Fingers crossed...it's fixed.

**TDiBoraSam** · 25-03-2009,08:56 PM

It's early days, but after rather a lot of work, I think my car is finally fixed!

Crasher has had it for the last two weeks while I've been on hols, and sorted lots of problems out for me, most importantly the ongoing steering/handling issue, which seems to have been worn trackrod inner ends, not helped by powerflex bushes that were fitted to the rear axle (now back to standard). Tracking and camber were also set incorrectly.

The steering no longer knocks, wanders, pulls, drifts etc etc etc, and feels nice, tight and precise, just as it should. The car goes in a staight line and doesn't need to be corrected constantly.

No more crashing and banging from the rear axle. All I can say to everyone is STAY AWAY FROM POLYURETHANE REAR AXLE BUSHES...unless you enjoy being banged around and like lots of noise when you drive over bumps!

Other jobs included replacing the AMM (I only had one put on a month ago, by a VW specialist near Cheshire who shall remain nameless, which turned out to be a dodgy Chinese remanufactured unit). MPG and power now restored by using a genuine VW unit.

Brakes bled, and now working properly. Again something the aforementined VW specialist charged me for but failed to cure.

Clutch sensor reconnected - It had been disconnected for some reason by somebody and the ECU thought the clutch was depressed constantly. (Coincidentally the same VW specialist mentioned above did a clutch replacement for me last November!)

Correct bolts put on the balljoints - incorrect ones used by a garage I previously used.

Valve timing set properly - Yet again, not done correctly by the other VW specialist when cambelt was replaced.

So, after all that, I think I've finally got there. My Y reg Bora, is just like new, with only 34k on the clock, loads of new parts, and excellent body work!

Thanks to Crasher for examining the car in detail and properly diagnosing and repairing things that were wrong.....something other garages have failed to do repeatedly!

**Paul Jay** · 25-03-2009,09:13 PM

Hello mate

Really pleased you've got it sorted at last.

The damned thing must have driven you mad. Crasher clearly knows his stuff too.

Hope you're trouble free from now on and that your experience means that you're a suspension/steering guru!!!

**TDiBoraSam** · 26-03-2009,01:24 PM

Thanks mate.

Yes, I've certainly learnt a lot about suspension and steering! It seems that all the car really needed was for someone to spend a decent amount of time driving it and inspecting it properly on a ramp to obtain an accurate diagnosis...which Crasher has done for me.

Other garages always dismissed my problems because nothing was visibly wrong and/or obvious to see.

Journey to work was trouble free this morning, roads that usually cause the car to misbehave were not a problem.

**onzarob** · 26-03-2009,01:29 PM

That what you call a proper car health check and fix

Good stuff

**2moreski** · 26-03-2009,07:14 PM

Here's hoping, fantastic news and I'm sure a big relief if it is indeed fixed.

I suspect that I have a similar problem with mine - only 15k on the clock! It knocks over bumps and the steering feels like and old landrover with slack in it. It's an absolute handful in the wind.

Out of interest, where is Crasher based and how much did it cost? I'm hoping VW will sort mine under the used car warranty but if not it sounds like I need Crasher!

**TDiBoraSam** · 27-03-2009,01:18 PM

If garages tell you that they can't see anything wrong, insist that they examine the trackrod inner ends. They are in hard plastic bellows, and it's not possible to see if there's any play in them just by looking, and the plastic bellow can't be squeezed to check for movement like the old rubber ones.

Time and time again garages told me there was nothing wrong, basically coz they couldn't see anything..Crasher found a lot of play in the trackrod inner ends. They've been replaced, and so far so good.

Crasher is in Nottingham. I racked up quite a bill, but Crasher worked on a lot of other problems too, and had the car for two weeks while I was on hols.

I used to have real problems driving on windy days, but the last two days have been very gusty, and handling fine now.

**Paul Jay** · 27-03-2009,02:04 PM

My old 130 Bora used to clonk over bumps and the garage (not a main dealer) identified the inner track rods as the problem, but I never experienced any weird steering problems. Must be me!

The main thing is that your car is now sorted and you know what to expect if it happens again. It seems like these days, most of the cost of keeping a car on the road is absorbed in diagnosing problems rather than actually fixing them!

Crasher mentioned that your Bora was a particularly nice example, so you can properly enjoy it now.

Cheers

**Crasher** · 27-03-2009,02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Paul Jay

It seems like these days, most of the cost of keeping a car on the road is absorbed in diagnosing problems rather than actually fixing them!Cheers

Yes, very much so.

**TDiBoraSam** · 27-03-2009,05:48 PM

Definately! Especially when it comes to handling problems because there are so many possible things that could be the source of the problem. Also, it is quite hard for someone who doesn't drive the car regularly to understand how handling has deteriorated over time and to spot subtle problems with a specific car.

Anyways, I can now enjoy the car...and spend money on the house instead!