MJI said:

My rules for using a garage are as follows

1) Is it winter?
2) Is it fiddly or hard work?
3) Am I at all poorly?
4) Any tool issues?

If 3 or more ticked garage time.

Had all 4 just before MOT

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02Disco2 said:

Ok, so scoring zero on that test confirms it! Just ordered bushes and Linkages so will see how it all goes.

The front shock bushes/shocks do need doing but looking online at some tutorials and then under the bonnet i may decide to tackle that later as my mechanical know how (or lack of) might not stretch that far just yet!

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MJI said:

My rules for using a garage are as follows

1) Is it winter?
2) Is it fiddly or hard work?
3) Am I at all poorly?
4) Any tool issues?

If 3 or more ticked garage time.

Had all 4 just before MOT

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Adventure_Coachworks said:

Don't bother changing the bushes on the shocks, just change the shocks. The difference in cost is not worth the time and hassle to replace the bush. Also id say replace all shocks bushes at the same time.

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02Disco2 said:

Thanks. And yes, my plan is to replace shocks (just std at the moment as while I'd like to put something more fancy on there I have no idea what!) and also arb bushes and linkages.
A job for Saturday (and beyond probably!)

Now to find out why my drivers footwell is wet...!

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brian47 said:

I'd be looking at sorting the water ingress issue as a matter of urgency, before it starts damaging the IDM and the main fuse board.

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02Disco2 said:

Thanks. And yes, my plan is to replace shocks (just std at the moment as while I'd like to put something more fancy on there I have no idea what!) and also arb bushes and linkages.
A job for Saturday (and beyond probably!)

Now to find out why my drivers footwell is wet...!

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Adventure_Coachworks said:

Run your hand behind the rear view mirror between the top of the windscreen glass and the headlining. If its wet your sunroof is leaking. If the footwell carpet is wet all the way up the bulkhead wall and around the tunnel, your heater matrix / hoses may be leaking. Give the 'Wet' a sniff, if it smells of coolant theres your answer. If you still aren't sure you COULD (but i wouldn't recommend as its toxic in large doses) dabbing your finger in the wet and giving it a lick. Coolant has a bittering agent in it to make sure people don't drink it aha

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02Disco2 said:

So, quick update.

Fitted new ARB bushes and HD linkages today..... et voila, the knocking is gone! Thank you to everyone that commented/helped.

Still need to replace the track rod end as there’s lots of play in that and front shocks (should I replace with stock shocks or uprated?), oh and sort the “water in drivers footwell” issue but at least the knocking is sorted and I managed to do it myself!!

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Adventure_Coachworks said:

The term 'uprated' is so broad it's essentially unanswerable unless you describe what the car will be used for. This is the rule of thumb I use for suspension modifications:
1. General use as a utility vehicle, some greenlanes, towing infrequently, packing up with partner/kids/dogs/friends etc for camping I would say use stock genuine shocks.
2. If the car is going to be fitted with a winch and do allot of towing I would look to find some springs with higher spring rates for the weight and dampers that match. This doesn't mean increase in size BTW
3. Stock ride height will cover 95% of Greenlanes and off road tracks in the UK. If you are comitted to changing the ride, handling and cornering characteristics of your car because you have found that one road that requires some lift, go for the +2 inch suspension lift. Previous comment regarding towing, weight etc will determine spring rates.
4. If you want a rock crawler / look at me truck go for mad 4+ inch lift, body lift and truck tyres and accept the fact it will not go round corners.
Hope this helps.

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HasisD said:

From my experience, the MoT advisory on shock absorber bushes should be read as code for 'your shocks are completely nadged'. Shocks apparently can't be tested during the MoT, so they may just be sitting there doing absolutely nothing, leaving all the bouncy work to the springs. They are so easy to change my advice would be to put that job on the list too. It really is all part of the fun

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