My ZX failed its MOT on the front suspension upper link. They say that there is some sideways movement where it joins the upper link bracket (inner wheel arch). Anyone heard of this failing before? I assume that there is a rubber bush here that has deteriorated. Anyone know where I can get one for Monday? Would a second hand one do or can I get one off the shelf?

At this short notice and with your location, the best chance you got is Jeff at Zedworld (on the traders forum)

 

He is pretty good at pulling miracles out of the bag. I`m off down there tomorrow to get mine back.

Z32s are known to have a lot of play and get failed by testers who haven't come across this before. There is a Nissan tech bulletin about it http://www.300zx.org.uk/nissan_bulletin.htm and Paul C is a pukka MOT tester so he might be able to add some info.

 

But in the mean time, get your MOT tester to read and understand the bulletin - your link may well be within specs (for our Z32s).

 

HTH - Gio

Originally posted by Gio

Z32s are known to have a lot of play and get failed by testers who haven't come across this before. There is a Nissan tech bulletin about it http://www.300zx.org.uk/nissan_bulletin.htm and Paul C is a pukka MOT tester so he might be able to add some info.

 

But in the mean time, get your MOT tester to read and understand the bulletin - your link may well be within specs (for our Z32s).

 

HTH - Gio

 

It always good to be outranked

 

;)

 

In case tolerances aren`t in limits though, Tamworth is fairly close

 

 

Gio: Hope yours is up and rumbling soon!

as far as the MOT is concerned, the only reason for rejection is if there is "excessive movement caused by wear"

 

the tester will not be able to use a dti for the test but must simply use his own judgement.

 

normally for a joint like this to fail, it must be obviously knackered, not just have a little play in. it must be close to the end of its life. some testers get a little carried away with things like this. is it about to fail - no? then pass & advise.

 

if there is data from a manufacturer to say how much movement is allowed, then this should be taken into account, as the movement is obviously within their tolerences.

Mine passed 2 MOTs with a little play you could feel on one side. Anyway as the front tyres seemed to being eaten faster than expected on the shoulders I figured time to change them. I bought the NISMO Skyline bushes from Middlehurst Nissan I think - I found the number on the forum. Cost about £156 with next day del.

 

They are supposed to be uprated. They are actually bush bearing assemblies with rubber seals. The same part numbers are on them as on the courtesy website, The inners and outers are different. They were a bit bigger than the ones that came off and had Motorsport use only marked on them. Asked what that meant exactly and was told - just means uprated and maybe a little harsher than stock. Once the old top links were free from the hub carrier you could feel much more play.

 

Not too hard to do. Hardest part was getting the nuts on the inner wing mount undone.

 

Steering feels very accurate and no rattles or noise whatsoever now even on bumpy roads. Tyre wear has definitely slowed too.

got them from middlehurst .. skyline jobbies

 

0174426681

 

get a really good socket set to get the nuts of the inner wing ..... screwing these up just is not an option !!!!!

54541-RS580

54545-RS580

 

they use the same part numbers as nismo

I saw Luke on Saturday, picking up something else, and picked up a set of bearings that he does. Came to get the old upper link off and could only get the outer link undone. Do you remove the mount from the inner wing first and then undo the inner link? Seemed to be the easiest way...but didn't have a small socket that was deep enough for the lower 2 bolts (14mm if I remember correctly!!!).

Thanks for all the info...bought a bearing kit off Luke (after talking to jeff at zedworld) and it was fitted yesterday and got its first MOT under my ownership (bought with front accident damage). I got to really drive it for the first time last night after 3 months of ownership.........it was worth the wait!!!!