Sunny Jim's Jalopies: No Leaks, now Creaks

[Sunny Jim]

Incontinent The Bavarian now appears to be continent again, holding water, petrol and oil. Oil filter housing gasket  done and while I was at it oil change, new filter and oil level sensor which means no warning lights on the dash.

Next on the list was to replace the guibo Tim supplied with the car to try and cure the slight rumble coming from the rear end however in the last couple of days I've noticed a creak coming from the OSR suspension. I haven't had a chance to investigate it yet but today while washing the car I noticed that the OSR of the car appears to be sitting lower than the NSR - would that indicate a snapped spring?

NSR

OSR

 

[mat_the_cat]

@Sunny Jim's BX has come to stay with me for a little while, to get a spot of TLC. We changed the drop links as it was doing the characteristic occasional clonking which happens when they get tired. Unfortunately that didn’t cure it, so a little more investigation was required. I thought I'd found the problem when I discovered play between the drop link upper taper and the ARB - it turned out that the nut had bottomed out on the thread before fully tightening on the taper. That was easily sorted with an extra washer but unfortunately the clonk remained.

It looks like it's one of the struts at fault - I've never stripped one down but wonder if there's a bit of a rebound bumper which isn't functioning as it should.

It actually drives really nicely, with a smooth ride so I would just try and get hold of a replacement strut at some point. (I know, easier said than done nowadays....)

The other thing which needed investigation was an LHM leak from the front. I tidied up a repair to the octopus, but that wasn't the problem, or at least not the only leak. Popping the dust cover off the height corrector though, showed significant perishing of the diaphragm.

I had a rebuild kit on the shelf, so dunked it in petrol to clean it inside and out.

Hope I can remember how it all goes back together

There's some tiny orifices internally, which can get blocked with rubber fragments from wear of the various seals in the system.

This though, was the cleanest I've seen inside, with next to no rubber 'sludge' to clean out. Suggesting that it's been regularly maintained regarding LHM changes.

Here's the set of new rubbers.

And back together  before the dust seals go on.

Yep, not surprising that leaked!

All that remains now is to refit it to the car (which is a little bit fiddly) and see whether that was the *only* leak...

[mat_the_cat]

It's back on now with new pipe seals, and all seems good!

I've cycled it up and down a few times, and can't see any drips apart from the subframe oozing what's been spilt onto it over the past few weeks. Sitting inside really makes me miss driving my BX...

[Sunny Jim]

Thanks for all your work on this @mat_the_cat. Look forward to seeing you tomorrow.