Bit more bumpy than I’d like.

herbie

Member
Hello All,

I know our roads are pretty dreadful, certainly near me anyway, but I’m beginning to feel that my beloved p6 is a bit more bone shakery than it should be, i put Gaz shocks on a few years ago and have adjusted them to the best I can get, tyres are Pirelli and 4 years old with pressures checked, seems to be transmitting road surfaces too much into the car, I know the suspension design makes this likely but would welcome any thoughts?
 
Have you checked all the bushings and balljoints ? If all is ok the ride should be smooth is my experience.
Regards, Barten
 
Hi Barten, it has had suspension bushes and top ball joints, I need to have another go with a pry bar, was wondering whether the front spring at the bulkhead might be where the harshness is coming through, had anyone changed the rubber components on the front springs?
 
You could have a fractured spring.
The spring cup isolators perhaps are worn too far (or missing?), or bellcrank plunger bush deteriorated.
What setting are your shocks set to? Do you think they’re knocking on the mounting pins? There’s a common rattle issue with certain aftermarket units and the way their bush fits
Jim
 
Shocks are set mid way, I have never really got on with them to be honest, will have a good look at the weekend and see if I can see anything obvious.
 
Maybe your bottom ball joints are shot? Or the top link bushings? You should be able to see if it is ok if you jack it up and use a big prybar.
Regards, Barten
 
Have a look up into the springs at your bellcrank buffers. The destroyed one here is obvious but the fitted one was considerably flattened. Poly's in their place now:

IMG_20190516_143845_1CS_1.jpg
 
Thanks guys, will get it on axle stands this weekend and have a look. I’d love to re bush the top link but hesitant at removing the springs as have read it is a little more life threatening than on other cars I’ve done it on....
 
It's not a bad job. We did it with studding in place of the retaining bolts & loosening evenly. By the time you get to the end, the spring just falls out.
Refitting is the reverse of removal but ensure the spring remains seated in its recess while you're tightening, like l did the second time. :rolleyes:

IMG_20190513_152948_4.jpgIMG_20190522_131727_3~2.jpg
 
The rubber certainly seems to have lipped over the metal base of the dome by quite a bit.
 

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My top ball joint dust cover looks like it is missing half of it?
 

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My top ball joint dust cover looks like it is missing half of it?
This may also be how an aftermarket boot sits. You would need to examine the top of the boot with a small mirror to see if it is in fact snug around the ball joint.
 
The rubber certainly seems to have lipped over the metal base of the dome by quite a bit.

Mine was squeezing through the gap & obviously deformed. The other looked ok but was of course changed anyway & once it was out it was obvious that it needed changing & being the second it took half the time of the first anyway. Once you have the method under your belt & weren't cleaning & painting as you went, you could have both done comfortably in a day with little to no risk of an escaped spring buzzing round your workspace.
 
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