MatraSport Forum

My car is 26 years old, and aldo Murena's don't rust to much it can give suprises.
Just a few months back I controled my suspension, and everything looked o.k.
A fewweeks back I noticed this.
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2108/veren13smallgg4.jpg)
It doesn't look good and if it breaks.....can bring you in serious trouble.
If you never been there to do some maintanance, I suggest to look at it.
I replaced mine for galvanised.
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/9081/veren1smallyc5.jpg)
(http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/1769/veren2smallnj2.jpg)
(http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/3655/veren3smallyy2.jpg)
(http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/6664/veren6smallzi4.jpg)
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2764/veren4smallqq8.jpg)
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/7140/veren5smallbu6.jpg)
(http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7696/veren8smallwm0.jpg)
(http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2972/veren9smallnf3.jpg)
(http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/7389/veren10smallbv5.jpg)
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/9615/veren11smallij4.jpg)

Nice work! :)

Incidentially, I found a crack in one of mine excatly the same place a week ago too, but I'm going to replace it with a used (but uncracked!) one instead. Where did you buy the galvanised ones?

I'm spraying rust protection on my suspension components whenever I work on them. It does not aliminate rust, but makes even unprotected steel last much longer. I use Dinitrol combi wax 77B, which comes on spray cans and is very easy to use - as long as the subject you are spraying is reasonably clean. It can't remove rust, though ;) As an added benefit, it makes it easier to remove nuts and bolts afterwards.

- Anders

Normaly they are not galvanised.
A few moths back I visited a Belgium member that was clearing his stock.
I think he glavanise everything he gets his hands on.
I bought some stuff from him and this was included for free.
It came in handy right away.
(http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7396/cor009mk0.jpg)

:o  ;D

You are lucky, then, to have a galvanised pair!

Looks like a handy set of parts you got there. Coolant pipe holders might also come in handy one day!

- Anders

I found a small hole in my rear suspensionarm, just under the weldseem. and yes, it was under the rustprotection.  Hate old cars, dont know if can be repaired ???

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Looks like a handy set of parts you got there.
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So now and then I find something that can come in handy.
Its not that it is broken on my car, but if the price is right, I put it on stock.
I planned a major brakeoverhaul.
Already found calipers rearside and one reardisk and all the pipework.
Still looking for some parts, but in time I will find them or  some alternative.
Its always handy to have a complete car in parts ;D, but don't have the space for that.

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I hate old cars.
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It is one of the downsides driving a old car, but I think for reliable daily transport the Murena gets to old now.
In a few years it wil go from youngtimer to oldtimer and then it needs plenty of TLC to keep it up running.

Sorry to hear that, Oskar. They are known to trap moisture and unfortunately rot from the inside :(
Try PM'ing Waldo, he might have a spare he can sell you - he has converted to 2.2 arms to fit his diesel engine.

Thought I'd share a photo of the spring cups I removed this weekend:

(http://gallery.dinsen.net/d/10338-2/DSC_9017.JPG)

They are now replaced with the ones form Waldo's 2.2 sprayed with plenty of rust protection. They were in good condition.

Unfortunately I found that a cover plate to the engine room on the top of right rear wheel arch was corroded through  :o It's not carrying any load, so not a critical problem, but I have to repair it before MoT... It's a thin plate, which is probably why the zinc couldnt' keep the rust away :(

Look about the same as mine.
I think it is important for the Murena drivers to keep an eye on them.
a few months ago mine did look alright.
I wan't think about it what would have happened ,if it breaks down in a fast corner.

As the shock absorbers handle the dynamic loads and the springs only the static load, the probability for failure is more or less evenly distributed over time - no matter whether the car is running or not. Further, as cars tend to be standing still more time than they are running, the cup will most likely break while the car is parked... this is the engineer doing probability assessments ;D

But, as the cup seems to always break on the back side towards the engine room, I think you'll be fairly safe actually, even if it happens while driving. You may not even notice, unless you look for it, except by the car suddenly sitting a bit lower than it was before it broke!  :o

I think PSA had a problem recently with spring cups that broke off causing immediate punctures as the spring penetrated the tyre? Or was that the springs themselves that broke?

But I agree completely, it's a part that should be checked with regular intervals!

- Anders

You are correct Anders - mine broke while the car was parked.  One day I noticed that the rear suspension was down on one side.  I slowly drove the car about 100 metres to my workshop, in that condition, without major problems.