Warning!

[rs48635]

allandwf ^^^ totally agree.
The defect appears to be a manufacturing issue, rather than wear and tear. The NDT to detect micro cracking would be the icing on the cake.

How do we proceed?

 

[mchristyuk]

I hope to have my car back either this weekend or early next week. I'll also have a box of cracked arms + my completely failed one available for analysis!

Mark

 

[conaero]

Ok, this is quiet worrying now.

I think the forum should take the stance for every member of 3200-GranSports should get their arms checked before driving any further.

Once we have evidence of any more failure, I will approach VOSA. It probably best if just one entity does it, armed with actual evidence.

I can try contacting Maserati UK and get their stance on it before we proceed any further as they may offer to inspect the arm FOC.

Getting them to replace them FOC will be another matter and I feel at that point VOSA will need to be involved.

Just to clarify, are we only talking front lower arms only or does this failure extend to the other rear and upper arms?

 

[Contigo]

Great Idea Matt. I think speaking to Maserati UK is a good starting point.

 

[mchristyuk]

Matt,

When I spoke to Greg about my arm he only mentioned front upper and lower arms having cracks...

Mark

 

[conaero]

Matt,

When I spoke to Greg about my arm he only mentioned front upper and lower arms having cracks...

Mark

Ok, Marios said the same, so are we happy the rears are not going to suffer, I would imaging the arms are all cast in a similar fashion?

 

[mchristyuk]

Matt,

Don't really know the answer to this one.. until my suspension collapsed the forum knew nothing of the issue with the fronts. Though some in the trade were aware. As things stand it appears nobody on the forum or in the trade knows about rears failing, therefore it might be hard to prove any kind of case for the rears if there are no known failures..

Mark

 

[drewf]

Not convinced Matt about it being better if just one entity makes the contact with Maserati UK or VOSA. These things tend to be ignored if there's only one source of noise, on the grounds it's probably an isolated incident, but a couple of dozen examples at the same time is a different matter entirely.

 

[allandwf]

I'm going to run those pictures past our NDT department here, if that's ok, just to get their ideas from a visual point of view.

 

[rs48635]

Not convinced Matt about it being better if just one entity makes the contact with Maserati UK or VOSA. These things tend to be ignored if there's only one source of noise, on the grounds it's probably an isolated incident, but a couple of dozen examples at the same time is a different matter entirely.

I agree ^^^^
Maybe everyone with cracked or failed wishbones could report to VOSA. Not sure about dismembering my wishbone bolts at home until I have a space to keep it "off wheels" for quite some time.

Not at all sure that approaching Maserati UK is any use to us either. Given that we are hundreds of active users, that adds up to a mountain of expense for them.
Maybe Maserati UK "might" help out in a few isolated cases, but not if there is already a groundswell of alerted owners already. How many readers on this public Forum are connected to or employed by the parent body?

 

[D Walker]

I am not sure it will get any mileage. (worth trying though!)

Porsche have managed to deny there is an issue with IMS & RMS bearing on the 996 for years - despite legal proceedings in the US.

 

[mchristyuk]

Perhaps the best approach to take is first of all a single source collects all the evidence and presents it to VOSA as a co-ordinated approach from the forum expressing our concerns as a group. If VOSA isn't interested then each individual party submits the same evidence. That way we can all be singing of the same hymn sheet and it covers both avenues of "attack"?

I think approaching Maserati UK would probably go nowhere.. or just to a free inspection where they will charge us several thousand pounds each to fix "wear and tear".

 

[mchristyuk]

I am not sure it will get any mileage. (worth trying though!)

Porsche have managed to deny there is an issue with IMS & RMS bearing on the 996 for years - despite legal proceedings in the US.

I guess that is a far easier bullet to dodge as it's unlikely to be a real safety concern? Bit like snapping cam belts etc.. your engine may go up in smoke, and probably at the least ideal time, however you should be able to remain control of your car.

Snapping wishbones don't really leave you with any control of the car and you could take out a number of other road users.. I'd expect VOSA to at least express an interest even if it does fail to ultimately go anywhere.

 

[bill]

I have just checked mine and they are ok. There are crack detector sprays on the market which will show cracks not visible otherwise. The front part of the wishbone where it mounts on to the frame, is clearly visible so very easy to inspect with out touching a spanner. This is the part of the wishbone which would start the failure as it takes all the load under braking or pothole impact.

 

[mchristyuk]

I have just checked mine and they are ok. There are crack detector sprays on the market which will show cracks not visible otherwise. The front part of the wishbone where it mounts on to the frame, is clearly visible so very easy to inspect with out touching a spanner. This is the part of the wishbone which would start the failure as it takes all the load under braking or pothole impact.

Bill, definitely all the ones I've seen have been cracked on the front mount, and as you say that is the one that takes all the punishment so will show up any defects first.

 

[D Walker]

I guess that is a far easier bullet to dodge as it's unlikely to be a real safety concern? Bit like snapping cam belts etc.. your engine may go up in smoke, and probably at the least ideal time, however you should be able to remain control of your car.

Snapping wishbones don't really leave you with any control of the car and you could take out a number of other road users.. I'd expect VOSA to at least express an interest even if it does fail to ultimately go anywhere.

Good Point well put!

 

[Evo Cymru]

Bill, definitely all the ones I've seen have been cracked on the front mount, and as you say that is the one that takes all the punishment so will show up any defects first.

Drivers side was front one for me (bolt was seized) but passenger side was rear (bolt moving freely). Haven't checked top wishbones yet!

 

[Contigo]

Bill details of spray please.

 

[mjheathcote]

Bill details of spray please.

We have crack detection spray at work, available from your local engineering/welding supplier.
Its just a red dye you spray and wipe off, followed by a white developer you spray on, any red dye in any cracks is then drawn out and clearly visable against the white.

 

[rs48635]

Okay.
Who will co-ordinate our evidence and submit to VOSA?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk