Strange handling, loud bang!
Discussion
My cherished Chim 500, 23K or so miles.
Symptoms are: - Travel a good way on straight(ish) roads, no problem. Turn off onto slip road, right or left hander, car feels as tho it's going into understeer and just wants to go straight on. Then all frees up and back to normal. Occasionally on slow tight turns at low speed, a loud bang from the backend (sometimes feels as if someones kicked it) and steering lightens up. The 'bang', 'clonk' or 'kick' can happen at any speed, even 2 mph.
Seems to me like the diff is locking up, so jacked it up and used the bible to check. Doesn't behave as you'd expect for standard diff, so maybe Hydratak. ie. both wheels can be turned when the other locked.
Checked all joints, by eye. Tightend up rear top wishbone outer bolts, jacked up front to check for notchy steering joints - no problems.
Has been suggested fuel tank 'popping' - don't think so!!
Googled 'Hydratack' probs - was some mention of strange noises from them. Noise I can cope with (I'm used to it)- but the 'straight line' feeling is a complete no no.
Any comments, help, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. It's starting to worry me now. Long (noisy) trips in the offing....
Symptoms are: - Travel a good way on straight(ish) roads, no problem. Turn off onto slip road, right or left hander, car feels as tho it's going into understeer and just wants to go straight on. Then all frees up and back to normal. Occasionally on slow tight turns at low speed, a loud bang from the backend (sometimes feels as if someones kicked it) and steering lightens up. The 'bang', 'clonk' or 'kick' can happen at any speed, even 2 mph.
Seems to me like the diff is locking up, so jacked it up and used the bible to check. Doesn't behave as you'd expect for standard diff, so maybe Hydratak. ie. both wheels can be turned when the other locked.
Checked all joints, by eye. Tightend up rear top wishbone outer bolts, jacked up front to check for notchy steering joints - no problems.
Has been suggested fuel tank 'popping' - don't think so!!
Googled 'Hydratack' probs - was some mention of strange noises from them. Noise I can cope with (I'm used to it)- but the 'straight line' feeling is a complete no no.
Any comments, help, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. It's starting to worry me now. Long (noisy) trips in the offing....
Understeer then clonk. That's got to be a seized LSD. Sure sign would be reversing on a hard lock. If it fights to go straight on and clonks then the LSD is knackered. Try www.bellhillgarage.co.uk/ or www.douglasvalley.co.uk/ for a replacement unit. LSD is too expensive to repair
Thanks chaps...
If it's a Hydratrack jobbie, then it seems I can't check internal oil level, 'cos it's sealed. Only end point leaks. No sign on garage floor of drips from them.
No sign of 'clonk' when reversing on full lock. Which I have to do every time when reversing into drive.
Dealer (when I first noticed it) reckoned no problem with chassis fixings.
Hmmm...
If it's a Hydratrack jobbie, then it seems I can't check internal oil level, 'cos it's sealed. Only end point leaks. No sign on garage floor of drips from them.
No sign of 'clonk' when reversing on full lock. Which I have to do every time when reversing into drive.
Dealer (when I first noticed it) reckoned no problem with chassis fixings.
Hmmm...
FWIW Diff would seem the logical area of concern to me too. Try as I might last night, couldn't get problem to re-appear.. Bob, tried your full lock reverse procedure a few times - both before and after long run. Again no sign. I've mailed Blackpool to see if they know what diff is fitted - await response.
Only noise I noticed was a slight creak at low speed when parking. Suspension settling? CV creak?? Bible reckons they clank when worn and they certainly aren't clanking (maybe starting to break up?)and no drive train vibration at all.
So, looks like it's an underneath job to check diff cage first. What signs am I looking for? Movement, breakage? Any common area of failure?
Only noise I noticed was a slight creak at low speed when parking. Suspension settling? CV creak?? Bible reckons they clank when worn and they certainly aren't clanking (maybe starting to break up?)and no drive train vibration at all.
So, looks like it's an underneath job to check diff cage first. What signs am I looking for? Movement, breakage? Any common area of failure?
