Second week with an '05 Gransport

kpytoi1

New Member
Messages
4
Hello all,
I found myself with this GS through an internet purchase, couldn't see much under the car when picking it up, made it home 400 miles just fine. Once getting it home, I was able to get under it and wanted to ask those of you that have had one for more than two weeks about the following items. This gunk (seemingly lithium grease) that's been sprayed over all the bushings, was this intended to mask the deteriorating condition of these items?
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This is the worst instance, on the upper control arm -
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Are these consumables, and how does one go about procuring and replacing these bushings? Or are these bushings?
Also - this exhaust set up, is this a secondary cat delete attempt, and does the rest of it look stock?
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Thank you for any suggestions and input. Wish me luck as I begin this endeavor in to maserati ownership.
 

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Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Hello and welcome!

The spraying of grease might well be to hide something, or simply an effort from an overzealous mechanic to do a good job on a service. I would clean it off an see what you have. As far a bushes go, there are bushes fitted to the inner end of the wishbones, these can be changed but it is challenging to remove them from the car and you will need a hydraulic press and some ingenuity to get them out of the wishbones for replacement. The outer joints on the wishbones are ball joints, and if they are faulty you have to replace the whole wishbone, with the exception of the front upper. They can either be with used parts $$ or new where available $$$$. If the ball joints are ok, you can carefully remove the rubber bellows and regrease them to extend their life. If the bellows are damaged you can buy aftermarket replacements. Also check the toe link bearing on the rear lower wishbone, this is a spherical bearing and can wear, but replacement with a SKF bearing is cheap and fairly easy.

As for your exhaust, you have what is known as a US spec exhaust, with Close coupled primary cats, your secondaries have been removed and the x-pipe in the centre has no resonator so that has been upgraded too. The cover fitted beneath the exhaust and engine is also non-standard.

As is custom round here, you also need to introduce yourself in the “newbies” section, with some pictures of your car from the top side :)
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
Hi,

Welcome to the madhouse!

I’ve got a 2007 GS, and from the pics the suspension and underneath of your car looks pretty clean. As Zep has said I would clear off the gunk and have a good luck for any rust, corrosion, split bushes, etc...

Where is the car from? do you know much about the history? It’s an intriguing story to hear you bought the car over the internet? Online auction?

On the exhaust, I think you’ve got a similar set up to mine now, as you got the secondary cats removed (where there’s a welded bit in the middle of the pipe), and you’ve got an unsilenced x-pipe. Without seeing the back boxes it’s hard to tell whether they’ve been modded as well...

hope you continue to enjoy the car and get to know more about it. As Zep has also said, we need some pics...
 

kpytoi1

New Member
Messages
4
Hello and welcome!

The spraying of grease might well be to hide something, or simply an effort from an overzealous mechanic to do a good job on a service. I would clean it off an see what you have. As far a bushes go, there are bushes fitted to the inner end of the wishbones, these can be changed but it is challenging to remove them from the car and you will need a hydraulic press and some ingenuity to get them out of the wishbones for replacement. The outer joints on the wishbones are ball joints, and if they are faulty you have to replace the whole wishbone, with the exception of the front upper. They can either be with used parts $$ or new where available $$$$. If the ball joints are ok, you can carefully remove the rubber bellows and regrease them to extend their life. If the bellows are damaged you can buy aftermarket replacements. Also check the toe link bearing on the rear lower wishbone, this is a spherical bearing and can wear, but replacement with a SKF bearing is cheap and fairly easy.

As for your exhaust, you have what is known as a US spec exhaust, with Close coupled primary cats, your secondaries have been removed and the x-pipe in the centre has no resonator so that has been upgraded too. The cover fitted beneath the exhaust and engine is also non-standard.

As is custom round here, you also need to introduce yourself in the “newbies” section, with some pictures of your car from the top side :)

Zep - thank you for that. I thought I did go in through the Newbies section, and will post pictures of the car shortly. Thank you, again for responding.
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
Looks very clean under there.

That green wire should be clipped to a steel bracket on the wishbone.
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Zep - thank you for that. I thought I did go in through the Newbies section, and will post pictures of the car shortly. Thank you, again for responding.

No worries, and no rush on Newbies thing, but this mob will want to see your new baby ;)
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,114
Welcome.
Although the grease looks messy it will certainly keep damage at bay from British Winter weather that isn't far off.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
I suspect it had the annoying squeak so it’s been attempted to be remedied. I wouldn’t be too concerned, it’s a sign of good maintenance and should be applauded
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
Not a fan of the greased gaitors...It'll attract road grit and sh1t in all the wrong places...
You need to be a little careful which type of grease you use around rubber too...
( edit- which also implies that you need to use a benign product to remove it too.)
 
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Spartacus

Member
Messages
3,184
First thing I did with my GS was spray grease on all the suspension bushes to help avoid them cracking the wishbones , and to get rid if any annoying squeaks. I would nt worry about it .
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
I suspect it had the annoying squeak so it’s been attempted to be remedied. I wouldn’t be too concerned, it’s a sign of good maintenance and should be applauded
I tend to agree. Looks like silicone 'grease' from an aerosol can that I use. Tends to leave quite a dry finish, so unlikely to attract grit and sh!t like regular stuff. Nobody wants a squeaky bush.