Front End Problem

[donweather]

I tow a jetski but that's hardly heavy and I don't tow it that often.

If the steering and front end feels odd wouldn't the problem be at the front and not the rears?

[i286]

You would expect it to be at the front, but if rear shocks are cactus then rear end will bounce on the springs and that will affect the front.
It is a newish car with 36K, driven on sealed roads and it is simply to early for anything in the suspension or steering department to wear out to that extent that it will give you feeling you are experiencing.
Shocks wear over long period of time, we get used to it and adjust our driving accordingly to compensate for it. Unless something is loose or broken you should not have these symptoms.
You would mention if you hit some big pothole or kerb, so I ruled that out. Anyway, you will find out what is wrong a bit later today.

[donweather]

I did hit a hump at speed. You know where a street perpendicular to the one you are travelling on intersects the street you are travelling on but that's when I first noticed the car behaved erratically in the front end. It's just been getting progressively worse since then. If it is the front shocks gone is this something usually replaced under warranty. Noting I have the supaloy LCA and bluefin.

[brad]

they'll do warranty if they are leaking or have a manufacturing fault but not if they are soft. They'll only want to change the faulty unit.

Bluefin shouldn't affect it.
LCAs will depend on the service guy & if he wants to be a nob.

A mate of mine can't get warranty on his steering rack because he has Koni Yellows. McGrath's Sutherland want him to put the OEM dampers back in before they'll consider warranty. They also say he's had the engine out & has replaced an engine mount (neither has happened). This is the same dealer that when they fixed his DSG7 they left wiring hanging loose in the engine bay & left the undertray off.

[donweather]

Well turns out my lefthand front Supaloy LCA bushes are stuffed. Have about 15-20mm forward/backward movement in the bushes. Also have some in the righthand side Supaloy LCA, although nowhere near as bad (around 5mm). But there should be no movement yeah?

Back to prestige and performance I go again on Monday. This is the 2nd time I've had to have the Supaloy LCAs rectified/replaced. They're normally a good product aren't they? Just checked and the LCA's are 12mths old almost to the exact day/date!!!

BTW, can highly recommend Peddars at Moorooka. Very thorough and excellent service and was keen to chat to me for a while about the LCA problem. Would recommend them with respect to good service that's for sure, particularly considering they knew they weren't getting any more current work from me at present for the LCA problem etc.

[i286]

[I did hit a hump at speed.]

Why not mention this in the very first post?

Front end needs to be checked visually from underneath for bent or cracked control arm/s . Don't think that steering components will be damaged. Most likely valving in one or both front shocks is damaged. Shock tester will show what condition are front shocks in.
Damaged (also worn out) shock absorber/s will explain behavior of the car you are experiencing. Car is bouncing on the springs because shocks are not controlling movement of the springs.

After passing over irregularities on the road wheel is pushing suspension up, spring compress and then expand but because shock absorber (damper would be more appropriate name) is not controlling the spring oscillation, i.e. pushing the suspension components down, towards the road, tyre contact with the road surface is not constant, it varies. Car rocks from side to side when any slight bump in the road sets it off, also it will pronounce and explain more axle tramp. Braking distance increase and there is irregular tyre wear.

After damaged parts are found and replaced wheel alignment should be done without waiting for different wheels or new tyres. Tyre wear does not affect alignment settings.

[brad]

Is that the front small bush that has shagged or the big one in the console bracket at the rear?

[i286]

donweather, I was not aware of your post before I posted my previous one. I am not that good with keyboard skills and a language slows me down.

Good that problem is found and that there is no damage to the genuine parts.

[donweather]

Pedders said it was both the cotton reel style front bushing and the rear bush that were both moving.

Spoke to my mechanic and he apparently has replaced similar failed supaloy bushes recently so it appears it's not just me. Pretty average for a product that's only 12 mths old.

[donweather]

So spoke to prestige and performance this morning and they can't even look at the LCA's until Wed week (3rd Sept). Rang Fulcrim who are the manufacturers of the supaloy LCAs and they said bring the car in and they'll look at it, but if the bushes have failed they can't do anything about it as it's then a warranty claim from prestige and performance. Whilst I understand where Fulcrim are coming from, as the manufacturer of the product I thought there response was pretty poor even more so when I told them prestige and performance can't even look at my car for 9 days and it's not really drivable in its current state.

[brad]

you might find the attitude / solution different once you see them. They probably want to ensure it isn't a workmanship issue before committing.

[donweather]

Brad, I hope so. Taking the car to Fulcrim on Wed morning.

[donweather]

Who here would class this amount of movement in a lower control arm acceptable/normal?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y5gokpCJw0&feature=youtu.be

[Martin]

Not good at all - I better check mine!

[donweather]

Fulcrim said that was fine!!!! Unbelievable IMO.