ARGGGHHHHHH O/T ford ka help
Turbo Mini Forums

i am really scratching my head on this one!

It's the missuses car, and she wants a new one. I could be about to be made redundant, so can't commit my money elsewhere, plus i have a wedding to pay for! this car needs to be fixed as cheaply as possible!

the problem: when you accelerate hard, the car sways (normally to the left). then when you press the clutch, its sways again (in random directions).

My first thought was it could be something to do with the suspension, as they are made from a combination of chocolate and playdough. However it looks in ok condition, and the wheels are solid enough with no movement, when the car is jacked up.

Next thought was tracking, as the N/S tyre was wearing unevenly, took it to the local station and it was 10mm out, they fixed it, no difference!

My next thought is with the driveshafts, however, what the hell am i looking for? how do i check them?

Or do you guys have any idea what the fuck is up with the peice of shit!

ta

sounds like track rod ends to me.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

i reckon its the lower arm bushes,

theres two big ones on the inner end of the arm, they can go but still seem ok with a wiggle, get under there and have a look for signs of them perishing.

a lower arm with new bushes is about 25 quid iirc

Yep agreed, had to do a lower arm on our lasses Fiesta the other week. Bush looked OK visually, but was clonking badly.

also if it is the bush you can get them seperate, but they are a PITA to get in/ out the arm, so you may aswell get the whole arm as it will com with a new outer ball joint too

well that was my first assumption, but the N/S lower arm was changed 18 months ago, and the O/S was changed 2 months ago.

Do we assume that the N/S, although looks ok is shaged?

My ex had a Ka, similar symptoms and it was the bottom arm. Had been contact with kerbs too many times....

good point it is the missus who mainly drives it!

itll be the lower arm bushes, or the top mounts, life expectancy for both seem to be 10-12 months. lol

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Yep as above, the missesus Ka did this upon accelleration, you can buy the bush seperate Dont bother, just buy a full arm, about £25 i think. Piece of piss to do and id advise you should do both sides too.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

i love how everyone who has a Ka on the drive is quick to point out its the misses motor

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

I don't belive you Mike. Never saw your missus driving it.....

Lol, it was the bints Ka-ck honest!

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

bottom arms :)

AlexF

we will soon find out, they will be replaced tonight.....

Update, well i changed the 20 month old N/S bottom arm last night. It improved the problem.
But the problem is still there, so i will now replace the 2 month old O/S bottom arm and report back.

Ive found that if you replace one but not the other the new one will be doing extra work and wear out quicker!

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

Well, i got up at 7 today, as the missus needed the car early.......

an hour later, the 2 month old O/S Bottom arm what replaced. The old one looked ok, but what a difference the new one has made! car is perfect again!

So it just goes to show that a new part doesn't mean a good part!

modern cheap rubber!!!

its shit!

Unfortunately the vast majority of pattern parts on sale at the moment seem to be SHITE, and its not just me that has noticed this, a number of mates and some in the trade say the same. I changed a track rod end on my Audi about 18 months ago, as the 10 year old OE Audi one had worn out, fair enough over 165k miles. Fitted a new pattern one, all OK. 12 months later for the MOT it needed the same joint changing again, pathetic.

sounds all to familiar Tom :(

Andy, make sure you get it tracked up soon. the tracking beoing out can help them fail quicker.

luckily when i had the tracking done last week, they didn't set the steering wheel straight, so its going back in today lol

it worked hahaha, idiots!