*Sonic*

Mods please leave in here for a short while, ta

Had my Eibachs fitted yesterday/today by the dealer, and after collecting the car it would seem that they havent aligned the tops properly

the drivers side is clonking like mad, and Ive just jacked the car up to its maximum height, and the wheel has stayed on the ground !!!

Is there anything I can do to rectify this, as the dealers arent back till Monday, and i need to be at work

I dont have any spring compressors, so i might be stuck anyway

I can also see where the spring has rubbed against the wing too, and a bolt thread

Is the car safe/unsafe to drive in this condition, bearing in mind I have just driven 20 miles down the motorway !!

Steve

*Sonic*

Heres some pics

car jacked up (wheel still on ground)


damage to innner wing


spring not sat in top




[Edited by *Sonic* - 7/19/2003 8:41:42 PM]

Leviathan

**** me Is the nut still on the top under bonnet?

Ed to say, there should be a nut screwed on the top of the piston rod of the strut, under the bonnet, where a strut brace would be if you had one.If you get my drift.

[Edited by Leviathan - 7/19/2003 8:54:30 PM]

*Sonic*

Yep I know what you mean

I havent checked that, as its got a plastic cover on it, so I will see if I can get that out to take a look, the 3 support bolts are there, and they replaced one on the other side, cos it sheared off

Leviathan

They've deffo fecked somthing up, either put it back together incorectly, missed somthing out, left a nut off somewhere.
Anyways, it isnt right judging by the pics and you may cause damage if you drive it, or worse.

Im trying to use my minds eye and remember the set-up, without actualy seeing it, its bloody hard.
Pete C or anyone???????

[Edited by Leviathan - 7/19/2003 9:28:12 PM]

ScoobyI69

Why not call out Subaru Assist to have a look at it??

*Sonic*

Ive just checked the top nut, and it is secured, ive compared it with the other side, and the drivers side is definatly higher than the passenger side, and the rubber grommet is only just sat on (as the thread is pushing it out)

I think the tophat part (where the top of the spring sits) isnt lined up as it should be

Leviathan

I think you should do what 169 says m8, give them a call!

Ed again, it sounds like the top spring seat isnt located properly and down far enough onto the piston rod,
hence why one side is higher than the other and the spring is leaving the seat when you jack it up,
would also explain why the spring is fouling the inner wing.

[Edited by Leviathan - 7/19/2003 9:38:32 PM]

*Sonic*

Unfortunatly I dont have Subaru Assist (dealer refused as its an EU import) and I dont have any other breakdown / recovery sorted out yet

Steve

ScoobyI69

That is a bit of a downer! :-(

What about joining one of the services, I know that in the passed I ahve joined, and paid a small surcharge to have them respond immediatly.

Leviathan

Oh ****, wish i was there m8 id give you a hand.
Can you measure the distance between the top and bottom spring seats and compare with the other side of the car,
pain in the **** i know but it may confirm the above.

having said that the measuring bit will only work if you have both sides jscked up steve
Scooby 169 may have a valid point!

[Edited by Leviathan - 7/19/2003 9:46:38 PM]

*Sonic*

yeah I thought of that, and it is summit I need to do, and have been looking at, but Im not paying out anymore, as this is the dealers fault

I guess im gonna have to phone in sick on monday, and get the dealer to come out to my house to sort it out

*Sonic*

I'll go do it now, one thing I noticed was that it was pulling slightly to the right too, and the steering felt a bit heavier

I was told that I should expect some 'clonking' as they settle in, and that they cant always be lined up accuratly, and some movement may occur

ScoobyI69

It has to be worth a call to them to ask them though? Most of these places have free phone numbers now anyway, and you might even get instant cover for no extra if you explain the situation.

*Sonic*

Just measured inside the arch at the same point on both sides

drivers side = 13cm from top cap to bottom cap
passenger side = 15cm from top cap to bottom cap

I also measured the top of the tyre to the wheel arch and it is roughly

drivers side 6-6.5cm clearance
passenger side 5cm clearance

defo not right, and upon closer inspection the passenger is marginally out too, as you can see where it has started to rub on the inner wing

eddie h

Have you checked the two lower strut mounting bolts.

one secures the strut, the other alters the toe.

