Warning!

[philgarner]

That is true, buy the cheaper 4200 whishbone and transfer your old bracket over, its just 3 screws.

Must be a different part for the GS, I don't know why though.

There is a 4200 part with and without xenons on maseratispares.com and also on Eurospares. There is a different part number for the GS. Strange.

 

[GeoffK]

I like many other owners of these cars have followed this thread with interest, the one thing that strikes me is the lack of input from independent specialist, surely if inspected cars at these service centres were coming in in any worryingly high numbers they would have raised the mater considering all our safety and well-being is at stake.
I for one would love to know what percentage of cars are affected, mine thankfully is OK, perhaps one of the independents could throw some light on the matter?
I very much doubt that professional and experienced independent maserati specialist are afraid to share there experiences on this long running thread.. I really do feel sorry for all affected by cracked wishbones but I think a voice from a fresh angle could clear a few concerns regarding this issue

Geoff

 

[safrane]

I see Fiat Chrysler have received a record fine in the US for recall failures; including suspension faults.

They have now been placed under independent observation to ensure they deal with these further recalls correctly and ordered to buy back 1.5 million cars – OK American tat but you get the picture.

Apparently these faults include those linked to a number of fatal accidents, clearly shows how they think about their buyers – Maserati come on time to hold your hands up.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33671462

 

[jluis]

Can't mess around with the justice system in the States.
They don't fool around!

 

[Contigo]

Got the camera and it is still very difficult to get it into the space to see the wishbones. Gonna have to be a MOT 4 poster job and then use the camera/endoscope to take pics.

 

[Trev Latter]

Mine's back to full health again. Parts arrived on Friday afternoon and now fitted. Not too bad a job to do the rear upper wishbones, but you do need to drop the subframe a bit to remove the rearmost bolts at the subframe end.

Interesting comparing the two arms. The new arm is machined square at the bush ends on the chassis/subframe mounting points, whereas the original arm was not. Didn't get pic of new arm, sorry.





FYI. Bushes not too bad, but obviously old and bolts NOT seized at all and barely showing signs of corrosion other than a small amount of discolouring.

 

[highlander]

Glad she all fixed Trevor, nice one!
Your observations about the arm comparisons fit with others opinions on new parts but the comments on the bushes and screws throws a bit of a spanner in the most obvious culprit re this happening and now back to the original view that the design and manufactur of the arm is flawed with leaving the raised area as a stress point.

 

[philgarner]

Right, short of having one of these actually collapse on me while driving like the OP, I think I might almost win the thread:

I think everyone with one of these cars needs to get their suspension arms checked. Before this the car made the odd squeak but otherwise felt fine. This was obviously dangerous to drive with.

Can someone point me where we are co-ordinate our efforts to raise this with VOSA?

 

[CatmanV2]

That appears to be split in a rather different place?

C

 

[mjheathcote]

That appears to be split in a rather different place?

C

...and look at the corrosion!

 

[2b1ask1]

Gosh that is a shocker Phil; VOSA details are all in the first few pages of this thread but essentially it is an on-line process. Hopefully you can submit photos...

 

[Trev Latter]

Glad she all fixed Trevor, nice one!
Your observations about the arm comparisons fit with others opinions on new parts but the comments on the bushes and screws throws a bit of a spanner in the most obvious culprit re this happening and now back to the original view that the design and manufactur of the arm is flawed with leaving the raised area as a stress point.

Cheers Greg. Great to have it back on the road. I'll press the bush out over the next day or two when I have time just to see how corroded the outer casing is. It doesn't look too bad from the outside though. I was expecting the bolts to be seized, but they weren't. In fact, the bolt on the split side was easier to get moving in the bush than the other one. Both were fully tightened and not loose.

 

[philgarner]

Yeah it looks grim eh. My mechanic said it'd be worth getting it cleaned underneath and waxoyled. But he did say it was only this one that was really bad, the rest are fine.

 

[Trev Latter]

Right, short of having one of these actually collapse on me while driving like the OP, I think I might almost win the thread:

I think everyone with one of these cars needs to get their suspension arms checked. Before this the car made the odd squeak but otherwise felt fine. This was obviously dangerous to drive with.

Can someone point me where we are co-ordinate our efforts to raise this with VOSA?

That's seriously frightening to see one that bad without much warning. I'll bet your heart sank when you saw it like that. It must have been seconds away from failing. Ignoring the gaping split, it looks like it has a couple of stress fractures at the point where the eye meets the arm.

 

[alfatwo]

Right, short of having one of these actually collapse on me while driving like the OP, I think I might almost win the thread:

I think everyone with one of these cars needs to get their suspension arms checked. Before this the car made the odd squeak but otherwise felt fine. This was obviously dangerous to drive with.

Can someone point me where we are co-ordinate our efforts to raise this with VOSA?

Yea but you can see what caused that...the expanding corrosion on the inner bush caused the flange to split open..

Id'e put that down to lack of maintainance.. this sort of stuff dosen't happen overnight!

Dave

 

[adam01]

Yea but you can see what caused that...the expanding corrosion on the inner bush caused the flange to split open..

Id'e put that down to lack of maintainance.. this sort of stuff dosen't happen overnight!

Dave

Huh?

Are wishbones listed as a maintainable item?

 

[Trev Latter]

Only in that their condition should be checked as part of the service schedule. Phil's had obviously been cracked for a while judging by the condition. I'm surprised it hadn't been picked up a little sooner. I'd be interested to know the age/mileage of the arm. My upper rear was probably original as it had a '99 date stamp on the arm (mine's a Dec 2000 reg car).

 

[D Walker]

I was just going to ask what maintenance can be done on them. Going to have a look at mine tomorrow.
Even though it was in Autoshield 4 weeks ago. Think I will make it a monthly check.

 

[jluis]

I was just going to ask what maintenance can be done on them. Going to have a look at mine tomorrow.
Even though it was in Autoshield 4 weeks ago. Think I will make it a monthly check.

I believe its visual inspection and chance the bushes if worn

 

[philgarner]

Before my £1800 bill today, it was last serviced at Lancaster Colchester dealer in Dec 2013. Approx 4000 miles ago. A stack of bills from them too.