Howard,
might be totally wrong here but initial symptons you explained sound very similar to what I had on my Griff a couple of months back.
I know the Griff and Chim share the same chassis and running gear (or thereabouts).
Just check the rear ARB mounting brackets on both sides one on mine had snapped bracket causing a banging sound when cornering as the two halves of the plates passed each other obvously under load.
Good luck.
Gsw500
might be totally wrong here but initial symptons you explained sound very similar to what I had on my Griff a couple of months back.
I know the Griff and Chim share the same chassis and running gear (or thereabouts).
Just check the rear ARB mounting brackets on both sides one on mine had snapped bracket causing a banging sound when cornering as the two halves of the plates passed each other obvously under load.
Good luck.
Gsw500
Thanks Gary,
Just love the Griff colour....
Can't see any obvious breaks, swarf, movement, whatever in the ARB mountings. But, there again, being myopic and of advancing years, I probably wouldn't see anything right in front of me.. I'll have another look.
Out of interest, did your problem give the same understeer feeling, followed by oversteer?
P&J off to Offords on Friday for 24K service job, so no doubt they'll have a look. But I hate not finding a solution myself.
Just love the Griff colour....
Can't see any obvious breaks, swarf, movement, whatever in the ARB mountings. But, there again, being myopic and of advancing years, I probably wouldn't see anything right in front of me.. I'll have another look.
Out of interest, did your problem give the same understeer feeling, followed by oversteer?
P&J off to Offords on Friday for 24K service job, so no doubt they'll have a look. But I hate not finding a solution myself.
Howard,
Cheers...
Was a slight feeling of understeer when cornering hard but to be honest became accustomed to feeling after a while and didn't really investigate until banging noise appeared.
I had new Gaz shocks fitted last year so needs setting up properly really.
Maybe someone knows where I could get this set up plus corner weight etc local to north oxfordshire/northants border.
When I first heard the banging from the rear Howard I did some research and found this is one of the symptons of the LSD and also the diff mountings possibly could have worked loose although my knowledge of cars is pretty limited.
HTH.
Gsw500
Cheers...
Was a slight feeling of understeer when cornering hard but to be honest became accustomed to feeling after a while and didn't really investigate until banging noise appeared.
I had new Gaz shocks fitted last year so needs setting up properly really.
Maybe someone knows where I could get this set up plus corner weight etc local to north oxfordshire/northants border.
When I first heard the banging from the rear Howard I did some research and found this is one of the symptons of the LSD and also the diff mountings possibly could have worked loose although my knowledge of cars is pretty limited.
HTH.
Gsw500
Chim in for service with Offords... Bill has found nothing spectacularly untoward, but he's changing all suspension bushes (as they're getting on a bit).
Hopefully, that will cure the problem - at least she'll be more responsive to steering input - I hope...
No guarantees, so fingers crossed.
Diff, squeaky clean BTW.
Hopefully, that will cure the problem - at least she'll be more responsive to steering input - I hope...
No guarantees, so fingers crossed.
Diff, squeaky clean BTW.
Yeeeh.. Good news, I hope...
Redchim in at Offords for 24K service..
New Poly bushes all round, new drive shaft gaiters (giters, gaytors, whatever)..
Can't believe the difference. No squeaks, rattles or groans, steering lightened up and she goes where I want - not where she wants.... (Just got to be female - mind of her own sometimes and no way of knowing what she's going to do next!!)
Hopefully 'loud clonk etc.' gone.
I certainly feel a whole lot happier chucking 'her' around....
Thanks Bill et al and all those who came up with ideas.
Howard
Redchim in at Offords for 24K service..
New Poly bushes all round, new drive shaft gaiters (giters, gaytors, whatever)..
Can't believe the difference. No squeaks, rattles or groans, steering lightened up and she goes where I want - not where she wants.... (Just got to be female - mind of her own sometimes and no way of knowing what she's going to do next!!)
Hopefully 'loud clonk etc.' gone.
I certainly feel a whole lot happier chucking 'her' around....
Thanks Bill et al and all those who came up with ideas.
Howard
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