Ok, so as posted elsewhere, I recently had the f/o/s suspension spring snap. These things happen in colder weather on older cars, and more likely for me as I do a fair bit of off-road driving in it too.
I renewed both sides, with complete new struts, springs, bump stops, bearings and top plates - the whole works. I also took the opportunity to renew both front lower arms, as these had to come off anyway, along with new drop links and new TRE’s. (I’d rather refresh/replace it if it’s coming off as it’s not getting any younger). I also had an issue with the n/s driveshaft removal, so I replaced that rather than faff around.
I have a friend who built the suspension struts up for me using a proper compressor machine at a workshop.
Had a few issues fitting it, as always;
Broke a bolt on the o/s top mount (the small m8’s that go in from under the bonnet. That was once it was all back in
, so managed to carefully drill that out and save the threads
. New bolt fitted.
n/s spring was kissing the inner arch once refitted, when turning the wheel. Thought it might just be slightly twisted under compression, or not quite sat right, so used a long lever to persuade it over and after a small jolt it sat correctly.
* It has not yet been 4-wheel aligned… I only finished the build-up yesterday.
On road test, I have a ‘judder’ under hard acceleration. It’s NOT road-speed related, nor engine-speed related, only on hard acceleration in 1st and 2nd, then tails off;
Double checked the strut lock-nuts (as I didn’t do these up myself). Ok.
Took both front wheels off, checked the brake shields were not touching (as it looks in photos). And to also double check the wheels were not lose!
Pulled the Haldex fuse and road tested again (It feels a little like an extended scrabble, but I’ve had the scrabble mod done to my Haldex controller). Not that - issue still there.
Plugged in SDD to check for any fault codes - all clear (was thinking maybe an ABS sensor throwing the system into a fit).
My conclusions are that the judder is occurring only when the weight is ‘lifted’ from the front end upon harder acceleration, and goes once the car resettles and normal acceleration resumes. Therefore, likely it’s something in the suspension that is pretty much ‘ok’ with all the weight on, but is getting thrown out ever-so-slightly when the weight is transferred off.
Cue the wheel alignment and my fingers being crossed before I look any further!
Will update.
I renewed both sides, with complete new struts, springs, bump stops, bearings and top plates - the whole works. I also took the opportunity to renew both front lower arms, as these had to come off anyway, along with new drop links and new TRE’s. (I’d rather refresh/replace it if it’s coming off as it’s not getting any younger). I also had an issue with the n/s driveshaft removal, so I replaced that rather than faff around.
I have a friend who built the suspension struts up for me using a proper compressor machine at a workshop.
Had a few issues fitting it, as always;
Broke a bolt on the o/s top mount (the small m8’s that go in from under the bonnet. That was once it was all back in


n/s spring was kissing the inner arch once refitted, when turning the wheel. Thought it might just be slightly twisted under compression, or not quite sat right, so used a long lever to persuade it over and after a small jolt it sat correctly.

* It has not yet been 4-wheel aligned… I only finished the build-up yesterday.
On road test, I have a ‘judder’ under hard acceleration. It’s NOT road-speed related, nor engine-speed related, only on hard acceleration in 1st and 2nd, then tails off;
Double checked the strut lock-nuts (as I didn’t do these up myself). Ok.
Took both front wheels off, checked the brake shields were not touching (as it looks in photos). And to also double check the wheels were not lose!
Pulled the Haldex fuse and road tested again (It feels a little like an extended scrabble, but I’ve had the scrabble mod done to my Haldex controller). Not that - issue still there.
Plugged in SDD to check for any fault codes - all clear (was thinking maybe an ABS sensor throwing the system into a fit).
My conclusions are that the judder is occurring only when the weight is ‘lifted’ from the front end upon harder acceleration, and goes once the car resettles and normal acceleration resumes. Therefore, likely it’s something in the suspension that is pretty much ‘ok’ with all the weight on, but is getting thrown out ever-so-slightly when the weight is transferred off.
Cue the wheel alignment and my fingers being crossed before I look any further!
Will update.