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Rear end still feels awful !

2K views 22 replies 7 participants last post by  hardy1812 
#1 ·
Good morning peeps,,

The arse end of my car still feels like it's gunna fall over when going round corners,,, I've changed rear shockers, top mounts and drop links and it still feels awful,,, I've tried to use a bar on all the rubbers to see if I get any movement but they all seem pretty good and solid??? The only one that I can't really get to is the longish one from the wheel to the car (is the track control arm ) anyone had or having a similar issue as it's driving me nuts and I'm sick of just buying and replacing parts for the fun of it ????????
Would the subframe bushes cause this maybe??? Some don't look bad but some do look pretty warn but seem solid enough
Thanks peeps.
 
#2 ·
Hi

Could be crossmember, with age of bushes there is probably movement when weight of car is applied.

I had a similar feeling with my MK 3 once, it was caused by slight movement in a rear wheel bearing. No noticeable wear when you jacked up car but obviously it was there when turning into a corner. I believe slight movement was enough to trigger stability control but not in a good way.

Peter
 
#3 ·
the subframe bushes can't really be checked in situ without dropping them out

you may find that the bushes are fine but the frame has rotted out around them

seeing as they hold everything to the car it might explain the boat motion
a quick fix could be swapping tyres front to rear to see if that solves the problem?
 
#4 ·
Have you had a proper alignment done on the rear end? Have them check everything

again and see if the values have changed since the last adjustment.

Self levelling supsension?
 
#5 ·
Hi

Could be crossmember, with age of bushes there is probably movement when weight of car is applied.

I had a similar feeling with my MK 3 once, it was caused by slight movement in a rear wheel bearing. No noticeable wear when you jacked up car but obviously it was there when turning into a corner. I believe slight movement was enough to trigger stability control but not in a good way.

Peter
Cheers Pete,,, wheel bearings seem ok no noise or movement but as they cheap enough could be worth changing.
 
#6 ·
the subframe bushes can't really be checked in situ without dropping them out
you may find that the bushes are fine but the frame has rotted out around them
seeing as they hold everything to the car it might explain the boat motion
a quick fix could be swapping tyres front to rear to see if that solves the problem?
Cheers dojj,, as daft as it sounds I did swap them when I did the ABS bleed and it's still the same,,,subframe does look a little worse for wear but does look ok around bushes but maybe I'll need to remove frame,, as long as bolts come out ????. Knowing my look it'll be a no no
 
#7 ·
Have you had a proper alignment done on the rear end? Have them check everything
again and see if the values have changed since the last adjustment.

Self levelling supsension?
Never had a full alignment just fronts mate,,,, no self levelling as it's only an ST 2.2 TDCi,,,
But maybe I'll just change everything ???? I mean it's not like it's never had a dime spent on it ????????,, think I've spent more on it than the wife ????????
Thanks purple appreciate your thoughts
 
#9 ·
My 2.2 Ghia had self levelling suspension.

Not had the rear alignment done, it could be as simple as that? Changes with the

weight of the rear end could be alignment movement due to the weight.

One of the works reps had rear tyre wear issues where they set the alignment

virtually every service yet it still chewed tyres. Turned out he always took the

car in with an empty boot and then overloaded the rear end with all his junk.

Had the alignment done with the boot full and no more uneven tyre wear.
 
#10 ·
Hi

This vid might put you off the job of swapping out the bushes:

Peter
 
#12 ·
My 2.2 Ghia had self levelling suspension.

Not had the rear alignment done, it could be as simple as that? Changes with the
weight of the rear end could be alignment movement due to the weight.

One of the works reps had rear tyre wear issues where they set the alignment
virtually every service yet it still chewed tyres. Turned out he always took the
car in with an empty boot and then overloaded the rear end with all his junk.

Had the alignment done with the boot full and no more uneven tyre wear.
Cheers purple
I best get a 4 wheel alignment booked and see if that helps,,
Defo no self levelling suspension even on catcar it just says special suspension which I assume is just lowered,,,
 
#13 ·
What condition are these brackets in?
They are notorious for rusting to the point of collapse.

4494B9B4-75AE-4DF3-94B1-8CD63D1AC0F8.jpeg
Thanks Ray that is the bracket and arm things that I can't get too to check,, they look rusty but then again so does everything under the car ,,, I wondered if these could be the problem also,,, the 4 arms that come off the subframe are or seem to be solid as I unbolted them to aid getting the shocker in/out.

