Bringing a 740 back to life

[griston64]

Originally Posted by Challo

Dave gave me a link to some, but they are cheap.

Buy cheap and you buy twice. Poly is better for spaceships as they take a lot of punishment but I've even heard of cheapo poly lasting a few months.

[Challo]

Originally Posted by griston64

Buy cheap and you buy twice. Poly is better for spaceships as they take a lot of punishment but I've even heard of cheapo poly lasting a few months.

I know I know. To be honest at the moment I’m just trying to get the car on the road and fixing all the niggles. I should have polybushed but money is a little tight at the moment,

[griston64]

Originally Posted by Challo

I know I know. To be honest at the moment I’m just trying to get the car on the road and fixing all the niggles. I should have polybushed but money is a little tight at the moment,

I would say that the condition of the bushes was ok, so probably not the cause of your alignment being out anyway.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Challo

Dave gave me a link to some, but they are cheap.

THey're the same as i fitted to mine 4-5 years ago Chris and no problems since after 15k miles. If memory serves i linked to First Line who although now part of Febi-Bilstein, still produce good quality kit.

If you're on a budget they will be ideal to get you roadworthy and will still last well until you can afford polybushes if you want to go that route.

Originally Posted by griston64

I would say that the condition of the bushes was ok, so probably not the cause of your alignment being out anyway.

Those are pretty bad Mark and it doesn't take much to put the alignment out. Thing is, any excess movement on the spaceship bushes is amplified because of how the steering system is set up. If memory serves i worked it out that half a turn on just one track rod was equivalent to changing the toe setting by 1mm at the wheel rim so a 1/4 turn on each track rod would do the same.
The thread pitch is 1.5mm so that's a total change of 0.75mm on the rack length between track rod ends - move the lower control arm back by 0.5mm due to a worn spaceship bush and suddenly you've changed the length of the rack in effect by ~3mm and with it, the wheel alignment.

When mine were shot and i was still taking it to ATS for alignment, they were using polished dishes as scuff plates. Every time they removed these scuff plates, the alignment went out by several degrees with the ultimate result being it toed out like Charlie Chaplin - visible from 20 paces give or take.

[Challo]

Originally Posted by griston64

I would say that the condition of the bushes was ok, so probably not the cause of your alignment being out anyway.

When I had the alignment done previously they couldn’t get the toe / camber right on the front left. They couldn’t see why and thought perhaps something was damaged / bent. I’ve had a look and all seems ok, nothing visible.

Dave mentioned the spaceship bushes could cause that so thought it’s worth getting them changed just in case. Local driving it’s fine, but on motorway speeds there is vibration through the steering wheel. Both tyres have been balanced and checked and are good.

They offer a warranty on their allignment so will check Friday and see if it has made a difference

[Challo]

Car went back to the alignment place this morning, and the bushes did make a difference. The alignment is all sorted and the toe is as it should. The only issue is the camber is out by -1.08 on the front left. He said he has tried and cannot get it within the parameters. He definitely thinks there might be an issue with the shock, but not something you can see with the naked eye.

Will keep an eye on it, but it definitely drives better

[Challo]

After getting the allignment sorted I’m onto the next job. Not having a stereo I’m hearing every squeak / rattle, but there is two things I’m thinking aren’t right.

1. When the car is running i can a sound similar to a fan pulsating. It feels like it’s coming from the front left of the car inside the cabin. The blower is turned off nothing else is turned on. The noise is all the time.

2. When on the motorway between 60-70mph there seems to be a loud humming noise. On the MOT there is an advisory for rear wheel bearing the noise seems to be coming from the front not the rear. I kept thinking it was the alignment, since that’s changed it’s still there. You can definitely hear it get loud under load. Could it potentially be a prop shaft bearing?

Apologies for the poor explanations, I was hoping to get some sound clips.

[griston64]

Originally Posted by Challo

After getting the allignment sorted I’m onto the next job. Not having a stereo I’m hearing every squeak / rattle, but there is two things I’m thinking aren’t right.

1. When the car is running i can a sound similar to a fan pulsating. It feels like it’s coming from the front left of the car inside the cabin. The blower is turned off nothing else is turned on. The noise is all the time.

2. When on the motorway between 60-70mph there seems to be a loud humming noise. On the MOT there is an advisory for rear wheel bearing the noise seems to be coming from the front not the rear. I kept thinking it was the alignment, since that’s changed it’s still there. You can definitely hear it get loud under load. Could it potentially be a prop shaft bearing?

Apologies for the poor explanations, I was hoping to get some sound clips.

Have you changed the fuel pump ? That sits roughly where you are saying the noise is coming from

[Challo]

Originally Posted by griston64

Have you changed the fuel pump ? That sits roughly where you are saying the noise is coming from

I did originally, but the replacement was faulty so I stuck the original back on as the issue was due to the relay.

I didn’t think it could be the issue so will check that tomorrow and see if it’s louder than normal.

[bob12]

Originally Posted by Challo

After getting the allignment sorted I’m onto the next job. Not having a stereo I’m hearing every squeak / rattle, but there is two things I’m thinking aren’t right.

1. When the car is running i can a sound similar to a fan pulsating. It feels like it’s coming from the front left of the car inside the cabin. The blower is turned off nothing else is turned on. The noise is all the time.

2. When on the motorway between 60-70mph there seems to be a loud humming noise. On the MOT there is an advisory for rear wheel bearing the noise seems to be coming from the front not the rear. I kept thinking it was the alignment, since that’s changed it’s still there. You can definitely hear it get loud under load. Could it potentially be a prop shaft bearing?

Apologies for the poor explanations, I was hoping to get some sound clips.

By 'running' do you mean the car is not moving just the engine running?

There is nothing inside the car where you indicate the sound is coming from to make the noise and clearly it can't be the rear wheel bearing.

The fuel pump is located underneath the car moreorless under the back of the front passenger seat.

My money is on the gear box (the M47 can get a bit noisy with age!) and shift mounts/ drive bearing/s or maybe something to do with the n/s front wheel (jack it up and spin the wheel for starters).

Other than that get the stereo sorted!

Bob