17-06-2023, 11:20 AM
Reverting back to the original thrust of this thread, I had a similar problem a few weeks ago with my RP saloon. It developed a knocking noise from the rear, which I traced to seriously worn link bushes. On dismantling the links, I found that the rear shock absorbers were almost impossible to move, so I dismantled them, cleaned all the discs (it had modern friction discs fitted) and reassembled them, using a spring balance to set them to 12 lbs preload.
It made the suspension much softer and improved the general handing, provided that the road was reasonably smooth.
However, the state of Welsh roads, even the main A roads, is awful, with potholes and areas where the surface has become abraded everywhere. The car doesn't like these imperfections very much, and there is one bend at Sarnau on the A494 where, originally there was a noisy surface to warn drivers to slow down that has become so rutted that the little jumps about like a frightened rabbit unless taken with some care, much to the annoyance of marauding BMW and Audi drivers. Well there has to be some compensation.....
It made the suspension much softer and improved the general handing, provided that the road was reasonably smooth.
However, the state of Welsh roads, even the main A roads, is awful, with potholes and areas where the surface has become abraded everywhere. The car doesn't like these imperfections very much, and there is one bend at Sarnau on the A494 where, originally there was a noisy surface to warn drivers to slow down that has become so rutted that the little jumps about like a frightened rabbit unless taken with some care, much to the annoyance of marauding BMW and Audi drivers. Well there has to be some compensation.....