Hi
I have a Space Cruiser Model F, F reg and when I pull away from braking or get out of the van, I can hear a creaking slightly crunchy noise coming from the nearside front wing. Is this the suspension or brakes, and anyone any idea which syspension part it might be that is faulty? Thanks! - (#1913) Maria, 20 Jan 02

Same here. I have to ask my garage next time (this is not the time of year when I want to get under the car myself).
Holger - (#1924) Holger Laux, 21 Jan 02

I's the ball joints; one rusted and almost completely gone, two not far off it.
When I drive the vehicle it feels fine, it's just the noise that worried me. Took it to the garagetoday as thenoise was present every time I got in or out of the van and it has now got so bad that it sounds awful when I turn the steering wheel.
Price quoted by local all-purpose tyre/exhaust/shocks place is £70+ VAT for one and £200+VAT for three.
Hope that helps! - (#1950) Maria, 23 Jan 02

Hi there,
Perhaps someone more in the know could advise me please how the suspension works on a Space Cruiser Model F? I have an idea how suspensions work but am not knowledgeable enough to tell what kind it is by just looking at it.
I bought my vehicle 6 weeks ago with a three month warranty, and reported some time ago that there is a crunchy/graunchy noise coming from the front nearside.
When there is no-one in the van except me, I can't hear it except perhaps when I put the brakes on while waiting to turn out at the bottom of a hill, but when it has the family in it (6 kids but not *that* heavy!) you can hear it hen someone gets in and out of the van.
I took it to a tyre/exhaust/shock place and they said they thought it was the ball joints, and in fact there was so much play in one that they would fail it's MOT (it's an MOT testing station as well...). So I sent the vehicle back to the place I bought it from explaining and they kept it for two days and sent it back saying there was nothing wrong with it. They did say the joints were dry and greased the.
I am really worried now as the noise seems worse than ever and I'm not sure how safe it is. I'm also worried that the warranty will expire and I won' be able to afford to do the work when it gets so bad that it comes to light what it is!
Anyone experienced this or have any ideas who I should get to look at it to diagnose the problem?
Many thanks for your help. - (#2079) Maria, 4 Feb 02

Hello Maria,
I had a HIACE camper a few years ago. When warm and under certain conditions, it used to make a hell of a squealing/squeaking noise when turning or going over bumps. Turned out to be a dry joint between a rubber steering bush and suspension arm. Nothing exactly wrong, just very annoying. Squirting spray grease into it helped a bit. You're problem could be something similar. The more worrying fact is that an MOT testing station has stated that it would fail its MOT on ball-joints yet the warranty people deny this. Perhaps an MOT fail sheet to back up the tester's claim might help. If they still refuse to act then you may have to threaten them with litigation.
HTH
Ian - (#2082) Ian Dunse, 4 Feb 02

Maria,
I think Ian is probably headed in the right direction with dry suspension joints, the creaking or crunching you are experiencing are probably rubber bushes that have gone dry, if they are extemely bad they amy even be breaking up, but if all the rubber bushes on the suspension look OK, then visit your local car accessory shop or factor & buy yourself a tin of HOLTS RUBBER & NYLON LUBRICANT, squirt it on one bush at a time, let it work in, drive the vehicle a bit & see if the sound has gone, repeat on each of the other bushes until the sound is gone, hey presto you know which one is a problem, if the lubricant keeps the sound at bay all well & good, if it returns, then you would probably be best changing the offending bush. The beauty of this product is that it is cleaner thar spray grease & will not rot the rubber, like the propellant (spirit based) in spray grease will. HTH, Regards, Rob. - (#2095) Rob Drinkwater, 4 Feb 02

Hi,
i had a similar problem on my Townie when I bought it - sounded like something was trying to push it's way up thru the floorpan whenever I went over the slightest bump - that was a worn front bush. This was replaced under my 3 month warranty and all OK now. - (#2098) phil jones, 5 Feb 02

Maria,
We had similar problem and tried lubricating all the rubber bushes but no improvement. The mobile mechanic who comes to do the servicing suggested the lower ball joint was at fault and this prooved to be the case. The rubber boot on it was damaged and it was all dried out. New patent part cost about £40 and we now have blissful silent running. - (#2148) simon, 7 Feb 02

Many thanks for all your suggestions.
Will follow most of them up...
Anyone know where you can buy rubber bushes for the rear anti-roll bar reasonably? They have completely rotted away and it's flying about!
Thanks... - (#2163) Maria, 8 Feb 02

for the frame attachments, or the end fittings?
If it's the end bushes, I took mine out, wrapped them with black insulating tape, and refitted. A nice snug fit...
Same principle applies to the other split bushes, I tend to wrap them with thin plastic, dpc membrane is good - (#2174) david miller, 9 Feb 02