I noticed every time I went over a bump while turning right, I would hear an almighty thump from under the car.

Took it to a mechanic up the road, he says the nearside rear anti-roll bar is starting to go. Apparently it's metal inside plastic and the plastic is deformed.

He says I should replace both anti roll bars (nearside and offside) and it won't be cheap. On the other hand the car should drive OK and would actually pass an MOT(!)

A couple of questions for the more mechanically minded among us:
1. Does what the mechanic says sound right?
2. Should I replace both bars or just the n/s/r?
3. How much should this cost?

(Car is 1997 1.8 Executive)

Cheers

Mikeg

Most knocking on the 323F is caused by the anti roll bar touching the suspension. I am guessing he is actually refering to the anti roll bar link arms (the small arms that connect the anti roll bar to the suspension). If so then yes it will best to replace both.

Richardesty had them both replaced when he had his new whiteline rear anti roll bar and the place he bought them from was fairly cheap.

The other thing I would do first is to park your car on a level surface, drive straight for a few meters to level the car out then pop around the back of the car and see if the rear anti roll bar is centralised. If not it could just need to be adjusted (2 minute job).

HTH

Cheers
Craig

Thanks very much Craig - I will give that a try.

Cheers!

Mikeg

Hi

I put new anti roll bar links on my car last year. mazda charge £120 each for these bars. I motorfactor near me sold me japenese pattern parts for £16 each!!!!!!!!!!

Also someone told me that ford escort links also fit (mk 4 or 5) cant remember also fit they are about £20 each. may be worth taking your car to a Fors dealer so they can find the correct link

Viresh

Well the car is now sorted... replacement of anti roll bar links cost me £80.62.

Parts cost me £64.62 plus £16 labour.

£27.50 x 2 for the roll bar links plus VAT

The clonking noise when I turned right seems to have gone, although I still hear a less noisy clonk going over some uneven surfaces but that's probably normal.

Glad it wasn't £120 x 2 for the parts!

Mikeg

Urrk! Problem is [b]not[/b] sorted!

Heard a loud CLONK! from under the car when going round a sharp right hander this morning. Sounded like it was the nearside rear but it's hard to be sure.

So the new anti-roll mountings have not fixed it!

Anybody any ideas?

Mikeg

Well, I took the car back to the mechanic. It took him a long time to find the problem, because he searched under the car, then took it on a test drive, then searched some more.

Turns out to be the near side front ball joint. The problem only happens intermittently, but he showed me the way it flexed whereas the d/s/f did not.

Have scheduled repairs (estimated cost £85) and will let you know if that sorts out the clunk!

mikeg

New ball joint did the trick! Clunking noise now gone!

Whew!

Cost £87.

Mikeg

Is that the same as CV joint?

[b]Mark[/b]