XSeries-forum

Yep all bolts freed now

However when trying to align the rear driverside wheel he couldn't get anywhere near the camber angle needed and yet another problem was spotted  >:(

It's all getting sorted Tuesday so hopefully that will be the last of it!!! :wall:

Update

Just picked the X up having finally got the laser alignment sorted and I'm chuffed to bits, it drives like new, no vibration and steers like on rails 

Mine vibrates too, especially around 2k. Garage could find nothing wrong so I'm assuming my run flats are the cause too! Gonna change them next week.

Hi all, first post so be gentle   
I'm having a nightmare with mine, it's recently started murdering rear tyres.
I've taken it to my local laser alignment place, they were very good, but the alignment on the rear is shocking..
As I'm sure you've guessed, everything is seized solid...
They didn't want to do the job due to the air sus on the rear so referred me to a local 'specialist', who quoted me just short of £2k just for the parts....
Anyway, I'm going to see another chap tomorrow who's quite confident he can do the swing arm bushes without having to replace the swing arms, but we'll see.

Simon

That's sounds expensive. Rear beer can bushes are £80 and an hour each (4) is a lot. Rear upper and lower arms are £80-£100 each then there are also a few other links with ball joints. £2k is too much. I'd expect a little more than a grand.

[quote="RRH"]
Hi all, first post so be gentle   
I'm having a nightmare with mine, it's recently started murdering rear tyres.
I've taken it to my local laser alignment place, they were very good, but the alignment on the rear is shocking..
As I'm sure you've guessed, everything is seized solid...
They didn't want to do the job due to the air sus on the rear so referred me to a local 'specialist', who quoted me just short of £2k just for the parts....
Anyway, I'm going to see another chap tomorrow who's quite confident he can do the swing arm bushes without having to replace the swing arms, but we'll see.

Simon
[/quote]

Simon, what have they said is causing the issues and what exactly is happening to the rear tyres in terms of wear?

£2k is a lot of money so I'd really want to know what the diagnosis was to quantify the cost.

Rear tyre wear can be due to camber, castor or toe (toes being the most likely culprit if it's killing inner/outer edges). Bushes aren't massive jobs and it sounds like the price is pretty much to just replace everything.

I'm so sorry, missed your replies!

I've been introduced to a sensible mechanic, took it in last week, he found a problem with the rear offside top arm and replaced it- £90 all in. It looked to me like it needed doing tbh.

However, the problem still remains.

Nobody wants to touch it as the bolts are all seized.

I either need to find someone who isn't scared of the job, ideally someone who's done it before, or I was thinking of buying a couple of replacement swing arms, changing the bushes, then the garage can just remove the old ones without fear of bolts shearing etc..

I'm very grateful for your help. Need to get this sorted ASAP!

Simon

Ps will post pic of current alignment from computer later, on iPad ATM.

One of these days I'll buy a scanner...

[quote="RRH"]



[/quote]

Bet that handles well......not....

Looks similar to mine when I started along this route. Did the front, (everything) and upper rear arms and then got everything green on the Hunter alignment (mates garage).

All was well for a few weeks before the rear is starting to steer the car on a bumpy road so rear "beer can" axel bushes next week for me.

We have 120k on ours so to be expected really but hurts at the time. I've replaced with half decent, Lemforder or Bilstein, as opposed to any old rubbish that will only likely last another year like some of the Ebay specials. Not that much dearer and should get a few years out of it at least (if we have it that long but I really don't expect so).

The right tools and a little experience makes this job much less challenging than some people make out.

Might make you feel bad now - mine's done 160!
The front is pretty much ok now, but the rear is steering it so I need to get it sorted.

Where abouts are you based? Any garage recommendations?

The biggest concern everyone seems to have is the bolts snapping or shearing and having to replace the arms, and I don't seem able to convince them that the bushes can be done so it doesn't matter

I'm in SE Kent, you?

A fair distance away- just north of Liverpool

So exactly which bushes are knackered?

The rear bolts in the swing arms on mine were seized solid. I just bought a decent set of secondhand arms from Quarry motors for £130 and then got the guys at Midland VW to cut the bolts to remove the arms and replace.

I'm not sure atm, it's going to be a process of elimination I suppose.
Would you mind me asking what you paid for fitting?
Thanks