Pain In The Rear End....

[Manc]

Hi, Long time no see.... the old 'gal has driven well....

but this years financial calamities have restricted me from acting on last years mot warnings.....

The other day I stood on the passenger side rear door cill ( i was reaching accross the roof..) i then heard the loudest sound ever to come from the car... a big bang/crack... i've not jacked it up yet but can see nothing obvious loose or broken....

It drove well with 4 people & a boot full for 80miles, then another 50 with just me & the boot full.... no creaks or groans and drove smooth...

the day after someone pointed out that it looks low at the back.... now i know they do sit low at the back anyway but it did look slighty lower.. but equal on both sides..

The day after that i heard a noise as i pulled out of the driveway to go to work, the stereo was on so i missed it but noticed it... no more noises on the trip to work.. bt on the way home it did creak several times over the larger bumps/dips etc... it now does it with the large but soft dips in the road and i fear the worst....

it's a bit like the noise when the front ball joints went... but not as sharp or as often...

did get warnings for both rear lower susp.arms and rear wheel bearings....

has anyone had either of these... what sort of cost am i looking at? I got 2 weeks off in august to sort it out so any info would be good...

Thanks

[ROYT]

Hi, Long time no see.... the old 'gal has driven well....

but this years financial calamities have restricted me from acting on last years mot warnings.....

The other day I stood on the passenger side rear door cill ( i was reaching accross the roof..) i then heard the loudest sound ever to come from the car... a big bang/crack... i've not jacked it up yet but can see nothing obvious loose or broken....

It drove well with 4 people & a boot full for 80miles, then another 50 with just me & the boot full.... no creaks or groans and drove smooth...

the day after someone pointed out that it looks low at the back.... now i know they do sit low at the back anyway but it did look slighty lower.. but equal on both sides..

The day after that i heard a noise as i pulled out of the driveway to go to work, the stereo was on so i missed it but noticed it... no more noises on the trip to work.. bt on the way home it did creak several times over the larger bumps/dips etc... it now does it with the large but soft dips in the road and i fear the worst....

it's a bit like the noise when the front ball joints went... but not as sharp or as often...

did get warnings for both rear lower susp.arms and rear wheel bearings....

has anyone had either of these... what sort of cost am i looking at? I got 2 weeks off in august to sort it out so any info would be good...

Thanks

When I got a loud bang like that when just reversing out of my drive, a rear spring had broken right at the top.

Missed it first inspection, couldn't see it.

[steve2006]

If it had been a Ford Escort I would have said the sill had gone through but obviously not on an LS, BTW has any one ever heard of one being replaced on an LS?

Anyway I concur with ROYT and would think a spring has snapped, they do go with an almighty crack due to the fact they are indeed springs and the weight/tension imposed on them.

Check as soon as possible there have been horror stories of broken springs embedding themselves in tyre walls and slicing through brake hoses!

[sir john]

Manc,

Id be very supprised if it isnt the rear spring that have broken. Probably right at the top. Start now by wire brushing the nut and bolt that hold the rear shocker to the rear hub and treat with WD40. Get a pair of new springs; about £50 and borrow a set of spring compessers (£20 for a cheap set). Remove the rear seats. Compress 1 of the springs and undo the strut at the rear parcel shelf and bottom at the hub.

Its a bit of an arse but you can do both sides in a day (a full day that is).

If youy get stuck, give me a shout.

[Manc]

Thanks people.... i just saw the pic on the other recent post :(

strange but it happened when i stood on the opposite side rear passenger cill, it sounded like it was that side at the time but driving it the past 2 days it sounds like my side when i go over bumps/dips...

but im gonna take a look on my dinner hour tomorrow.... well dinner half hour they give you nowadays.. Health & Safety dont seem acknowledge the bad indigestion these rushed dinner breaks cause us..... but if a signs up, everythings ok with the world :)

sorry... im waffling aren't i??

Thanks again.... i'll let you know..

i wish i'd found this post before the other i read... i wrote a massive reply..:tsktsk:

never mind, speak soon.. i'll let you know

[Manc]

i saw a cheap compressor was not wise but did everyone manage ok??