...well apart from that first time that I put too much power in coming off a roundabout and the tail swung right out - but that was bound to happen!

This was a tad more unexpected. Driving along, minding my own business, doing a good 60mph (honest guv ) down this lovely straight bumpy bit of road passing anything that was doing 59.9mph - like you do. Slowed into the speed limit, turned left, put foot down and top wishbone decided to let go of the wheel as I hit 40... car lurched left, I turned into it, car then decided to shoot right onto wrong side of the road... foot now heavily on brake (and yes, the brakes that I didn't think were any good DO lockup when provoked!)... and swerved back to the curb on the right side of the road missing everything.

Now it may not have looked that dramatic from the roadside but from where I was sitting I assure you my colon thought different!

Luckily nothing was damaged, no-one was collided with and the worse that happened was the hour wait for the AA to come and take me home.

Now a more inquisative note. Anyone know what size nuts to use on the "bolt" that goes form the track rod end on the top front wishbone into the top of the "mushroom" on a Sierra upright? (I think that about describes it!)
In fact anyone know what them bits are called? I have built the car and still don't knwo what half the bits are!

Mental note, nylock those nuts on this time

Mark

you crazy guy! you didnt use a nylock?!

thank goodness it wasnt worse!

how the heck did you get through SVA!

on my first week out i lost the nuts out of the bottom wishbone/balljoint...... called in at asda for fresh pants on way home.

And I get loads of stick for using rod ends on my uprights!
At least mine are safety washered, locktited and lock wired!

After my tyre blow out and you bowel movement the AA fleet must be getting fed up of kit cars and the aroma of poo.
Hope you get over it quickly.
Regards Kipper.

Seems to have been the weekend for sphincter muscle workouts allround - Must be something to do with sunlight starvation...

p.s. Wisdom is to nyloc every bolt to do with suspension and drivetrain - locktight many and use the old nail varish trick so you've got a visual indicator of movement

This has always worried me a bit.

I suspect the answer to this is 'No' otherwise you would have stopped, but did you get any kind of warning that things were loose?

Stu

My mushroom also came out of it's location (driver's side) causing a similar incident but I was going a tad slower at the time. Scary non the less. Mine was all assembled correctly but they are even tighter now and checked regularly

Rich

mhhh i Think im gonna bolt true that alloy tube with M5 8.8 reading this. i know i tighted it all up nicely but an M5 to be sure won't harm nothing last thing what i want is comeing of the road. (where i live there are many roads covered on both sides with big trees....)

Tks

Those mushroom inserts should have the same tang that is captured by the strut pinch bolt, to be safe.

I haven't seen a mushroom insert yet, that has those tangs. (Except the steel items I have made for purpose. Easily welded and then machined with steel, albeit a little heavier.)

A safe alternative, would be to drill a 6mm hole through the hub top/mushroom assembly, and capture the insert so that it could not move upwards.

And use nyloc nuts, please.

Chjeers,
Syd.

Pays to go round checking all the nuts are secure after perhaps 500 miles on the road. Used to be standard practice on first services years ago.