Front struts

[Alastair]

Are any companies still doing recon front struts for BXs?...Any one any idea of the cost?

[scarecrow]

If I remember rightly about £500 for 'new' from a stealer and a fair bit less for pattern but wasn't it "Pleidays" that offered recons? That's not how it's spelt though...

[Dollywobbler]

Phil Chidlow's pet mechanic fitted a recon one to The Green Tiger for about £120 IIRC. Postage is an issue - he's based in Essex. They've bloomin' heavy!

[Alastair]

My estate has new spheres all round is nice and soft but has the bangs associated with front struts failing when you hit a pothole...the ride is not really as good as it should be...I just wondered if any firms were doing exchange units at anything like a sensible price?

[Tim Leech]

My estate has new spheres all round is nice and soft but has the bangs associated with front struts failing when you hit a pothole...the ride is not really as good as it should be...I just wondered if any firms were doing exchange units at anything like a sensible price?

Before you shell out for new ones its worth trying to lubricate them internally and externally first (look round the forum for how to do this). Failing that pleides will sell you some recon ones.

[MULLEY]

As far as i'm aware, failing struts don't actually make much if any noise. If you hit a bump & its making a loud bang, it could very well be a knackered ball joint or possibly a worn out bush on the front suspension arm. Once a strut is on its way out, it should just blow off the strut return pipes, which is what one did on my car. No noise, no warning just a bit of creaking now & again & then the LHM lamp came on, pulled over & diagnosed the issue.

[anorthfield]

I've had BXs new since 1992, and from running three daily I am now down to one, thanks to rust and major block problems. I'm obviously fairly used to their foibles, but have not had to think about struts before.
Mine make no noise, but unevenly and hesitantly rock up from rest to driving height.
They have been getting worse and slower to rise, and today did not want to rise at all. Moving the height adjustment high to low, time after time, made no difference. Rocking the car made no difference. Driving the car for 5 miles made no difference. Eventually, after the 5 mile drive, rocking the car from side to side by hand with the setting on high they rose. Enough's enough!
The back suspension rising is fine. The brakes are fine. The power steering is fine. So the pump is fine.

I've read lots of posts on the subject (thanks everyone), but there is so much info that I don't know what to do for the best because no-one describes my precise problem.

Do I need new (or reconditioned) struts, or seals, or ???????

Any advice gratefully received. Thank you.

[Dollywobbler]

Height corrector sticking would be my first thought to be honest, though I bow to the superior knowledge of others!

[Willy]

I've had BXs new since 1992, and from running three daily I am now down to one, thanks to rust and major block problems. I'm obviously fairly used to their foibles, but have not had to think about struts before.
Mine make no noise, but unevenly and hesitantly rock up from rest to driving height.
They have been getting worse and slower to rise, and today did not want to rise at all. Moving the height adjustment high to low, time after time, made no difference. Rocking the car made no difference. Driving the car for 5 miles made no difference. Eventually, after the 5 mile drive, rocking the car from side to side by hand with the setting on high they rose. Enough's enough!
The back suspension rising is fine. The brakes are fine. The power steering is fine. So the pump is fine.

I've read lots of posts on the subject (thanks everyone), but there is so much info that I don't know what to do for the best because no-one describes my precise problem.

Do I need new (or reconditioned) struts, or seals, or ???????

Any advice gratefully received. Thank you.

Mine's started doing this too, however I think Dollywobbler is right. Last week it took me ten minutes of fiddling with the lever to get the front to rise, although this morning, a week after it was last used, the front went up first, quickly and correctly (still shuddered however). My temporary fix is turning the car on from normal-high position, then switiching back to normal as soon as it begins to rise. Usually works. I'd be interested to know if you find a long term fix, however.

Will

[citronut]

the linkage does/can stick at the rfront hight corector through lack of lubricant,

if you squirt some oil onto the linkage then work it a few times with a lever directly in the linkage, and not via the hight lever it should free up,

regards malcolm

[anorthfield]

Thanks. I'll try Malcolm's suggestion.

Upon thinking it through, the chances of both struts being similarly faulty at the same time is not that likely. So if one was faulty I would see movement from the other, which is not happening. When it happens, neither is moving at all, whereas previously one (or both) would judder slowly up.

So the height corrector does look very likely to be the culprit because it would affect both sides.

I hope someone will tell me if they disagree.

[citronut]

just be carefull when levering the linkage at the hight corrector you dont lever against its rubber dust covers,

as you will split them and the diaphram inside of it,

regards malcolm

[anorthfield]

Thanks Malcolm.