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[tigers_gonads]

Bilstien B4 front shocks for my 3.2 estate ??

Mine have done 140000 plus miles and after the first few pushes of the brake pedal, the front end is all over the place. Before that, it brakes straight and true.
I've been through every rubber joint I can see under the front end with weight on the wheels and a jack / block of wood with no luck.
As far as I can make out, everything is solid with no flex or movement.
There is also no knocking sounds anywhere on the car and the car drives great with power on. Only when the power is off and the brakes applied does the fun start.
All the brakes have been replaced / rebuilt and once the initial kick in the steering has happened, it stops very well straight and true with no fade.
Both front tyres are also new.

All this started to happen after I had all the weight on the front end for a couple of days while I replaced the rear springs.
Basically, its never drove properly since.

Is they something i've missed here or is it quite simply a case of once the front shocks have bounced a few times from cold, they loose all pressure and that's when the fun starts   

[05omegav6]

Are the front shocks original? What effect does the bounce test have? Remove the top nut from the shocks to release the top plate. What state are the top mounts in? Don't jack the car with this plate removed!

Also when was brake fluid last changed? Might need bleeding/changing...

[tigers_gonads]

Are the front shocks original? What effect does the bounce test have? Remove the top nut from the shocks to release the top plate. What state are the top mounts in? Don't jack the car with this plate removed!

Also when was brake fluid last changed? Might need bleeding/changing...

Yup, it looks like the shocks and springs are original.
Bounce test seems okay to me (one bounce and a little one  )
Mini Me has bought me a nice 2.5 ton 4x4 jack for my birthday from halfrauds so we have been out there for the first time since chrimbo having a poke around.
Front end on its wheels / up on ramps.
Jack under everything I could see with no movement 

Also totally stripped the front brakes, cleaned / greased then rebuilt.
Took it for a test drive and if anything, its even more unstable 
Also checked the top turrets for movement.
You might get a fag paper in there but no movement so I don't think the top mounts are dodgy 
Brake fluid could be original but doesn't seem overly dirty and they is plenty in there 

I was thinking of bleeding some out to see if some air has got in there but it got dark before I got a chance 

Also, 90% of the time, it twitches to the left.
It was the left (near side) hub that was totally knackered so i'm wondering if that has put a strain on the shocker and finished it off 

It just seems strange that all this started after I had all the weight on the front end far a few days     

[Mr Gav]

I got my B4`s from Balance Motorsport but LMF have deals on from time to time too so It`s worth shopping about.
I don`t  think that having the car on jacks would cause problems with the suspension as the springs take the weight of the car.

[05omegav6]

Busted spring? Any sign of cracking on the top mounts?

[tigers_gonads]

Busted spring? Any sign of cracking on the top mounts?

Couldn't see or feel anything un towards with the spring when the front was on jacks to do the brakes.
Top mounts, do you mean under the bonnet around the suspension turret ?
I did stamp on the brakes with the engine running to see if I had a bulging flexi brake pipe.
The pipe stiffened up nicely with pressure but no bulging

Mr Gav, thanks for that 

[Nick W]

At 140k miles, any shock is going to be way past its best. The wear is normally a progressive thing that you don't notice happening. Move replacing them to the top of the list.

[Mr Gav]

Busted spring? Any sign of cracking on the top mounts?

Couldn't see or feel anything un towards with the spring when the front was on jacks to do the brakes.
Top mounts, do you mean under the bonnet around the suspension turret ?
I did stamp on the brakes with the engine running to see if I had a bulging flexi brake pipe.
The pipe stiffened up nicely with pressure but no bulging

Mr Gav, thanks for that 

No problem  LMF are currently doing the B4`s for £198.36 according to their website this morning and Balance are £177.88, this is for the saloon. No brainer really 

[05omegav6]

Busted spring? Any sign of cracking on the top mounts?

Couldn't see or feel anything un towards with the spring when the front was on jacks to do the brakes.
Top mounts, do you mean under the bonnet around the suspension turret ?
I did stamp on the brakes with the engine running to see if I had a bulging flexi brake pipe.
The pipe stiffened up nicely with pressure but no bulging

Mr Gav, thanks for that 

Yup which is why I said you need to remove the top plate as you need to be able to see the top mount to visually check them...

Apologies for that reading in a slightly patronising tone... not meant to be

[tigers_gonads]

Busted spring? Any sign of cracking on the top mounts?

Couldn't see or feel anything un towards with the spring when the front was on jacks to do the brakes.
Top mounts, do you mean under the bonnet around the suspension turret ?
I did stamp on the brakes with the engine running to see if I had a bulging flexi brake pipe.
The pipe stiffened up nicely with pressure but no bulging

Mr Gav, thanks for that 

Yup which is why I said you need to remove the top plate as you need to be able to see the top mount to visually check them...

Apologies for that reading in a slightly patronising tone... not meant to be

Oh do behave 

Not stopped for a few days
I'll have a play when I get a spare few hours Al 
Cheers Bud 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Bought mine from Balance just before Xmas - worth ringing the bloke and inquiring about the 'OOF discount' - I think I paid £186 for all four shockers (it was a black friday deal, sort of thing) - he did tell me that even if I wasn't able to buy there and then then he would still honour the discount the following week. Not wanting to cost the guy any money, but if you can squeeze a few more pennies off him, then can't complain.

Cannot rate service and pleasant chat over the phone high enough, we ended up talking about the progression of car design for about 15 mins before I remembered I was still at work! Balance Motorsport all the way 

[tigers_gonads]

Okay, I have just checked the top mounts on the car.
Other then a bit of dust under there, they look brand new to me. Nice and dry with no marks, splits or corrosion anywhere.
All metal looks okay with no cracks or marks visible 

This is really beginning to get on my tits now ................ what am I missing here ??

[05omegav6]

When was the geometry last done?

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I'd say normally a twitch or the car feeling 'unsettled' either before or after braking would be down to a worn wishbone bush, but how this would be an issue only after lifting the back end up I don't know. Basically under braking, the wishbone bush wear allows the wishbone to pull backwards, toe out, spoiling castor settings and handling. (think I've got that right  )

Happy to be proven wrong though! 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Taxi Al beats me to it! Worth having it looked at, is what I was going to say