Xantia radius arm bearing ?

[imperial21]

Hi
What are the give away signs of the rear arm / radius bearing being worn out ?
Will it be picked up by an MOT test as my car is due at the end of the week !
My concerns are it knocks from the rear over bumpy roads, sounds like exhaust but i am sure its not the exhaust and bump stops are fine.
Also when in low mode i think the rear wheels camber tilts in.
If i do need to change the bearings how difficult is it to do ? I have done a heater matrix already and can do most stuff on cars, I have the rear discs and caliper still to sort out.
Thanks

[Peter.N.]

The wheels leaning in at the top show advanced wear on the bearings, the first sign is usually squeaking from the suspension, if you jack each side up and hold the wheel at the top and bottom and see if there is any movement. They are not to bad a job to do, you have to remove the suspension arms, the most difficult job is removing the outer part of the bearing from the arm, this can be done quite simply by running a ring of weld metal around the inside, when it cools the ring will shrink and come out quite easily.

Peter

[citronut]

as Peter says
but depressurize the suspension as you might not feel any play with the suspension up on any of its settings,

also the best way to check for cream crackerd is put the car fully up on its highest setting, stand back from the rear end and look to see if the wheels look like this /\,

if so they have had it,
also you only need two short runs of mig weld at oposite sides on the inner face of the outter bearing race,

then if they dont drop out you have something to drift them out by

[Tony Quinn]

The noise you describe is most likely worn bearings. Not an impossibly difficult job, just follow the Haynes manual. Be very careful taking off the hydraulic unions. I used plenty of freeing spray first, also important to use freeing spray on the hairpin type clip that holds the suspension 'piston rod' into the suspension arm. Removing the old bearing outer rings from the arm was easier than expected. I simply used a long steel rod with a large hammer attacking the small ridge behind the bearing housing, i.e. coming in from the opposite bearing side, if that makes sense. When purchasing the replacement berarings you have a choice of just the bearings or a bearing kit which includes the outer spacers, seals, through bolt, nyloc nut and plastic centre tube thingy that acts as a grease retainer. The kit is roughly double the price of just the bearings. I found the plastic tube thingy a real horror to get in place. Have fun,

Tony

[citronut]

its easier to drift the bearing outter race's out with two short beads of mig at the inner face's,

the plastic arm linner is quite easy although a tight fit at each end, you must put it in before the the bearing outter race's, you can knock it into place with a short length of the likes of a bit of broom stick,

[imperial21]

I do get creaky noises from the cars suspension after the car is switched off, I will check the car suspension on high mode when i get a chance, MOT is friday so fingers crossed and the air bag light has gone intermittent again !!!

[citronut]

well the air bag lught is a fail now

[imperial21]

I know, I have some switch cleaner to use on the connection which will hopefully sort it, I find its worse for coming on in the hot sunny weather, so i should be safe on that one !

[citronut]

what are you saying, our summer weather aint up to much

[imperial21]

I think the best describtion of our weather is good for the ducks !!!

[Peter.N.]

The sun is shining here now - it only rained until half past four today.

Peter

[KennyW]

Could the radius arm bearing worn cause the problems with the alignment of the rear brakes.

Kenny

[imperial21]

The alignment of the rear brakes is to do with corrossion between the caliper and the caliper mount.

[KennyW]

Yes that's correct, I've removed the corrosion and fitted a new caliper and hub bearing on rear nearside along with new discs and pads both sides at rear. There is still vibration coming through the brake peddle which shows up on the rolling road as a problem with the rear nearside. I swapped nearside and offside discs and still same problem.

Is it problem when fitting hew hub bearing and alignment out ie bearing damaged when fitting or a problem elsewhere hence my original question re arm bearing?

Kenny

[citronut]

worn arm bearings are nout to do with the caliper syndrome, and the feel throughthe pedal is probably air in the brake system