gta suspension and servicing

All,

Just want to be clear on what I should ask my mechanic to specificially check in the suspension area when my gta goes in for its annual service in a couple of weeks. I know the front a.r.b should be checked. Anything else? All bushes I presume? What about front wishbones?
Car is 04 model with 36k on clock.

Wear issues are the same as any other 156/147/GT because most of the parts are exactly the same.

So yes, wishbones.
Uppers usually go first.

Rear trailing arm to hub bush is also very common and is the only bush that Alfa supply separately.

Your car is almost identical to mine - 04 plate, with 33500 on the clock. I dropped it off this afternoon for its service and MOT tomorrow. I've had noisy front suspension for quite a while, so Neil at NJS in Pershore is basically checking everything and replacing whatever needs doing. I'm convinced it's down to the speedbumps I have to go over to get to work every day, which the GTA cannot clear at more than five miles an hour due to their harshness. Hopefully not too painful on the wallet - we shall see.

In the meantime, I am the 'proud' driver of a custard yellow 55 plate Fiat Panda...................

Cheers

Aubrey

ok let me know how you get on!
Im getting what I think is some knocking sounds at the front (although you can never really tell whats normal and whats not with alfa suspension).

Are you going for the belts? Im holding off another year or 5k.

*queue others sucking air between pursed lips*

my mechanic provides a HF turbo lancia delta. A very cool if tired looking loan car!!

Nope - am saving the belts for next time as well as I only do 5-6k a year. NJS used to have Lancia Dedra loan cars, but I think they expired! The Panda is mildly entertaining - I can see why James May likes it!

Yea Im the same. Car is not used for more than 5k of driving a year. I've had a few v6 Alfas and never had belt probs but made sure they were checked regularly and never went past 5 years or 60k. There is a lot of paranoia about belts on Alfas, much of it justified but the belts issue is more of a concern on the t-sparks I believe.

Right, well the GTA is home and (eventually) passed its MOT! It had "issues" with emissions - namely carbon monoxide emissions of 2.3% vol, against a max limit of 0.3%! It took a long time to sort as all the diagnostics were showing no problems with any of the sensors or anything else (all a bit too technical for me). Anyway, Neil at NJS got an updated software disc last week and checked to see if there were any updates for the ECU, which there weren't. So he then (as I understand it) reinstalled all the engine management software, which produced an instant result. CO emissions are now 0.003% vol - just a small decrease then!

As to the suspension, it needed a new offside front upper link arm, which has been duly replaced. Squeaks and bumps are gone. Also had full 36000 mile service, plus had the heated seats restored to working order - oh and a new sidelight bulb! All came to just shy of £480, which I was pretty happy with considering the time spent sorting the emissions out.

I've now got a new front indicator on order too as it's dual function as a water feature when it rains has finally taken its toll. Neil's also put an advisory that the handbrake cables are split, and that there is a very small amount of play in the anti-roll bar. Also, which may be of particular interest to you ohwell, he strongly advises me to get the belts done when i get to 36000 miles (2500 miles to go). The earliest GTA belt failure he's experienced was at 39000 miles. So there we have it! I shall be getting the belts done sometime in early summer!

Still don't think that's too bad, as I've had no other costs in nearly two years of ownership (touch wood), except one set of front tyres (and of course last year's routine service).

Cheers

Aubrey

IMHO I wouldn't want to leave any belt 5 years regardless of mileage. Over 5 years with temperature changes through the seasons it must degrade.

I also wonder what effect little use has? i.e like my car sitting there all week with the belt not moving from one position

ok, ok I'll get the belts done. Deep down I knew I'd have too.

Originally Posted by EddieGTA

IMHO I wouldn't want to leave any belt 5 years regardless of mileage. Over 5 years with temperature changes through the seasons it must degrade.

I also wonder what effect little use has? i.e like my car sitting there all week with the belt not moving from one position

Hmmm...good point that. I know it's not suppsed to be good for tyres to be sitting in the same position for extended periods of time.

I'm certainly dicing with death running my '02 with 49k on the original cambelt I'm struggling with the concept of parting with £400 odd for no performance gain...although I'm sure the peice of mind must be comforting.

Originally Posted by 240z

Hmmm...good point that. I know it's not suppsed to be good for tyres to be sitting in the same position for extended periods of time.

I'm certainly dicing with death running my '02 with 49k on the original cambelt I'm struggling with the concept of parting with £400 odd for no performance gain...although I'm sure the peice of mind must be comforting.

Change the belt, and have a metal impellared water pump fitted at the same time, the cost is cheaper than 24 new valves!

Originally Posted by gtachris

Change the belt, and have a metal impellared water pump fitted at the same time, the cost is cheaper than 24 new valves!

She's booked in for some Lusso love in a couple of weeks