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[jimbobmccoy]

hi

As mentioned in another thread i have suspension issues.
I think its wishbone related (clonking/creaking, mainly when turning, or braking)

is it ok to get new wishbones, and droplinks, fitted by any garage, and then take to WIM, or is it best to use somewhere specific.

Id rather use someone on the forum, as they know what theyre doing, and, well, id rather give them beer tokens than a garage, but dont know who, if anyone, is best to ask?

Given the car also needs other work doing i didnt know if its something i can throw all in at once, or if its better to use different places for different things.

at the moment i can tell it needs the following in addition to the suspension stuff;

cam cover gaskets, and full breather system clean (oil leak and smoke from engine) - might try myself, not sure though
new exhaust from cat back - one of the pipes in to back box has completely seperated - might also try myself, but again not sure
new pads and discs all round - can do myself
new handbrake cable + pads - need somewhere to get done
brake fluid replace - possibly need help with
coolant flush - should be able to do myself
heating not working - probably try a matrix flush
full service - probably do myself.
Cambelt possibly needs doing too.
air conditioning apparently needs refilling as compressor goes on for a minute when switching on, before stopping, but this may be to do with the self levelling,
i dont know enough to be able to tell which.

im also tempted by polybushes, but not sure on the ins and outs of this, and whether they'd be any good on a 99 estate, in addition to looking at getting the gearbox software updated.

While i know most of this is probably simple enough, and within my capabilities if i persevered, at the moment i just dont have the time to devote to muddling through it, and so would prefer to shell out for it, or become someones assistant who knows more what they're doing than i do!
any advice on this, would be appreciated.

TIA

[Lazydocker]

Depends where you are

 I'd suggest doing the handbrake (and rear discs and pads if you intend to change them too) at the same time as the exhaust as you need to drop the exhaust for decent access to change the cable

If you're going to take the wheels off to change the front discs and pads you might as well do the wishbones at the same time.

Change the camcover gaskets and clean the breathers, then service as you can easily get carb cleaner into the iol whilst cleaning everything.

The cambelt depends on proof of the last change... 40k or 4 years is the interval.

The rest sounds like you need a more experienced eye cast over it

The question of whether it's worth it is up to you... How much would you have to spend to replace it? OK, you're going to spend close to the (perceived) value of the car doing all of that but could you get a reliable, up to date (service wise) motor that doesn't need anything doing for a while for the same money

I'd like to offer to help but I know I'm not really in a fit state to do it without a lot of pain killers! All I did on mine was an oil and filter change and I was in agony

You could also try one of the travelling mechanics... Darth Loo-Knee, Elite Pete and (possibly) Jamesv6cdx all offer this service. There are other members who are willing to help out if you travel to them

[feeutfo]

there's at least a couple of days work there. Do you need the car? Do you have alternative transport while this is being done?

If so you could drop it off here for a couple of days...?  Weather that works logistically for you, and you trust a total stranger with your car is another issue.

[Nick W]

Of your list, the only part that needs an 'Omega expert' would be the cambelt and camcover gaskets. That's more for the understanding the need for following the correct procedure to the letter for the gaskets, and the use of the timing set for the belt. Neither are actually difficult for a competent mechanic.

As for the rest of it, jack the car up and examine the entire front suspension. Replace ALL the worn parts in one go, and get it aligned by someone who knows what they are doing. That is the critical part of the job. Droplinks are so cheap they're probably not worth examining; just replace them. I'd buy cheap wishbones and polybush them to save time. My car has them, for durability and ease of fitting reasons. Actually replacing the parts is easy if you have a decent socket set, and shouldn't take more than a couple of hours. If it's not had one before then a new idler arm is probably a good idea, plus a critical examination of the rest of the linkage. The bad news there is that quality bits soon add up to a large amount.

Front discs and pads are a straightforward like-for-like replacement, maybe 30 minutes actual work.

Rear discs and pads are similar, but adjusting the handbrake correctly is far fiddlier than it ought to be. If you think the cable needs replacing, then do it at the same time, as adjusting that is what  takes the time.

Do the full service at the same time as the cam gaskets; after all, it's little more than an oil and filter change with new sparkplugs. A new set of plug leads might become necessary at the same time, and is much easier with the plenum out of the way.

The exhaust isn't a job I enjoy, but if all the joints undo/separate easily it's not too bad. If they don't then  without the appropriate equipment, which is oxy-acetylene welding kit and room to really swing on the parts, it becomes a feat of endurance. Doing that with the car just above your nose isn't pleasant. Or quick, or easy or even particularly effective. Then you have to fit the new system, and pattern parts are often a struggle to align without practice.

Much of this depends on the equipment you have available, you're dealing with a big, heavy car. So the components are similarly sized requiring largish sockets/spanners.

A good jack and robust axle stands are ESSENTIAL!

I'm happy to help with the undercar jobs if you want to do them in one go. Easliy doable in less than a day. Tools are not a problem. I also have the cam-timing set if you want to borrow it.

[jimbobmccoy]

as lazydocker said, most of the jobs that need doing would logically be done together, and as such makes me question the worth of me doing the things i can do, only for them to be more or less redone to do the ones i cant!!

to top things off on the way home tonight the temp gauge started playing up. goes up to midpoint, then drops to zero, then up then down.
i had to top up the coolant earlier so im not sure if its related to that.

thank you for the kind offers of help.....considering that i paid top whack for the car being told it was in top nick im tending to think i may as well bite the bullet, do the work that needs doing and then hope it lasts a while.

mr gixer, i shall shortly send you a pm!!