Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 09:54:36 +1300 From: Richard Sutherland-Smith <richard.ssnospamr.net.nz> Subject: Re: how to work out why car seems to not 'sit' properly... 1985 8V 900i
> For ages I've been suspecting that my 1985 900i has a suspension problem in > that either both rear springs have shrunk from having too much load placed > on the rear of the car by previous owners (perhaps using trailers), or > something else. > > Anyway, it 'seems' like the problem might be the right/rear of the car, but > I've jacked up the back of the car today and taken off both rear wheels yet > so far I can't see anything physically wrong. > > How it came to light is that when driving (even slowly) on rough ground the > rear wheels rub on the wheel arches, and if I drive at speed on the road, > the car seems to handle badly and it 'bounces' a little on corners. > > I've already had the front of the car under close scrutiny due to problems > with other things (mainly when I changed the right/front swivel member and > wheel hub), but it could well be a problem with something at the front. > > Are there any tried and tested ways to explore rear suspension, etc. to work > out if there is a problem even if it's just that the springs are tired? > > Craig. > Have the rear bump-stops vanished. I had a 900 in the UK that had lost these, and it used to bottom when coming back from France full of wine... the car, that is! They fail their MoT there if there is only one, but pass if both have come off! -- Richard Sutherland-Smith 19 Webb Road, Wanganui 5001, NZ