Darmain
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 2,366
- Location
- Chippenham, Wiltshire
Theres been a few 'features' coming to light with my Hippo (2000, L series, 100K) recently. So today I wondered down the local independent to get some bits to start addressing the problems.
I'm getting a lot of thumping and knocking from the front and back suspension. After a bit of investigation I discovered that one of the drop links was slack, so I invested in a new pair and this evening fitted them. I suspected that this wouldn't be the whole story but it was a start.
During fitment I checked the ARB bushes for play and found all was well. I also checked lower ball joints, lower arm bushes and track rod ends. Again all was well.
Now with this job completed I then switched my attention to the rear suspension. Jacked the back up and removed both wheels. Then I got under for a good poke about. Rear diff mounts all good. All suspension linkage bushes had no detectable play or damage. One other thing to check, the sub frame mounting bolts. This is where I discovered something I didn't know.
It seems this car has had subframe separation in the past but the spoon brain who looked at the problem fixed it, by welding the subframe to the floor pan!!!
Well, it don't move any more but I hope I never have to get the thing off for any reason.
After a test drive the handling has stiffened up a lot, the noise has also reduced, however I still have some knocking from the back off side, right under the drivers seat it feels. I still suspect the trailing arm bush is the culprit. That's next on my list.
Meanwhile I also have clutch trouble. The clutch drags even when the pedal is in the carpet and its worse when the radiator / condenser is dumping a lot of heat on the slave cylinder. I proved this with a dose of cold water on the slave and the problem stopped immediately. Further investigation showed the slave is moving when the clutch is operated, which shows how good the plastic bracket realy is. I asked at the garage and was informed that the most likley reason is the pivot pin is tight and is over loading the hydralics. Try WD40 on it best you can. If that don't work it gearbox out time.
I'm getting a lot of thumping and knocking from the front and back suspension. After a bit of investigation I discovered that one of the drop links was slack, so I invested in a new pair and this evening fitted them. I suspected that this wouldn't be the whole story but it was a start.
During fitment I checked the ARB bushes for play and found all was well. I also checked lower ball joints, lower arm bushes and track rod ends. Again all was well.
Now with this job completed I then switched my attention to the rear suspension. Jacked the back up and removed both wheels. Then I got under for a good poke about. Rear diff mounts all good. All suspension linkage bushes had no detectable play or damage. One other thing to check, the sub frame mounting bolts. This is where I discovered something I didn't know.
It seems this car has had subframe separation in the past but the spoon brain who looked at the problem fixed it, by welding the subframe to the floor pan!!!
Well, it don't move any more but I hope I never have to get the thing off for any reason.
After a test drive the handling has stiffened up a lot, the noise has also reduced, however I still have some knocking from the back off side, right under the drivers seat it feels. I still suspect the trailing arm bush is the culprit. That's next on my list.
Meanwhile I also have clutch trouble. The clutch drags even when the pedal is in the carpet and its worse when the radiator / condenser is dumping a lot of heat on the slave cylinder. I proved this with a dose of cold water on the slave and the problem stopped immediately. Further investigation showed the slave is moving when the clutch is operated, which shows how good the plastic bracket realy is. I asked at the garage and was informed that the most likley reason is the pivot pin is tight and is over loading the hydralics. Try WD40 on it best you can. If that don't work it gearbox out time.
