| Author |
Message |
Kadir Hussein
TryHard
Victoria/Western Australia
'97 SC400 Limited
Posts: 113
Reg: 12-2009
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Just wondering if I should be worried.. |
Miles Baker
Goo Roo
Vic
66 Mustang GT Convertible, 55 Chevy Bel Air, 69 Firebird 455, 69 Nova SS Clone, 65 Mustang Fastback, 67 Mustang Convertible, 67 Camaro RS/SS
Posts: 2324
Reg: 08-2005
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Nope it's fine |
Kadir Hussein
TryHard
Victoria/Western Australia
'97 SC400 Limited
Posts: 115
Reg: 12-2009
|
Phew. Great, thanks.
I turned it off for a Roadworthy inspection on a hoist, but then they took the car for a "test" drive. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
325i Coupe
Posts: 4336
Reg: 11-2005
|
Yeah no worries, it just turns the pump off so it wont adjust.
I believe your meant to turn it off if you decide to tow anything. I recall reading that some place... |
Mark Donovan
TryHard
Auckland
V8 Limited
Posts: 496
Reg: 07-2005
|
?? I was always under the impression the pump always has to be on, and only off for when you're changing a tyre or on an underbody hoist (i.e. wheels not supported)
That's why there is a scary red message that comes on if suspension is off when ignition is turned on. |
Andrew Duaso
DieHard
Victoria
G6E turbo
Posts: 560
Reg: 02-2009
|
i used to turn mine off when it was wet
the car would do stupid •••• when it was raining and i adjusted it on the controller, like it would stay at max high or low etc... what a pita it was easier to flick the switch
but now its fixed and i can press a button and drive at whatever height instantly |
Wess McManus
TryHard
nsw
v8
Posts: 160
Reg: 09-2007
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In my experience the bags will hold air for some time, short drive shouldn't damage shocks. |
Kadir Hussein
TryHard
Victoria/Western Australia
'97 SC400 Limited
Posts: 125
Reg: 12-2009
|
Well, the car was driven for 5 klms according to my odometer. |
David Vaughan
Goo Roo
Relaxed
IS300
Posts: 4869
Reg: 07-2005
|
That is nothing. Did the car look normal when it came back or had it collapsed onto the bump stops? Presumably it looked normal, so the bags will be fine. Of course you should leave the switch on normally but if 5 Km were going to run them out of air then you would already have been seeing your car sitting on the garage floor every morning. |
Damian Ware
Goo Roo
Victoria
UZZ32
Posts: 1416
Reg: 10-2005
|
Andrew Duaso wrote on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 07:19 pm:the car would do stupid •••• when it was raining
Andrew, do you think this might have been caused by water getting into the height sensors?? |
Kadir Hussein
TryHard
Victoria/Western Australia
'97 SC400 Limited
Posts: 128
Reg: 12-2009
|
Glad to hear David. The car looked a bit lower, but certainly not on the bump stops, it just drove a little funny for a few minutes. The car doesn't drop overnight at all.
On a side note, I never hear my air pump going, it was quite obvious in my old Soarer, is there a difference with '97 models? |
Don Bagnall
Moderator
New Zealand
SLK 230 Kompressor
Posts: 7561
Reg: 05-2005
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Kadir Hussein wrote on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - 11:21 am:I never hear my air pump going, it was quite obvious in my old Soarer, is there a difference with '97 models?
Yes Kadir, YOUR compressor mounting rubber bushes have only done 47000kms.........NOT a zillion, like a lot of other 31's.
A 91 model with fresh compressor mounting bushes, is VERY hard to hear.
 |
Andrew Duaso
DieHard
Victoria
G6E turbo
Posts: 561
Reg: 02-2009
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Damian i believe so
i tried some crc on them once didnt make any real difference, but there were no issues in the dry just when it was pretty wet |
Kadir Hussein
TryHard
Victoria/Western Australia
'97 SC400 Limited
Posts: 133
Reg: 12-2009
|
Don, you make me laugh..
Fair enough then. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
325i Coupe
Posts: 4345
Reg: 11-2005
|
Don is our resident comedian after all!
 |
Kadir Hussein
TryHard
Victoria/Western Australia
'97 SC400 Limited
Posts: 135
Reg: 12-2009
|
Back to cars for a moment.. 
Speaking of bushes, I'm thinking that they naturally harden over time, is that right?
Because I want to change my suspension bushes, despite the low mileage. Just so I know they're as good as can be.
