Alfa 156 Suspension Question

cavemeister

I have a 02 Alfa 156 (facelift model)
In the last month I have noticed something not quite right with the suspension.
When I drive it from cold, the front rattles loudly going over uneven surfaces (pretty much every road in Ireland ) But once the engine heats up, the rattle dissapears. Also, when going over speed bumps (slowly) there is a squeak from the front.

i don't know much about car suspension but from the description, is this an expensive job to fix - I am on a budget at the moment a la recession and anyone with mechanical knowledge, what part needs to be replaced ?
Thanks for the help.

Nonoperational

The suspension squeak is most likely the upper wishbone bushes. To replace the upper wishbones your talking around €130 each with spurious parts and an independent mechanic. At a main dealer over €200 a side. If you get some silicone spray and try drowning the upper wishbone it might quieten it for a while.

The rattling could be a few things but to me it sounds most like the bushes in the anti roll bar starting to go. Perhaps when they heat up a bit they expand and that quietens them but its most likely them. Could also be an exhaust bracket broken or cracked you'd have to get it on a ramp and have a look really. Could be a number of things. If its the anti roll bar bushes the official alfa solution is to replace the whole bar and thats expensive (€400 ish) but the bushes can be done seperately if you hae someone that knows the job.

Where are you located?

cavemeister

I am in the Greystones area!

Nonoperational

If your not comfortable getting under the car yourself I'd recommend taking it to someone who knows their alfas for a diagnosis. Will only take a few minutes so even if its a main dealer at least when you know what needs doing you can come back here and get some more info - where to get cheaper parts etc.

Pretty sure the squeaking will be top wishbones but impossible to say for certain without seeing the car.

Redsoxfan

If you check out the RoI forum on Alfaowner, there are 2 fellas who would be able to do the work-one of them is based in Tipp and used to work in an Alfa garage. Otherwise, try Gerry Campbell (Ti Autos) in Stoneybatter.

I think the wishbones are a common enough issue on the 156, but as the other poster has said, get someone to look at the car.

alias no.9

The top wishbones on a 156 are an easy enough replacement, any competant mechanic should be able to do it handy. The genuine alfa parts aren't that expensive either. The alleged complexity of alfas can be very much overstated.

Nonoperational

Its not the complexity really more so being sure of what is causing the noises in that car. You'd do the wishbones yourself in 20 minutes! Simple job (the top ones anyway). The two guys you are thinking of are Dave in tipp and probably pat in wexford. Give me a PM if you want numbers or emails.