Replacing entire suspension/steering
Discussion
If I wanted to completely overhaul the steering and suspension on an old Mk1 Yaris, what components would be required? I'd get a garage to do the work, and it's probably a daft idea anyhow, but if I knew all the bits which should ideally be replaced I'd mull it over...!
I was thinking about front & rear shocks & springs, but then my mechanical knowledge gets a bit sketchy! I suspect anti-rollbar(s), bushes, ball-joints, and wheel bearings might be on the list, but is there anything else? Wishbones?
I was given the car, and it's only a 2001 basic model with the 1 litre engine, so it's not really worth a button.
I've never been happy with the way it steers etc. I've had two or three garages check it out and give it a safety check, and had work done on it, including new wheel bearings when required, and an alignment. Strangely, it keeps passing MOTs, even when a wheel bearing was howling!
I quite like the car, and I'm wondering if giving it a complete overhaul would sort everything out and give me peace of mind. If I did go this route, I'd maybe like to upgrade the suspension with something which was decent quality (such as Koni shocks) which might improve the handling, but I wouldn't want anything which was too harsh or which looked boy racer-ish. Ideally, I'd like it to have better control, sharper steering, and flatter cornering, but with supple suspension - if such a thing is possible!
I was thinking about front & rear shocks & springs, but then my mechanical knowledge gets a bit sketchy! I suspect anti-rollbar(s), bushes, ball-joints, and wheel bearings might be on the list, but is there anything else? Wishbones?
I was given the car, and it's only a 2001 basic model with the 1 litre engine, so it's not really worth a button.
I've never been happy with the way it steers etc. I've had two or three garages check it out and give it a safety check, and had work done on it, including new wheel bearings when required, and an alignment. Strangely, it keeps passing MOTs, even when a wheel bearing was howling!
I quite like the car, and I'm wondering if giving it a complete overhaul would sort everything out and give me peace of mind. If I did go this route, I'd maybe like to upgrade the suspension with something which was decent quality (such as Koni shocks) which might improve the handling, but I wouldn't want anything which was too harsh or which looked boy racer-ish. Ideally, I'd like it to have better control, sharper steering, and flatter cornering, but with supple suspension - if such a thing is possible!
Thanks!
I know it's a daft idea. The alternative is what I've been doing until now, which is getting it fixed up when needed. I fitted four good quality tyres before I took it for the alignment. I just always think there's something wrong with it, and it's actually quite a pleasant drive in other respects - I've been wondering what they were like when they were new, and wishing I could go back in time to 1999 to try one!
I've spent a few minutes looking at the Fensport website, and can see that a set of Konis, Eibach springs, bushes, and some other chassis components would add up to around £1100, and the car might need more than that, plus the labour to fit. It might be the sort of thing I would do (I don't really weigh up the cost of repair against the value of a car) but in this case it's a lot of money and I don't know what I'd end up with, plus the rest of the car isn't in mint condition. When I got it, I didn't think I'd ever use it, but it's come in handy when my main car has had problems, and I must have racked up over 30,000 miles in the 2 or 3 years I've had it, including some longish journeys.
I know it's a daft idea. The alternative is what I've been doing until now, which is getting it fixed up when needed. I fitted four good quality tyres before I took it for the alignment. I just always think there's something wrong with it, and it's actually quite a pleasant drive in other respects - I've been wondering what they were like when they were new, and wishing I could go back in time to 1999 to try one!
I've spent a few minutes looking at the Fensport website, and can see that a set of Konis, Eibach springs, bushes, and some other chassis components would add up to around £1100, and the car might need more than that, plus the labour to fit. It might be the sort of thing I would do (I don't really weigh up the cost of repair against the value of a car) but in this case it's a lot of money and I don't know what I'd end up with, plus the rest of the car isn't in mint condition. When I got it, I didn't think I'd ever use it, but it's come in handy when my main car has had problems, and I must have racked up over 30,000 miles in the 2 or 3 years I've had it, including some longish journeys.
Thanks very much for the alternative viewpoint! By the way, your username rings a bell - are you the person with a Peugeot 207 with dicey handling? :-)
It's funny you should mention the power steering fluid. I think the Yaris was made with either a hydraulic or electric steering rack. I wasn't sure what mine had, but a couple of weeks ago I fitted a new battery, and some of the steering feel improved, so I think it probably has an electric rack, and the old battery might have been causing problems. It used to 'randomly' change feel - some times it was 'normal-ish' and then sometimes it would feel heavy and almost locked into position when driving on A roads, and a few times it wouldn't self-centre at parking speeds. I had a couple of garages look at it, but they said it was safe, but couldn't see anything wrong. One garage owner had it for a few days and commuted in it - he said it was strange, but it almost seemed like it got better the more he drove it. I'm wondering if that was because the old battery was being topped up with a higher charge with the more regular driving.
Since owning it, I've noticed rubbing noises from the rear driver's side when going around roundabouts. I had a wheel bearing replaced on that side, and also had the rear drums rebuilt.
In the last few days I'm hearing a clicking or slight knock when making slow, tight turns. I'll take it to the garage to have them investigate - I wondered if it might be a bush which is worn or cracked.
If I drive with the window open I can hear the rear suspension squeaking slightly.
It's funny you should mention the power steering fluid. I think the Yaris was made with either a hydraulic or electric steering rack. I wasn't sure what mine had, but a couple of weeks ago I fitted a new battery, and some of the steering feel improved, so I think it probably has an electric rack, and the old battery might have been causing problems. It used to 'randomly' change feel - some times it was 'normal-ish' and then sometimes it would feel heavy and almost locked into position when driving on A roads, and a few times it wouldn't self-centre at parking speeds. I had a couple of garages look at it, but they said it was safe, but couldn't see anything wrong. One garage owner had it for a few days and commuted in it - he said it was strange, but it almost seemed like it got better the more he drove it. I'm wondering if that was because the old battery was being topped up with a higher charge with the more regular driving.
Since owning it, I've noticed rubbing noises from the rear driver's side when going around roundabouts. I had a wheel bearing replaced on that side, and also had the rear drums rebuilt.
In the last few days I'm hearing a clicking or slight knock when making slow, tight turns. I'll take it to the garage to have them investigate - I wondered if it might be a bush which is worn or cracked.
If I drive with the window open I can hear the rear suspension squeaking slightly.
Thanks very much for all that, including the pointers on what could currently be wrong with the car. Also, the comment that it's never going to steer that well. That's the thing - if I had some idea of what it would be like, then I'd feel happier. I suppose a set of Konis and Eibachs might make it handle closer to a Yaris T-Sport (which I've never driven), but it would still be on bog standard Yaris wheels/tyres etc.
I'll mull it over, and have the garage check it (including the CV joints).
The alternatives are to keep it running, replacing bits as/when required and/or put the money I'd spend on the suspension rebuild towards a different car, although anything else I buy at the cheaper end of the market might also require similar work.
sgtBerbatov, what do you think of the 107?
I'll mull it over, and have the garage check it (including the CV joints).
The alternatives are to keep it running, replacing bits as/when required and/or put the money I'd spend on the suspension rebuild towards a different car, although anything else I buy at the cheaper end of the market might also require similar work.
sgtBerbatov, what do you think of the 107?
Thanks for that. If the Mk1 Yaris really is that bad compared to other cars, then it probably makes sense for me to start looking for an alternative.
By the way, the clicks/knocks are due to worn anti-roll bar bushes. The garage says it's not dangerous, but I suspect it might prove to be an MOT failure.
By the way, the clicks/knocks are due to worn anti-roll bar bushes. The garage says it's not dangerous, but I suspect it might prove to be an MOT failure.
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