[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?

Sorry if these seem rather ignorant requests but I've not owned any modern-ish Rover before this R8 so am not experienced with this type. Aside from the above, the car has been a very good buy and provided almost faultless service.

Thanks.

[RoverRevival]

Have you also considered the spring could have snapped?

[PiperCub]

Yes (see 2nd paragraph) - checked that, it was my first thought.

[RoverRevival]

You can’t checking by bouncing on that side, you need to jack that wheel up and give it a good rattling.

[GTiJohn]

Looking at the relative position of parts whilst the car is still on the ground may help you see differences. Look from the rear of the car.

Also look at the camber (the lean in/out) of the rear wheels for any differences.

There aren't too many item unrelated to the spring/damper unit that wouldn't be see as a change in camber.

[crepello]

I may have missed something, but how can the rear effectively be tilted, while the front is not, unless the whole body is twisted?
Or did you check each end with the other jacked on the centreline?
Is the supporting surface truly plane?

[PiperCub]

Have jacked it up and checked the spring is ok previously.

Will do a proper side to side comparison tomorrow hopefully.

To clarify, when I say the front is even I meant there's no significant difference, ifi measured it then thee probably would be. And yes, I am not being fooled by uneven or sloping ground as my driveway is very level (I've checked this previously). Haven't checked the camber angle but will do.

[GTiJohn]

Checking ride height evenness is done by measuring from the wheel centre to the wheel arch lip and comparing side-to-side. This takes out any differences in tyre squash and yes you do need to do it as flat and level ground as you can find.

[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.

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

[crepello]

I still can't visualise how the rear can become uneven when you release the handbrake, without affecting the front too, apart from the whole bodyshell warping.