Alfa156Melb

Well, I did the clutch self adjust procedure again using ur excellent instructions Smaky. Big improvement. Especially when it changes from 2nd to 1st coming to a stop at traffic lights. All other shifts are smoother too. Thanks again. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ok thanks. It's a 2003 model.. I haven't personally seen where the play is. I'm going on my mechanics advice. He reckons its the rear arm that's stuffed, so I thought I'd replace all of them, inc the bolt. Is it safe to drive while I'm waiting on the parts? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Smaky, I mentioned in another thread that my car needs new radius arms on the pax side.. It looks like its the rear most arm that's worn out. I plan to order a full set of arms for both sides next week - along with a sway bar and lower wishbones. My mechanic tells me that apart from additional wear on the tire, it's not an urgent job. I've also noticed the rear moves around a little but its barely noticeable. Last week when we found the problem, there was about 2mm play in the wheel when you move side to side (hands on the 9o'clock and 3o'clock position on the wheel - and wobble) However, after a 300km trip to my parents this weekend, including some dirt roads... there's now about double the play as there was last week. NO change in handling. I am not in a position to order the parts for another week, and i have a 300km trip home tomorrow. so I'm a little worried. Looking at it, I don't think there's any risk of the wheel falling off, but i'm nervous - I have my 3 year old son with me.. and frankly, id rather crash without him in the car if at all possible. What is the worst case scenario here? Just a noisy rear end or potentially could the rear suspension seriously fail?

That's gold. Thank you. Can this be sticky'd somewhere prominent? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Smaky, how do you feel about writing a proper step by step for the clutch self calib? The procedure in MES is hopeless and only causes confusion... Then, when most try it out, they rarely know for sure if it was successful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yeah not a bad idea.. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Its not that loud.. I'll just play it by ear for now ... Seems I have a knackered radius arm as well.. so I'll fix that and see what improvements there are.. there's about 2 or 3 mm sideways play in the wheel. I've decided to replace all the radius arms on both sides.. It looks pretty straight forward to me.. is there anything I should know that's out of the ordinary? (i haven't looked at eLearn yet..)

Ok, Would a squirt help that or do u generally replace the mount? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Smaky, Recently i replaced my front uppers thinking they were creaking.. it turned out they were worn, but the creaking seems to be coming from the swaybar bushes instead... Today, i disconnected the swaybar from the wheels and gave it a good going over with silicon spray.. and wobbled the bar a lot - there was some side to side movement - maybe about 4mm? How much play should there be? Anyway.. as expected, that didnt help, the creaking is as bad as ever.. and constant. Here's the thing though.. after i put the car back together again.. I gave it a bounce and it appears that some of the creaking (or noise) is actually coming from the rear..? Is that normal? I have never seen anyone complain of this before.. Anyway, tomorrow ill give the rear bushes a squirt.. but if you have any advice, I'd appreciate it..

You made it.

Smaky, What did you use to cut the inner race with? An Angle grinder? Also, do you know the size of the calliper mounting bolts? I can go look if you don't.. Just working out what tools ill need.. may have to go buy a couple of open ended spanners.. not sure yet.

Cheers Thank you.

Smaky, what's the torque setting for the hub nut?

Smaky, how do you feel about whipping up a sway bar replacement guide for the 156? No small task I know... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And another post from me... :Big Grin: Although I still have a creak.. it isn't as loud as it was.. More importantly, the car's handling has been transformed... No more vibration in the steering wheel No more bad tracking Cornering is amazing now! And..... NO MORE Torque Steering!! woo! After disconnecting the droplinks and going for a drive, it seems the arb is the culprit.. everything was whisper quiet... So I'll get my mechanic to do that one.. and get the lowers done too. In the meantime, I've drenched the lower and arb bushes in silicon spray, maybe that will help.. Happy days.

Ok so I pulled it all apart again today and greased everything. The long bolt in the wishbones, silicone greased the bushes. The long bolt in the Damper fork... Ensured everything was clean and torqued perfectly. Silicon sprayed the lower wishbone bushes and the arb bushes. And... No difference. Creak is still there and driving me insane. Can't afford any new parts now for a while. Especially arb as ill have to get that done by a mechanic. On a positive note though the car drives better. Tracks much better now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well.. I disconnected the droplinks today and creak gone! So I suspect it's the arb bushes. Regardless, I am pulling all apart again to grease all components and ill silicon spray the arb bushes too.. Maybe that will help.. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I thought they didn't require lubing... As they came lubed from factory... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, just changed the upper wishbones, easy job actually and as usual I built it up in my mind expecting it to be a nightmare. Anyway, the creak is still there!!! Could it be the lower wishbones making this noise? I thought only the uppers creaked..? I am really hoping its not the ARB bushes.. bloody expensive to get done... Smaky, your thoughts?

TRW.. yep

I do have MES and engine temp fine. So I'll leave it then. Thanks Smaky. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm assuming a new gauge I guess, however I shall await Smaky as there may be another way! 'course leaving it as is would be ok, just hate it when stuff doesn't work properly. It plays havoc with my OCD. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For a while now my car has been reading an average of about 70 deg, it has a new thermostat (about 9 months old) and MES reports the engine temp to range between 84 - 89 degrees which is bang on. The gauge reads about 8-10 degrees under So I changed the temperature sender today and no change, it still reads under.. any ideas on this?

There's. Difference between SUV's and 4WD's... SUV's are cock. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good stuff cheers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk