Front nearside damper sudden fail.
 

I had the fatal thought the V8 was doing rather well. On her original suspension with no problems.....until last week when something gave and then an ominous scraping noise from the front.
Finally got a chance to take a look today and the lower spring support shelf on the nearside damper had failed with the rubber corrugated boot split wide open. Rather glad I didn't limp anywhere or the tyre would have been wrecked! Checked the price on Rimmers ( yikes!) Found lower on the Two-Sixties but delivery in March (which is too late) . My search on DMGRS didn't find a V8 damper. Looks like it's going to cost to do it right
I'm thinking I should do both dampers on the front at the same time. The springs and top mounts look OK, but they're also 15 years old, so should I add two new springs, new top mounts etc and bump up the price by another £320 or risk re-fitting the old parts?
I've never tackled suspension, but I'm game with the right spring compressor and pointers. Looking for advice and guidance from those who've been there before.
Also, has anyone tried slightly softer or dual rate springs? Many thanks.

Have a chat with Bob he's had the same issue with his V8. Thread here about it....https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=305970

Pretty much every 260/Rover 75 V8 has had, or will soon have, the same problem. The Two-Sixties have sold hundreds already as you may know, but they have them made in batches for cost reasons.

I wouldn't worry too much about not doing the springs at the same time as the dampers, since taking the strut leg out and re-fitting is a piece of cake on the 260's. Had both of mine done within an hour. Wouldn't mess around with spring rates if I were you, since the standard ones are available. Top mount/bearings are same as the FWD ZT/R75.
Just remove the 3 top mount nuts and the two lower fitting nuts and bolts and it's free to come out as an assembly. You could remove the damper only by removing the big top nut instead of the rubber mount ones if you want. Mine did not even need spring compressors to remove them from the strut leg; the shaft stroke was enough to release compression on the spring. Don't try that on a FWD ZT!

That's really useful info for me being a newbie at this job. I was worried about how much tension was left on the spring with the lower support being so knackered. Much appreciated info.

My offside one collapsed. Garage said that the other side was also about to go. So I swallowed the bullet I had both replaced via Rimmers. Left the springs and top mounts alone. 16 years old with just 65,000 on the clock..

I do indeed have the identical fault that snookered Bob on the A388 . I've done less than 200miles since my MOT and count myself very fortunate the lower spring mount on the damper collapsed on the drive. Two minutes later and I would have been travelling at pace on the A30 (also 69.9mph lol Bob). All V8 owners who haven't looked at the front damper spring mounts should definitely get them checked carefully with the wheels off. I had no warning although I did hit a pothole around a hundred yards before the house the night before. Only doing 20mph at a junction so I thought nothing of it. That pothole may have been the final straw after 70k and 15 years.

Bullet bitten and order placed for two front dampers with Rimmers. ouch!
Will post how I get on.

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I hope you asked them for a discount, I did when I ordered mine for my old V8 and they knocked over £100 off

Kicking myself for not asking:icon_cry: