Unstable rear when rear passenger wheel hits a bump. Worn bush?

mattyprice4004 · 11 Mar 2013 at 11:57

I'm almost scared to ask here, but...

I've noticed that if I hit a grid / pot hole / bump in the road with the passenger side rear wheel, the whole rear of the car seems to 'skip' to the left quite noticeably.

Is this likely a worn bush, and if so which one? It's a Rover 600, same setup as the Accord from a similar era.

I'm also told the tracking on the rear isn't adjustable.

Cheers!

Brookert · 11 Mar 2013 at 12:16

Rear anti roll bar bushes would be my guess. Mine are shot, and the rear feels floaty and loose because the bar isn't being held properly.

mattyprice4004 · 11 Mar 2013 at 12:25

Brookert said:
Rear anti roll bar bushes would be my guess. Mine are shot, and the rear feels floaty and loose because the bar isn't being held properly.

Excellent, there was an advisory on the rear drop bushes last year!
Thanks

Brookert · 11 Mar 2013 at 12:36

Im not sure how it's setup on your rover, but Audi used to use plastic collars on the bar to stop horizontal movement. The plastic collars used to crack and break off, so nothing was holding the bar from going sideways. I would take the bar and old bushes off, and check the collars on the bar are intact. If they are, buy new bushes, if not, buy a new arb. Would most likely be rusted up anyway.

Matt82 · 11 Mar 2013 at 12:47

Ive had symptoms like this before, it was a blown damper. during a bump in the road the car would be pitched off in a different direction

mattyprice4004 · 11 Mar 2013 at 12:49

Brookert said:
Im not sure how it's setup on your rover, but Audi used to use plastic collars on the bar to stop horizontal movement. The plastic collars used to crack and break off, so nothing was holding the bar from going sideways. I would take the bar and old bushes off, and check the collars on the bar are intact. If they are, buy new bushes, if not, buy a new arb. Would most likely be rusted up anyway.

This is the setup on the 600:
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID003768

Rubber bush with a metal collar. It's the drop link in the picture (well the bushes within it) I suspect.

Matt82 said:
Ive had symptoms like this before, it was a blown damper. during a bump in the road the car would be pitched off in a different direction

Standard bounce test should pick this up, yes?

Brookert · 11 Mar 2013 at 12:57

It looks like the bar itself is the collar, as it's got a 90 degree angle on the outside of the bush. I would get new bushes and paint the bar with some hammerite while it's off. Don't forget to lube the bushes before you put them on.

mattyprice4004 · 11 Mar 2013 at 13:04

Brookert said:
It looks like the bar itself is the collar, as it's got a 90 degree angle on the outside of the bush. I would get new bushes and paint the bar with some hammerite while it's off. Don't forget to lube the bushes before you put them on.

OK, cheers.

Just been out to do the bounce test, got some funny looks

Seems to be OK on the dampers - driver's side rear seemed to settle a little more quickly however I doubt the minute difference would cause the instability.

Push down - rise up - dip down - stop. Same both sides, passenger side ever so slightly rose up again after.

Matt82 · 11 Mar 2013 at 13:27

mattyprice4004 said:
Standard bounce test should pick this up, yes?

Oddly, no it didnt with mine, but theyre uprated springs so you cant compress it that far when you lean on it which possibly made the bounce effect less exagerated.

The damper however had oil dripping from it and when i removed it there was no resistance left in it at all

geuben · 11 Mar 2013 at 13:33

mattyprice4004 said:
OK, cheers.

Just been out to do the bounce test, got some funny looks

Seems to be OK on the dampers - driver's side rear seemed to settle a little more quickly however I doubt the minute difference would cause the instability.

Push down - rise up - dip down - stop. Same both sides, passenger side ever so slightly rose up again after.

I had the same symptoms and mine also behaved the same when doing the bounce test. Turned out to be a locked open shock absorber. Somehow it passed an MOT like that.

mattyprice4004 · 11 Mar 2013 at 14:05

Matt82 said:
Oddly, no it didnt with mine, but theyre uprated springs so you cant compress it that far when you lean on it which possibly made the bounce effect less exagerated.

The damper however had oil dripping from it and when i removed it there was no resistance left in it at all

Wow, that'd really gone!

geuben said:
I had the same symptoms and mine also behaved the same when doing the bounce test. Turned out to be a locked open shock absorber. Somehow it passed an MOT like that.

Excellent, will bear this in mind if the bush check shows nothing.

Cheers guys!

jigger · 11 Mar 2013 at 14:27

It's possibly the trailing arms. Quit a common fault on Rovers.

bledd · 11 Mar 2013 at 14:31

I 'think' that your car has a similar rear end to the Civic / Integra. If so then it's a fairly easy job to replace the rear drop links and rear anti roll bar bushes.

Edit, it's not the same. But here..

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID003768

#2 x2
#9 x4

^edit2, the RTA bush on the Integra is massive and a worn one makes the rear feel loose.

Dogbreath · 11 Mar 2013 at 15:10

It's a fairly complex multi-link suspension on the back of the 600, but it's not the same as the Civic/Integra. There is a trailing arm (rubber bushed), two lower links (rubber bushed) and a single upper link (bushed inner, balljoint outer). Degradation of the rubber bushes (esp. trailing arm or lower arm) can cause a change in toe under load, essentially steering the rear wheels.

mattyprice4004 · 11 Mar 2013 at 15:58

Cheers for the input guys!

The Integra / Civic set up is common to the 400/45/ZS and yeah, the big bushes are chewed up for fun. Anyone with any of the above should get the Original MG Rover ones while they're on clearance for a fiver each! Worth keeping in the garage for that price.

It really did feel like rear wheel steering while going around a long sweeping right-hand turn - the car felt as if it was pointing straight on while 'drifting' lazily around the corner. Quite odd.

allllec · 11 Mar 2013 at 18:20

I have the exact same suspension set-up on my Accord as you Matt.

I'd suggest having a good look at the lower control arm, mine behaves the same as yours and by LCA bushes are nearly dead so just get under there and give them a good wiggle!

Kind Regards

Alec

mattyprice4004 · 11 Mar 2013 at 18:42

allllec said:
I have the exact same suspension set-up on my Accord as you Matt.

I'd suggest having a good look at the lower control arm, mine behaves the same as yours and by LCA bushes are nearly dead so just get under there and give them a good wiggle!

Kind Regards

Alec

Cheers Alec,

It doesn't look too bad, well not compared to some I've seen. A little wear.

What I have found is the shocker is covered in oil... damn.

At least you get away with no fake wood eh.

allllec · 11 Mar 2013 at 18:50

mattyprice4004 said:
Cheers Alec,

It doesn't look too bad, well not compared to some I've seen. A little wear.

What I have found is the shocker is covered in oil... damn.

At least you get away with no fake wood eh.

Happy days!

I would love some fake wood to dilute the sea of minging plastic to be honest! :rolleyes:

Kind Regards

Alec

mattyprice4004 · 11 Mar 2013 at 19:59

Grab a 600 interior then, you won't have much competition

However in all seriousness, you can pick up the Recaro seats and interior for about £50:

agw_01 · 11 Mar 2013 at 22:34

Mat, I would have expected you of all people to know that Rover didn't use fake wood!

At least they didn't in the early 2/400s (i.e. when they had money)