Go Back   AstinaGT Forums > Performance & Technical > Suspension & Wheels

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 13-11-2008, 10:47 PM   #1
mussing
Senior Member
 
mussing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney
Car: 1990 323 Astina BG SP
Posts: 1,071
Suspension Woes

Got some suspension issues on my SP that I want to take care of. There's a lot of feedback through the steering wheel, especially at high speeds, plus the steering seems to get lighter and heavier without reason (wtf?), and the steering sometimes switches a quick left to right or vice versa when hitting potholes and the like.

When I had it checked out at Pedders, they said that:
  • Pin bushes are worn
  • Shocks are uneven left and right; right hand side is soft (apparently; looks/feels fine to me)
  • Bearing plates are splitting
  • Front and right lower bushes are moving
  • Rack mounts are worn
  • Both outer CV boots are split
  • Trailing arm bushes are worn
  • Sway pins and D brackets are worn, one broken off
  • Wheels out of alignment

I have arranged for second hand parts to replace some of these, and will arrange for yet more too. The shocks and springs will go when I get the MS coilovers from Rupe. I've decided to replace the driveshafts and CVs whole as well. (lol might paint my calipers while they're off the car too!)

Can anyone tell me what the individual effects of each of these is?

Will secondhand parts be fine for this stuff, or should I be getting new replacements?

Should I get some new polyurethane bushings, or will secondhand ones be fine?

Has anyone rebuilt their steering rack before, and if so how hard was it?

Am I right in assuming that I should wait until all the suspension work has been done before doing a wheel alignment?
mussing is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 14-11-2008, 08:25 AM   #2
mike_d87
AstinaGT Regular
 
mike_d87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Newcastle
Car: Astina
Posts: 481
That's a hell of a list, and I would be going somewhere other than Pedder's. Every time someone I know goes to Pedder's they're more trouble than they're worth. Worn bushes, wheels out of balance and out of alignment can cause the vibration in the wheel. The assistance going nutty could be an issue with the rack, I would get a line pressure test done on it, and rebuilding it is a specialist job.

Most new aftermarket bushes are polyurethane now anyway, and you shouldn't replace them with second hand stuff anyway. And yes, you should wait until after all that to get a wheel alignment done.
mike_d87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-11-2008, 08:45 AM   #3
Moons
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Perth/Salmon Gums
Car: 1991 Mazda 323 Astina BG
Posts: 166
Send a message via MSN to Moons
Check everything b4 even lookin at ur steerin rack, they r the biggest pain in the butt. Always good idea to get new stuff, may cost a lil more but u know ur gettin reliable gear. Im another one that doesn't like Pedder's, best thing is to find a good mechanic that u trust, and remember "word of mouth is more accurate then advertising" :P
__________________
We all go crazy eventually, i just like being in 1st place
Moons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-11-2008, 11:45 AM   #4
mussing
Senior Member
 
mussing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney
Car: 1990 323 Astina BG SP
Posts: 1,071
Yeah actually, I took it to my mechanic after going there and he said it was mostly bs. We tested the shocks and springs and they were fine (namely that they came back up, and evenly), and that I should just put the rears (which have lots of thread) on the front (which have very little), and that might fix the feedback in the wheel. Oh and to get a replacement D bracket mount for the rear swaybar, which I organised to get from Nate.

I'm yet to change the wheels just 'cos I'm in the middle of exams atm, but I'll do that the day I finish.

I'm thinking that the heavyness / lightness in the wheel might be the wheels following the lines of the road, meaning added resistance to turn away from it, Because it's not as though the power steering isn't working.

So does Pedders just exaggerate the problems so you give them lots of money?

Also, any differences between different kinds of bushings? Like OEM ones, Noltec, Whiteline, etc...
mussing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-11-2008, 04:27 PM   #5
mike_d87
AstinaGT Regular
 
mike_d87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Newcastle
Car: Astina
Posts: 481
My experience with Pedders is that anyone working there is a salesman, not a mechanic or specialist of any kind. So if you have a mechanic that you take your car to often and that you trust just go through them, if they can't help you they'll know someone who can.

Did your mechanic recommend any brands? When I got an alignment done on my LTD they told me to go for some no name brand from super cheap over other brands for longevity...
mike_d87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-11-2008, 04:57 PM   #6
mussing
Senior Member
 
mussing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney
Car: 1990 323 Astina BG SP
Posts: 1,071
Brands for which parts? Bushings? My mechanic hasn't mentioned any brands but I'll definitely to ask him before getting any.
mussing is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time now is 09:28 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
2001- 2010 AstinaGT