check o/s top wishbone.

[tvr trev]

Thought I would just share my lucky escape. I had to remove the wheel for an unrelated problem and found the top wishbone that is nearest the manifold was in a very bad way, I think the heat must be the problem as the rest are all in good order. It might be worth a look if you havent checked them lately you will need to remove the wheels to see it properley. Mine passed mot 9 months ago with no problems.

[haircutmike]

Piccy?

[Bassfiend]

I know the top wishbone rear bush gets well and truly toasted by the exhausts - my offside one had completely disintegrated by the time I got it replaced and the nearside is on its way out now.

Phil

[slideways]

While your under there check your engine mounts I had a poly one on the nearside melt

[tvr trev]

Thanks for the advice I dident look at the engine mounts, looks like the wheels are going to have to come off again.

[BliarOut]

Check the flexible fuel lines in the engine bay while you're at it if in any doubt, replace.

[nawarne]

All good pieces of advice!!

You didn't mention, but I guess it was the nearside wishbone? (tend to get more muck thrown at them - and potholes too). Having said that, no harm checking the other side as well.

Nick

[SILICONE KID]

I thought it was the norm to wrap some thermal barrier matarial around the top wishbones ,Steve heath supplies it in his poly bush sets.

[potato muncher]

Just bought a Chim and the exhaust manifolds had not been fitted correctly, 2 bolts missing one side and 4 the other,
after removing them I found a large hole on the chassis where the wishbone bolts on the O/S. scary.
If you are having gaskets done make sure you get that area looked at.

Its a 1996 with 137,000 miles with a rebuild 60,000 ago.

On the road tuesday I hope.

Edit to say I made some heat shields to clip on the chassis before the manifolds go back on.

Edited by potato muncher on Saturday 20th November 19:04

[SILICONE KID]

I had signs of surface rust just under the exhaust maniflold on the chassis so i treated it gave it a few quick coats and then wrapped it with the silver back matarial and used steal tie wraps.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Heat-Shield-Aluminised-Mater...

Edited by SILICONE KID on Saturday 20th November 20:56

[tvr trev]

| think it could be a long winter in the garage or i might just hope for the best and go for a drive.

[quattrophenia]

Have you got a piccy to show the damaged area as? Most people doing refurbs seem to say it's the bottom arm that rots and needs replacing where as the top one is usually in better condition? Is the damage due to corrosion?

With regard to the comment about manifold bolts missing and causing damage to the chassis - I take it this damage was to the main chassis and probably caused by exhaust gasses blowing on to the area for a considerable time?
Thanks for any info, these areas are easy to check and I wouldn't fancy a top arm to fail

[tvr trev]

Sorry have no pics but i think corrosion was helped along by heat from the manifold the end that bolts to the car was only just hanging on.