Dead Rover

[scruff]

Mrs Scruff had a bit of a scare today when her Rover made a bid for freedom on the A47 - not quite sure what happened but she said the steering went sloppy, she lost control and hit a roundabout at about 30mph. Suspension failure of some sort? Hard to tell now as it's all a bit bent underneath. It's pushed both front wheels hard back, buckled the drivers' side wheel and done god knows what else. Thankfully the missus is fine if a bit shaken.

 

Think the Rov is dead to be honest, it's going rusty anyway and the front end is now all wonkyfied in a rather ominous fashion I drove it onto the trailer, wheels pointing at different angles and some interesting noises coming up from underneath. Anybody want any bits off it? It's a 220 SDi

 

[scooters]

wow - lucky escape - knackered king pin?

[dollywobbler]

Kingpin? I know Rover kept some old tech going, but that sounds unlikely. I suspect either something broke (track rod end or balljoint) or could she have hit a patch of diesel? That'd make the steering go light and useless, especially if braking.

 

Shame - good tool these. Think Len H has one?

 

EDIT - glad Mrs Scruff is ok!

[eddyramrod]

Two things: first, thankfully Mrs Scruff is fine and second, nice to see a near-60-y-o Landie doing what it was designed for!

[scruff]

Yeah it's been 100% reliable and great on fuel too, so a bit gutting, though just glad the only harm was to the car and not the missus! Thanks for the well wishes folks.

 

It does still steer but on the short distance I've driven it, there's sudden lurches from one side to the other and the feeling that the wheels are doing a funky dance up and down, side to side, all over the place.

 

The Landy - yep she's very handy to have around but had a proper sulk this morning, flat battery then threw a fan belt two minutes up the road just what I needed!

[Guest Len H]

I had one a while ago. wuvvum might need some spares for his hot-rod one.

 

Not sure what the problem might be, but it is a straightforward MacPherson strut setup so should be any easy fix.

[Craig the Princess]

Yeah it's been 100% reliable and great on fuel too, so a bit gutting, though just glad the only harm was to the car and not the missus! Thanks for the well wishes folks.

 

It does still steer but on the short distance I've driven it, there's sudden lurches from one side to the other and the feeling that the wheels are doing a funky dance up and down, side to side, all over the place.

 

The Landy - yep she's very handy to have around but had a proper sulk this morning, flat battery then threw a fan belt two minutes up the road just what I needed!

 

Sadly it sounds fucked . I had my own Rover roundabout on the A47 moment yesterday, luck no-one was near me, whereabouts did it happen? Glad she's ok.

[scruff]

The A47/A43 roundabout at Collyweston, only 5 mins from home thankfully.

 

I'll whip the wheels off and have a look Len.

[dollywobbler]

I wonder if it's some sort of issue with the strut top - in which case I'll be checking out both the Rover and BX VERY carefully very soon! Both have steering issues to a greater or lesser extent.

[M'coli]

How many miles has it done? I know someone who might be interested in the engine.

[andrew e]

Would that lump not fit straight on to the right LDV bellhousing to drop straight in a LR? More importantly I hope Mrs Scruff is O.K.

[scruff]

114k I think. I have to be honest it hasn't been religiously serviced and I was going to get the cambelts done before Christmas, but it doesn't use a drop of oil and pulls like a train. Drop me a message if your pal might be interested.

 

Andrew, it'd fit with a prima fitting kit into a Landy but the pump drive on the back of the engine would need a lump cutting out of the bulkhead. Which is a bugger!

[mnde]

Nasty! Glad Mrs Scruff is ok.

 

Scoots, if you're reading this - check out the BX steering for that free play I mentioned...

 

Mark.

[myglaren]

I wonder if it's some sort of issue with the strut top - in which case I'll be checking out both the Rover and BX VERY carefully very soon! Both have steering issues to a greater or lesser extent.

 

I noticed that Laura's Rover 75 was somewhat erratic in the steering department when I took it for service/MOT.

The bush in the lower steering arm was completely buggered. New arm was the most expensive bit required to get it through and it is infinitely better now.

[theorganist]

I had the ball joints break on my old Rover 825SLD within weeks of each other. The first time was in Stourport, I was pulling out of a junction onto a main road on quite a fast bend, the nearside wheel collapsed and the break disk dug into the road. I got it recovered and repaired. I had been hearing a creaking sound for a few weeks but had not got round to investigage, so I suppose it was partly my own fault.

 

Anyway I got the car back after repair a couple of weeks later and was driving through Stourbridge turning right when the offside one went. This was without any signs. Unfortunately I was blocking a major bus route. The police came and put cones around the car and had to divert the traffic until the AA came, it was very embarrasing, especially as everyone I knew seem to come past in that hour!!

 

Anyway luckily for me both were at low speed, the week before the second incident me and mum had to go to Liverpool on the motorway and I dread to think what the outcome would have been if it had happened then.

 

Thankfully your wife is okay.