May have to get under again and have another look,,
Are these available too buy like the arms???
 
#14 · (Edited by Moderator)
Couple of points. Having just watched the above video, kinda interesting. However, I exchanged my sub-frame bushes with poly some years ago and did not remove the subframe. Removed one bolt and loosened the other on one side, until I could get a socket between the frame and the body. Then used a jack to lift the sub-frame which pushed the bush out. Pretty much as he has done, but without removal.

Two came out easily, two did not in that the rubber was left behind and I had to hot knife and abrade it off. Inserting the polys was easy, assisted with a bit of washing up liquid.

Then took it for a rear wheel alignment, which brings up the second point.

Most alignment shops are cowboys and will tell you that the Mk3 does not have rear wheel adjustment. Lies!!!

The two rear bolts on the suspension arms are concentric; where they attach to the sub-frame, there is rear wheel adjustment.
 
#15 ·
What condition are these brackets in?
They are notorious for rusting to the point of collapse.

4494B9B4-75AE-4DF3-94B1-8CD63D1AC0F8.jpeg
Thanks Ray that is the bracket and arm things that I can't get too to check,, they look rusty but then again so does everything under the car ,,, I wondered if these could be the problem also,,, the 4 arms that come off the subframe are or seem to be solid as I unbolted them to aid getting the shocker in/out.

May have to get under again and have another look,,
Are these available too buy like the arms???
I've seen people buy these brackets recently from Ford, and they were £18 each from memory.

Some owners have seen them literally rust away so that the arm wasn't actually connected to the bracket.
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
Thanks so much everyone I'll have to get the arse end up again and check everything again plus I'll look into all the things you've advised,,
Ray eBay £22 (genuine) each roughly on there and £50 for the 2 arms (aftermarket),,
The bolts that are concentric I'm guessing will be absolutely rusted so will need to purchase some and replace.
£33 for poly bushes seems reasonable
Thanks again gents I'll keep you all posted although it could be a while before I can do anything unless something falls off or breaks ????????
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
When I told the guy about the rear wheel adjustments bolts, he was reluctant to adjust as he maintained they are so rusty, they may break. Possibility, but they are very substantial bolts, so unlikely.

I got home and gave them a wire brush job, WD40, had a cuppa and went to work on them. They actually released surprisingly easy as it was only the exterior that was rusty. Cleaned them up, put them back and went for the rear tracking.

Was again told that the MK3 does not have rear tracking and I told them it does. He had a look, told me he had never seen that before and did not want to break the bolts. It took a bit of convincing to pursuade him that all would be hunky dory. Basically, don't take 'it can't be done' for an answer.

In the diagram, 7, 8, and 9 are the adjusting bolt, washer and nut.

Font Slope Line Triangle Parallel
 

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#18 ·
Thanks so much everyone I'll have to get the arse end up again and check everything again plus I'll look into all the things you've advised,,
Ray eBay £22 (genuine) each roughly on there and £50 for the 2 arms (aftermarket),,
The bolts that are concentric I'm guessing will be absolutely rusted so will need to purchase some and replace.
£33 for poly bushes seems reasonable
Thanks again gents I'll keep you all posted although it could be a while before I can do anything unless something falls off or breaks
Febi sell the nuts used on the rear end, exactly the same spec as the Ford ones but cheaper, they also sell the eccentric bolts.

The bolts that go through the tie arm brackets are incorrectly listed on Catcar/Zap. Look up the drawings for the estate, as they show the correct bolts for the saloon/hatch.
 
#19 ·
Cheers mate I’ll have a look and I’ll also see if I’m lucky enough that they move,,, is it best to turn the nut rather than the bolt to free them up,,, if I turn the bolt will that actually alter the alignment?? Just asking as i can only work on car on Sundays so would have to run around for a day or so until I could get it in for alignment
 
#20 ·
if anyone is considering replacing the bushes for original bushes, they come in front and rear varieties so don't just buy 4 of the same
 
#22 ·
if anyone is considering replacing the bushes for original bushes, they come in front and rear varieties so don't just buy 4 of the same
I'll go for poly if I change them mate,, but thanks for the heads up coz I'd probably buy the fronts ????????
I have a brand new set you can have for a tenner and whatever postage is if you're interested?
 
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#23 ·
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