.
Drive shaft CVs and gaiters at the same time and the shocks were refurbished with new bushes too.
The springs visually look OK

I have a full set of Nitrons ready to go on, and I'll get the car geo'd but wonder if the drive shaft gaiters being split point to anything or are a red herring?




phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Monday 15th September 2014
quotequote all
Barreti said:
a red herring?
Yes, and an MOT fail I think.


A quick camber comparison can be done with a spirit level, obviously car will need to be parked somewhere nice and level 'n flat and you may need a piece of wood to space it out so its against the wheel not the tyre.

bluezeeland

1,965 posts

158 months

Monday 15th September 2014
quotequote all
Sounds like damper failure....why don't you bang on the nitrons (+springs) to see what they do ?

(geo and a new gaiter can be done later)

BarnFind

492 posts

145 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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Sounds to me like you've forgotten the fat bird you pulled the other night that trapped in the car not knowing how to get out......

billynobrakes

2,675 posts

264 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
Ian

Split gaiters are a MOT fail but would not cause the car sit lower

I would check the shock for any sign of leaks as it sounds like it has failed, one simple way of checking is push the offending side down and see if it moves if not then its has failed, does it bounce along the road on that side if it does its fecked

As suggested put the Nitrons on and get it set up at the garage we went to as he sounds like he offers a good service as a badly set up car is a nightmare trust me on that it cost a rear exhaust on my Cerb as it was grounding out all over the place , or if you are intending to get an other car wink and sell the Griff just the shock fixed and sell the Nitrons

SteveSPG

2,120 posts

201 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
you can check the length of the damper pushrods easy enough , just have a look see and you'll tell if they're sat differently or wet with damper fluid leak..

Barreti

Original Poster:

6,680 posts

236 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
Shocks are off and there is absolutely nothing between them visually or on the click settings.
Odd, but I'm chucking the Nitrons on anyway.

portzi

2,296 posts

174 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
Barreti said:
Shocks are off and there is absolutely nothing between them visually or on the click settings.
Odd, but I'm chucking the Nitrons on anyway.
I see your Nottingham based. If the problem persists, maybe you could drive to PPC at melton mobray, for a second opinion.? I have been there afew times and they are really helpful, and very knowledgeable bunch.

Barreti

Original Poster:

6,680 posts

236 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
That's a good call Mark, I was over there a couple of weeks ago and impressed by the attitude of Paul.

The car is on ramps now and won't get touched for a couple of weeks while I'm away, but when I get the new shocks on I might just pop over and see them to see if they could geo it and advise what might have caused the splits in the NS gaiters.

leerdam23

606 posts

260 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
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Wheel bearing?

Barreti

Original Poster:

6,680 posts

236 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
Well its about the only bloody thing at the back end I haven't changed in the last 18 months.
Worth a thought and I'll check it when I get the shock and wheel back on again.