E39 rear suspension failure...
Discussion
Had a somewhat catastrophic NSR suspension failure this afternoon... thankfully in a car park in Brighton, rather than out on the road, especially as Mrs SWH was driving at the time, and it's the usual family transport.
Not looking great:
Oh bugger:
Closer in (duff focus):
Other than the 'what if' scenarios, Mrs SWH is fine, thankfully the multi-storey had a loading ramp on the top level, so the cheery chap from Wesbourne Motors could recover it, good job there chaps
Managed to reverse it up the drive, and have a quick look underneath, think I'll leave taking it apart until the morning...!
No noticeable noise/funky handling beforehand, was fine this morning when I drove it as well; just went clonk in the car park, Mrs SWH thought she'd clipped a kerb and was annoyed as it felt like the tyre had gone (kerbage is usually my forte...!) but couldn't see anything wrong as she looked round it on a straight and the wheel had pulled back upright, she just parked and went shopping. Manoeuvring to get out of the space seemed to stuff it completely, looks like the suspension arm has punched through the backplate as well as the inner edge of the wheel having rested on the broken arm when it was recovered and I backed it up the drive, oh well, out of the way now.
So, the barge is very popular at the moment, seeing as it threw the water pump the other week: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I had anticipated a water pump failure at some stage with an E39, less so the rear upper arm joint shearing off, will post what's left of it once I've removed my knuckles on it tomorrow. Hopefully not a common E39 failure point... I may replace the other side at the same time if it is!
Not looking great:
Oh bugger:
Closer in (duff focus):
Other than the 'what if' scenarios, Mrs SWH is fine, thankfully the multi-storey had a loading ramp on the top level, so the cheery chap from Wesbourne Motors could recover it, good job there chaps
Managed to reverse it up the drive, and have a quick look underneath, think I'll leave taking it apart until the morning...!
No noticeable noise/funky handling beforehand, was fine this morning when I drove it as well; just went clonk in the car park, Mrs SWH thought she'd clipped a kerb and was annoyed as it felt like the tyre had gone (kerbage is usually my forte...!) but couldn't see anything wrong as she looked round it on a straight and the wheel had pulled back upright, she just parked and went shopping. Manoeuvring to get out of the space seemed to stuff it completely, looks like the suspension arm has punched through the backplate as well as the inner edge of the wheel having rested on the broken arm when it was recovered and I backed it up the drive, oh well, out of the way now.
So, the barge is very popular at the moment, seeing as it threw the water pump the other week: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I had anticipated a water pump failure at some stage with an E39, less so the rear upper arm joint shearing off, will post what's left of it once I've removed my knuckles on it tomorrow. Hopefully not a common E39 failure point... I may replace the other side at the same time if it is!
t breaks after 15 years.Cheers, yep, I assume it's an original part... Swedish barging never delivered quite such dramatic failure. Anyway, stuff breaks, glad not at speed as well
Looking at it, a full lock car park manoeuvre with a spot of right foot action is probably more likely to dislodge that, than booting down a slip road... that's what I'm telling Mrs SWH anyway
Looking at it, a full lock car park manoeuvre with a spot of right foot action is probably more likely to dislodge that, than booting down a slip road... that's what I'm telling Mrs SWH anyway
Yep, I'd guess it has probably been going for ages, although I've not noticed any odd noises etc... wil be taking a close look at the other side too, not an expensive part, and doesn't look like any special tools (bigger hammer) are needed, so probably a reasonable plan to replace as a pair
clarkey328is said:
That's a bit worrying! Glad your mrs is ok though.
This kind of thing is no doubt a result of the "speed bumps everywhere!!!" school of town planning.
YepThis kind of thing is no doubt a result of the "speed bumps everywhere!!!" school of town planning.
Not the same but I'm sure re ridiculous amount of speed bumps around here and all through campus ( and some of them are savage) are responsible for prematurely busted drop links on my civic.
Plus on some bumps you have to keep a certain speed up or you end up catching th plastic mud guard pieces. Basically it's a decision as to which part of the card you'd like to bend or scrape. Suspension is rock hard as well, doesn't help.
E30M3SE said:
I'd be surprised if it didn't feel loose on the back end prior to it 'popping'
It's a 155k mile tank on 225/60 x 15s... it only really does soft and loose That balljoint is properly shagged though, and it really didn't feel odd this morning, maybe the other side is equally worn... don't worry I'll be checking!
Thanks for the picture too, just the job
A few photos from my evening in the drizzle below... all jacked up, couple of axle stands and the trolley jack holding the old barge in the air, and here we go...
That balljoint has been shagged for a while by the looks of it, not good, less good.... hmm, that disc looks a little bit of a funny angle:
Getting the top arm off was a doddle, the balljoint remains needed some persuasion with a bit of heat and the careful application of a lump hammer on the spanner, I do like the keep the neighbours intrigued of an evening of course.
So, top arm all clear, looks an easy replacement, now for that disc, hmm, yes, well, it's certainly broken, so off with the caliper and here's what's left of the disc:
Yep, free frisbee:
Now, removing the rest of the disc, well, drum... Amazingly it came off with a few taps of the hammer, no need to find the adjuster and the handbrake shoes are in good condition too.
So, new top arm and a pair of discs for Christmas then
That balljoint has been shagged for a while by the looks of it, not good, less good.... hmm, that disc looks a little bit of a funny angle:
Getting the top arm off was a doddle, the balljoint remains needed some persuasion with a bit of heat and the careful application of a lump hammer on the spanner, I do like the keep the neighbours intrigued of an evening of course.
So, top arm all clear, looks an easy replacement, now for that disc, hmm, yes, well, it's certainly broken, so off with the caliper and here's what's left of the disc:
Yep, free frisbee:
Now, removing the rest of the disc, well, drum... Amazingly it came off with a few taps of the hammer, no need to find the adjuster and the handbrake shoes are in good condition too.
So, new top arm and a pair of discs for Christmas then
SWH said:
Yep, free frisbee:
Christ, that arm must have gone through with a hell of a bang! To think I was initially surprised it went through the backing plate.. But I'll echo the thoughts above about it being a very good job this happened in a car park rather than anywhere else. Definitely replace the other side too, and I would hope to give all the suspension a good check over as well.
Merry Christmas?
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