Worn front lower wishbone bush symptoms

[peelaaa]

Hi,
My 75 is more loose at the front end now and on poor roads the noise can be quite loud and car feels less stable than on smooth roads.
When driving it's as if it's lost its suppleness on bad roads.

I had a tourer before and I'm sure it was the front lower bushes that were worn.

Does that sound right before I order some?

Cheers
Ian

[patrolman pete]

I check the rear bush by turning the steering until the tyre is poking out of the front of the wheel arch then grab the top of the tyre and attempt to push the wheel back into the arch. If it's split, you'll see a lot of movement. If that's okay then jack up the wheel and check for play by holding and pulling the wheel side to side at the 3 and 9o'clock position the at the 12 and 6 o'clock position and looking for worn ball joints and track rod ends. Other than that it could be a worn drop link.

[COLVERT]

Usually a worn out bush shows itself by a bit of a clunk as you take up the drive. Not particularly noisy but you are aware of something a bit on the slack side in the mechanics.--

[peelaaa]

Originally Posted by patrolman pete

I check the rear bush by turning the steering until the tyre is poking out of the front of the wheel arch then grab the top of the tyre and attempt to push the wheel back into the arch. If it's split, you'll see a lot of movement. If that's okay then jack up the wheel and check for play by holding and pulling the wheel side to side at the 3 and 9o'clock position the at the 12 and 6 o'clock position and looking for worn ball joints and track rod ends. Other than that it could be a worn drop link.

Would any of these transmit road noise to the car?

As on smooth roads its quiet but on rough gravelly roads, noise and vibration in the cabin is very noticeable. It's as if its metal on metal or very hard unforgiving bushes.

[patrolman pete]

When one of my rear bushes failed on the driver's side I got a clunk and some vibration though the floor when pulling away. My n/s ball joint failure caused a rattle on uneven surfaces and worn drop links make the same noise. All quick and easy to check. When I had a knocking drop link , I squirted some oil inside the rubber covers of the offending side and it stopped for a couple of days confirming the fault without dismantling.

[peelaaa]

Originally Posted by patrolman pete

When one of my rear bushes failed on the driver's side I got a clunk and some vibration though the floor when pulling away. My n/s ball joint failure caused a rattle on uneven surfaces and worn drop links make the same noise. All quick and easy to check. When I had a knocking drop link , I squirted some oil inside the rubber covers of the offending side and it stopped for a couple of days confirming the fault without dismantling.

Is that the ball joint on the wishbone?

[patrolman pete]

I just oiled inside the rubber boots of the drop link ball joints to diagnose as they are more common for rattling , the wishbone to hub ball joint could be seen moving . Annoyingly the arm had only been changed by a garage 16 months previously and had done 11,000 miles and as it was cash in hand they wouldn't replace for free so I did it myself. The inner ball joint to subframe is a bit harder to check unless you use a pry bar I believe.

It would probably take you less than 10 mins a side to diagnose

[T-Cut]

I've read that once the rear bush fails, you can jack up the front and physically push the road wheel forwards a with your foot. When mine went, there was a definite clunking on a rough drive or on gravel.


TC

[TourerSteve]

Symptoms are Handling seem more vague and also the car seems unsettled during braking . if totally failed can bump under your feet as lower arm hits bush housing
If the bushes have failed you can actually see backwards and forwards movement in wheel if you put the car in gear / handbrake off and rock it backwards and forwards ,
Best idea is to jack the car up and , Check your wheel for movement 12-6 (bearing and ball joint including strut top mount ) and 3-9 (track rod end inner tie rod and rack ) and also move your wheel backwards and forwards in the arch (Rear bush ) Investigate any undue movement . If you can get under the car you can also check rear bush with a bar between bottom arm and subframe
Drop links usually rattle on undulating surfaces and are quite easy to check !