Warning! - Complete Failure of Rear Suspension Arm
 

Dear All
Excuse me raising this if it is a phenomenon well known to club members but the rear arm on my 2005 75 tourer recently snapped after traversing a speed bump. On inspection there was major corrosion on both arms but the one that snapped - the driver's/offside had rotted right through from the top.

I attach some photos. You can see the extent of the corrosion, which from below didn't look as bad. It went through an Mot in November without comment presumably in a similar state. I had no idea beforehand how bad it was. Fortunately no one was hurt and there was no damage (except to the rear arm of course)

So my advice is - check your suspension rear arms. I've not seen a modern car corrode so badly at this location whilst less than 10 years sold.

Can only assume that as it sat in a field between registration and first use this might have been a factor.

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...0&d=1426451670

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...1&d=1426451736

Dave
[http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...426451670/IMG]

Blimey they do look a little bit on the ripe side.

What is the underside of your car like in general? I ask as mine has surface rust on most of it including my rear arms, the paint is flaking off the rear anti roll bar and the fuel tank straps look horrible but are intact.:shrug:

I think I may renew mine anyway, but paint and rust proof the new ones before fitting!

The underside was generally good, but plenty of apparently light surface rust. The exhaust rear box needed replacing recently.

It seems there's lots of opportunity for water and mud to sit on the top of these arms unnoticed. You just can't see them without access to a hoist.

D

Wow, that is unbelievable. I clean, paint and seal mine every year. MOT in a few weeks so will check on them again.

One has to wonder how yours passed the MOT like that.:shrug:

Mine are the same on my diesel, rest of the car is rust free!

Plans are afoot to replace with something that will last a little longer :D

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...2&d=1426454277

Hard to believe how mr tester managed to miss that!
This is not new, quite common in fact. the ones I've changed had rotted near the fulcrum pin, very difficult to spot, but the General condition should have told the tester something was up.
£80 odd pounds plus vat and carriage from Dmgrs I believe.

Hi Trikey - I like yours - that's what they should look like, although being that solid the extra weight is bound to reduce the mpg :D

Seriously though I will be taking these rusty units to show my local MoT man. Not as a nag but as a cautionary tale. And maybe going somewhere else next time

D

My new 75 failed its mot on the nearside arm, the tester said he's surprised the spring hadn't gone through it was that corroded! Its being sorted tomorrow hopefully, then getting retested in the week.
I'd have a go at changing it myself but it looks an absolute pig to change, and you need to have it on the ground to tighten up the bolts! There's absolutely no chance of me fitting under the car while its on the ground! I only just fit if its on axle stands! :D