Rover 214 (R8) Rear suspension issue

[PiperCub]

A query for the experts: 1994 214SLi (3 door) R8, 57K miles: Offside rear ride height about 10-15mm lower than N/SR.

About 2K ago I noticed the OSR of the car was a little lower than the NSR (Front OK - even) and the odd squeak from there too. At first I thought it must be a broken spring as I've seen this happen and fixed friends cars (often Fords - Fiesta & Focus esp) where they break at the very top or very bottom and drop the ride height by about 10-15mm/half an inch or so. 

I checked - this was not the case, bouncing the suspension showed the damper apparantly in good shape too, working as well the N/S (not discounting it but unlikely to be issue). Went through the bushes/links, couldn't find any reason for the drop so concluded it must be bush wear ??? I left it alone for a while hoping the cause would show itself but nothing has. The ride and handling are not affected as such at the moment.

I suspect either the lower link (three bushes) or the trailing arm bush or the other rear lower arm???? Anyone had this and can point to a most likely guilty party?

Given the low miles and it's excellent overall condition, I suspect one or more of the metalastic bushes has died/is dying of old age/corrosion rather than wear.

I'm going to have another look over it tomorrow see if anything is showing out now about 2K and a few months have passed.


Plus, if it is one of these, how easy is it to replace these bushes? I can source them (Rimmers) and getting them out is not too hard but do they press back in with the old sockets & big vice method or do they require a proper press as I've had mixed results in the past?

[Ghosty]

It's a Ronda, it'll quite possibly be trailing arm bushes. My dad's done them on the drive on a 2000 Civic before so I'd say it's probably a DIY job. Not the easiest DIY by any means but there are definitely harder ones out there.

[twosmoke300]

Yeh no press needed for those

[PiperCub]

It's a Ronda, it'll quite possibly be trailing arm bushes. My dad's done them on the drive on a 2000 Civic before so I'd say it's probably a DIY job. Not the easiest DIY by any means but there are definitely harder ones out there.

Assume you mean the big main bushes the t/arm pivots on?

[Ghosty]

I think so, the ones at the front end of the arm.

[KruJoe]

Have a trawl through Vulg's 414 thread - I think he did this job on his, so there'll be words and piccies a-plenty.

[omegod]

Done a trailing arm bush on the 220  sli, drop the arm down, 3 bolts need witness marking with a bit of grey primer or tape as they affect geametry , then twat the old one out with the biggest hammer you have and make sure to mark it so you know how far to knock the new one in, I struggled to get the bolts lined up again and the bush kept popping out but persevere any you'll get there 

[PiperCub]

OK, pardon my ignorance but does the t/arm need to be entirely removed or can it be lowered down enough to get at the bush? (Or is it just easier to get the thing off to work on?).

 

I'm going to try to get under it today and see if I can see any differences between the sides to isolate what the actual fault is.

[omegod]

I lowered mine down but with hindsight removing it would have been easier

[PiperCub]

Update: Just been under the car and had the wheels off, can't really find anything that is obviously the issue. Sure there's some deterioration in the bushes visually as you'd expect on something that's 24 years old but no visable problems or any remotely excessive play, just a small amount of movement you'd expect from metalastic bushings. I was hoping to see something that had obviously collapsed or was going that way but no.

 

I'm starting to lean towards thinking there's maybe a problems the strut itself, maybe the damper?? There's no real leaks on either and are the same length when unloaded.

 

Interestingly, when dropping off be jack's with the handbrake on, the cars ride height was even, it only settled to it's incorrect level when the handbrake was released.

[Sir Snipes]

That’s normal for the handbrake to hold the car up after it’s been jacked.

I personally wouldn’t worry about +/- 10mm. I bet Rover didn’t even when it was new.

[PiperCub]

I realise that, it was just an observation at the time.

 

I'm not massively worried about it as such, it's just it's one of those things like a small mark on the carpet that annoys you once you've noticed it that didn't before you saw it for he first time!

 

I think I'll have to leave it for now and see if it gets worse and the fault "shows itself" so to speak.

 

Don't suppose anyone knows any old Rover experts or ex-Rover garages/outfits that existing Hampshire or similar area that I can run this past?

Thanks