Only asking cos if the've only put one back in...

Boro

iTrader: (1)

bttt for ya m8

*Sonic*

Yep

Ive checked the lower struts and they are bolted, it definatly looks like the top hats havent been lined up properly

Spoke to the Dealers today, but only one sales guy in, all he could do was say call back in the morning

tweenierob

Steve, first off.... the ride height may be down to the springs sitting wrong..
The clonking is often down to the strut not sitting correctly in the mount at the top, this is a bit hard to explain :S
Basically there is a lip on the insert in the strut, the washer under the retaining nut often does not go over the lip when tightened down adn leaves a 2mm gap under the lip, this causes the clonking, top mounts are often misdiagnosed as worn due to the washer not sliding over teh lip on the insert and causing knocking.
The nut Will not go any tighter and will seem right but the washer is sitting above the lip..

Take it apart and you will see what i mean

Seriously though, i would put the clonking down to that.. especially if it has only just started doing it.. ie. after being reassembled.

Rob

*Sonic*

Thanks Rob

Also this clonking is very loud, and the car pulls to the left, and it has physically damaged the inner wing (although only marginal), and is taking the thread off a bolt that is coming through the inner wing

It is definatly only the drivers side which makes the noise, which is horrendous, and made people look round (over the sound of my 'zorst)

It is going back in first thing in the morning

I cannot drive round with it like it is, I cant even get the wheel to come off the ground, with the jack on its full height, as only the spring moves the car up, and that definalty isnt right

Hopefully it can be fixed just by getting some spring compressors on it, and turning the topseat round, or it may have to come off completly

Either way, it needs resolving, and I need to get to work tomorrow, and ive been carless since

Thanks everyone for the advice/help etc, Ill let you all know what happens tomorrow ( I knew I should have let you fit them Rob )

Steve

Leslie

Just wondering if there might be an internal fault in the shock absorber which is allowing the piston rod to come so far out of the housing that it has allowed the spring to become unseated at the top. There must be excessive travel in the shock absorber.

Whatever the problem, you are wise not to drive it like that.

Les

tweenierob

Not being funny mate...
Have read again now i am awake, take off the plastic cap where the retaining nut goes and make sure it is on there.
There is only a couple of things that can be wrong to have that much travel, either the nut is not screwed on..
The bolts that hold the leg to the hub are missing
Or the insert is coming out of the strut:O

Rob

*Sonic*

Many thanks for all your help (everyone), I took the car slowly back to the dealers this morning, and they confirmed that hadnt been fitted correctly, and the top seats had not been lined up as they where originally

Anyway they promptly put the car on the ramps, and aligned them up, Ive been to Manchester & Oldham in it today, and its been fine, I also checked with the jack too

steering lock is on, so wheel is at a slight angle


on the jack again (but this time tyre is 2 inches off the ground, although you cant really see)


inside (whilst jacked up)


Drives a lot better, very directional & pointy, almost all body roll eliminated, much more precise

Many thanks once again

Steve

Leslie

Very good.

Les

banshi

Hope you gave 'em a piece of your mind got an apology & compensation m8.

Do they not road test or final check the cars after an install!

Mind I know someone with a 206, 3 days after full main agent service pads were down to the metal & front shock b******d.

BTW was it your nearest dealer?

*Sonic*

Banshi

Yes it was my local dealer, I got an apology for having to come back, no compo, and im still awaiting a cheque back for the overcharging on the price of the springs

Im not convinced its still right now after driving it a bit, it sounds like its rubbing on the passenger side now (albeit on almost full lock)

I have to go back any way to pick up a nother bit or two, so I will speak to them again

Apparently they did test drive, and they definatly test drove it the 2nd time

Steve

vulnax999

iTrader: (7)

If that was Mainland mate then they gone!

For now, they told me but who knows...!