Maybe I expect too much from a 15+ year old design, but I have to say, the NVH in my old 2002 Merc CLK was no better if not worse than the Soarer. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
325i Coupe
Posts: 4348
Reg: 11-2005
|
Kadir Hussein wrote on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - 06:36 pm:Speaking of bushes, I'm thinking that they naturally harden over time, is that right?
Because I want to change my suspension bushes, despite the low mileage. Just so I know they're as good as can be.
They do, age is the worst thing for them. So its probably not a bad idea, even with just under 50,000ks they could do with a replacement, but after 13 years then it's a wise move thing if your prepared to spend the money, which would be worth it on your example.
I would do steering rack, and lower control arm bushes, and all the sway bar ones for a start.
Kadir Hussein wrote on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - 06:36 pm:the NVH in my old 2002 Merc CLK was no better if not worse than the Soarer.
Your probably right, in some respects the quality of Mercedes from that time period were really quite bad.
Your Soarer would be far superior than the majority of Mercedes about. Sad as they are really nice cars, but I would never buy any apart from the really big sturdy old ones out of the 80's and brand new ones I can't afford. |
Kadir Hussein
TryHard
Victoria/Western Australia
'97 SC400 Limited
Posts: 140
Reg: 12-2009
|
I agree re Mercedes, I've always wanted a mint example of a 560SEC.
So the Vlamos bushes are the way to go then? Can I get factory toyota bushes for everything, or aren't they made anymore? |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
325i Coupe
Posts: 4352
Reg: 11-2005
|
Kadir Hussein wrote on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 02:42 pm:560SEC.
Awesome cars!
Kadir Hussein wrote on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 02:42 pm:
So the Vlamos bushes are the way to go then? Can I get factory toyota bushes for everything, or aren't they made anymore?
I would go Vlamos, they are good value and easily available. Toyota tend to charge too much for them, and sell some only as complete replacement arms so your paying a whole lot more which you don't need.
I bought some Vlamos bushes a while ago, they went great, a good deal of difference to the old worn ones. |
Don Bagnall
Moderator
New Zealand
SLK 230 Kompressor
Posts: 7563
Reg: 05-2005
|
Kadir, me old china.
Unless your Mint-a-lishious Soarer is banging and rattling like a TK Bedford on retreads, I would hold off til she hits the 100,000kms mark or so.
The reason I say this, is because our Soarer (a 91 UZZ30) had over 130,000kms on it when I bought it, and was as tight as a drum in the suspension department.
It, like yours, had very good ownership, and the car was minty-poo original and always serviced at the prescribed intervals  |
Damian Ware
Goo Roo
Victoria
UZZ32
Posts: 1422
Reg: 10-2005
|
Kadir Hussein wrote on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - 06:36 pm:Speaking of bushes, I'm thinking that they naturally harden over time, is that right?
Because I want to change my suspension bushes, despite the low mileage. Just so I know they're as good as can be.
Strongly suggest that you leave them as is and if you need to replace them use BranZ bushes.
Having driven cars with all alternatives BranZ bushes are by far the best. |
Kadir Hussein
TryHard
Victoria/Western Australia
'97 SC400 Limited
Posts: 143
Reg: 12-2009
|
Yes, I remember this Damian, but I was apprehensive to throw that out there because this forum is affliated with the Vlamos product 
Don, it's just that I think I can feel a little more than I ought to through the steering.. I am fussy though.
At S&LC on the hoist my bushes look healthy, (ones you could inspect easily) |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
325i Coupe
Posts: 4359
Reg: 11-2005
|
Don Bagnall wrote on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 03:49 pm:The reason I say this, is because our Soarer (a 91 UZZ30) had over 130,000kms on it when I bought it, and was as tight as a drum in the suspension department.
Good point there Don.
Still I suppose any time a car can take new suspension bushes even if they arent totally necessary. Just depends how deep your pockets are!
My dads Hilux 3.4 V6 4x4 has 60,000ks (2005) and is really starting to make noise and gain play int he suspension bushes, its not a Lexus or a Soarer but even with 60,000 they are making some signals of needing replacing.
Damian Ware wrote on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 04:18 pm:use BranZ bushes.
How interesting, I might do some research about those |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31
Posts: 5343
Reg: 10-2005
|
I checked my upper bushes out while replacing the struts a couple of weekends ago - despite 13 years and 180,000KM, they appeared to be tight, uncracked and unperished. Of course they are probably the last ones to go. Upper ball joints had no excess movement in them either, though they were by no means tight, so they won't last forever I guess  |
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