Not exactly a new problem, but we are going to have to start to keep track of which brands / manufacturers of parts are OK, and which are not.
My recent problem: I started to get a groaning noise from the front suspension when turning, sounded like springs boinging or grinding in the mounts. Then I had an idea, I'd heard some reports of replacement droplinks failing prematurely and rattling. Although my symptom was different, I wondered if they had gone stiff and were causing the problem. Having seen threads on this, I'd bought some OEM ones from BoB when they sold some ex factory stock off.
Sure enough, popped the end of the worst suspect (NS) off and the noise went so replaced both links, good as new. The old links had seized pretty badly, and popping the rubber boot off showed the ball to be completely corroded. Not bad for 7000 miles when the originals were better after over 100k.
Worse, the wishbone rear bushes fitted at the same time are splitting already.
So it's clear that we can't rely on the quality of some replacement parts from some sources. Like I said at the start, we probably need to start to keep a track of what suppliers are good, and which aren't.
My recent problem: I started to get a groaning noise from the front suspension when turning, sounded like springs boinging or grinding in the mounts. Then I had an idea, I'd heard some reports of replacement droplinks failing prematurely and rattling. Although my symptom was different, I wondered if they had gone stiff and were causing the problem. Having seen threads on this, I'd bought some OEM ones from BoB when they sold some ex factory stock off.
Sure enough, popped the end of the worst suspect (NS) off and the noise went so replaced both links, good as new. The old links had seized pretty badly, and popping the rubber boot off showed the ball to be completely corroded. Not bad for 7000 miles when the originals were better after over 100k.
Worse, the wishbone rear bushes fitted at the same time are splitting already.
So it's clear that we can't rely on the quality of some replacement parts from some sources. Like I said at the start, we probably need to start to keep a track of what suppliers are good, and which aren't.
