xantia trailing arm link ?

Probabaly means rear trailing arm bearings !!

Leave the car in normal running height. Stand well back from the rear of the car and look at the rear wheels. They should be upright. If they are leaning, in at the top, out at the bottem, then the rear arm bearings are worn. Look at the rear tyres, the inside edges take the brunt of the deal. Sometimes this can be heard as a crack as the car goes up and down at the back (sometimes they are silent but still worn)

It is usualy false economy to fit a new set of bearings, as the seat in the arm will have turned egg shaped, as we all know, you cant put a round peg in a square hole.

Pleiades sell a recon arm ready to fit, these are oil filled and the bearings will last out the rest of the car.

their new web site I think still under construction.

Regards Slim

yup, silent but worn. the nearside bearing /is/ shot.

thanks, I'll take the car into my local cit specialist, see what he says. I can see the £ signs in his eyes already.

Shuld cost you the price of a recon arm and about 2 hours labour.

Regards Slim

interesting. I've just taken in for inspection and was quoted 4 to 5 hours c£160+ VAT for labour (I think I know why) and £70 to £80 for the bearing kit. I can't source the kit from my usual place so I'll have to pay retail.

the cit bloke said that I'd spotted it very early and I might be lucky and be able to swap the bearing. if not, it's going to be £180+ VAT for a new trailing arm, plus any tube / labour for it /if/ the hydraulic pipes snap which can happen, apparently.

so, £400 all in if I go that route.

*however*, having just got off the phone with my other cit specialist /he/ agrees with /you/ that it's a 2 hour job and has quoted me £75+VAT for labour only. if plieades have a recon xantia trailing arm in stock I might be able to get that for c£100 after the recon rebate so not such a pi$$er after all. and whilst I'm at plieads I may as well buy 2 new spheres for the rears and get the flushing oil / refill thingum done.

thanks slim, yer a diamond :)