Warning!

[mchristyuk]

<sarcasm> Ah. So that explains why it's happened to cars with full Maserati history and why there appears to be a revised part too. </sarcasm>

Even if it was the case that it was entirely the owners faults and nothing to do with the manufacturing of the part, if I was the manufacturer I would be taking a keen interest as the last thing I would want is stories of people being killed in my cars because of wheels coming off.... The dealing silence I think speaks a lot.

Mark

 

[Phil H]

FYI...
Rather, we assume that the vehicles involved were not maintained at official Maserati service partners. The replacement of the control arm or individual bushings without the proper special tool may result in possible damage to the wishbone and subsequently to the described damage.

IMHO establishing Maserati liability, with or without VOSA support, was never gong to be easy. However, the above statement makes key assumptions; so, if your car has a full dealer history would they then accept liability? Similarly if the bushes or wishbones have never been replaced at all would they again admit liability? I think you could also have a very interesting discussion on the definition of an "official Maserati service partner".

PH

 

[highlander]

No real surprise that is the position they have adopted, in all honesty it is the only position they can adopt when you think about it. Even if you accept what they are saying in principle for me they are missing the only point that matters in all of this - it's not the "varied" service history of the cars, it's not the age of the cars, it is that all the reported cracks are happening on exactly the same part of the moulding. That has absolutely nothing to do with service history or age of part/vehicle and must be connected to design or materials.

 

[mchristyuk]

Also why are the bushes sold to the general public without any reference to this special tool if they know that not using it could seriously affect the integrity and safety of the car?? You can't have it both ways... Either a part is manufacturer service only, or you disclose everything for safe work outside the official support circle.

Of course those arms that have failed without having a bush change are a nasty fly in their argument ointment.

 

[abyss]

Im in Australia and car is imported from UK 3 years ago by me. 2006 GS with 38k miles on clock.

Jack the car up and put the front wheels on ramp. Here is the photos of front arms. Looks ok to me but bushes are no good.

Now should i replace the bushes or arm?

 

[drewf]

Of course those arms that have failed without having a bush change are a nasty fly in their argument ointment.

Kills the argument stone dead. Never been touched, and the part fails - nothing to do with service record or alledged mistreatment of the part whilst swapping bushes.

 

[BL330]

Phew, dodged a bullet. Checked mine today, all good. Please add me to the lucky / phew column.
FYI my car has 70,845 miles, two thirds in the UK, then a third in Australia.
It appears to have original arms by the stampings, although if 2nd hand ones had been fitted we wouldn't know.

A thought for the technically minded. Have you noticed the proximity of the headers to the front wishbone problem area?
It's only an inch away. Could the only area causing grief of all the wishbones be related to heat exposure?

 

[conaero]

Spoke to Meridien main dealer last week and they were not aware of a special tool to do this and their press is a standard press.

This is exactly the wriggle tactics I expected from Maserati, they should be ashamed!

 

[Trev Latter]

If the main dealers aren't using the "special tools" to change bushes, surely they would be responsible for the breakage? Of course, that whole statement is just rubbish and really does sound like a very feeble attempt to avoid accepting responsibility for what appears to be poor quality components.

I'm a little surprised that more haven't come to light when having pre purchase indy inspections carried out. I wonder how many of the cars that have cracked wishbones have had an inspection within the last 6-12 months? At the very least, this thread will bring a focus on the wishbones as a trouble area and hopefully save anyone getting injured.

 

[mjheathcote]

If/when this becomes a recall, how many cars would need to be recalled, and at what cost to Maserati?
Not being a 50p piece of plastic that takes 10 minutes to change.
Could VOSA rule if a design/casting fault, is there a possibility that they insist all the wishbones on the car be replaced, not just the front lower ones?
If the case, could something like this 'break' Maserati?
Of course i'm not just thinking of the UK sold cars, but if it spread to US sold cars too.

 

[highlander]

SMF Handle - Car Model - Year - Mileage. - crack found y/n - reported to VOSA

Robert's suggestion to keep a separate record seems to have been lost in all the thread chatter.
Matt, can I suggest if you agree that this is started as a new thread and encourage all members who have had their car checked to fill in and discourage chatter on it so we have a clear picture with figures?

 

[adam01]

If/when this becomes a recall, how many cars would need to be recalled, and at what cost to Maserati?
Not being a 50p piece of plastic that takes 10 minutes to change.
Could VOSA rule if a design/casting fault, is there a possibility that they insist all the wishbones on the car be replaced, not just the front lower ones?
If the case, could something like this 'break' Maserati?
Of course i'm not just thinking of the UK sold cars, but if it spread to US sold cars too.

Would think their insurance would come into play

IMO, More a question of protecting their Global reputation than $
Given the instances of recent recalls, ie VW/GM etc, think they would want to address the matter than skirt around it

 

[EnzoMC]

I always took my car to a main dealer until I found out they hadn't been changing the air filter and other minor items on the Mas service schedule, which I asked them to follow. I want a service centre that will follow the maserati service schedule. so if I take my car to main dealer its not serviced correctly, if I goto Indy, Maserati will go agaist me.....

When I had the Audi (if I remember right) I was told that I didn't need to take the car to a dealer as long as it was a specialyst who follow the offical service schedule - wasn't this set for all makes ?


so checked again with a little lighting - maybe a little clearer. still want to get her onto a ramp for better inspection. also checked and both arms have the stamp (nearside marking are on the bottom / offside marking are on top)


offside


markings

 

[EnzoMC]

View attachment 26591

hmm - these markings are stamped compared to mine that are embossed ? two diffferent parts with same number ?

 

[BennyD]

Darren, I think you have got away with it mate, that looks like shadow to me. Phew!

 

[highlander]

Twice in the same weekend........I agree with Benny! Result Darren.

 

[davy83]

They both look like the letters are standing out to me?

hmm - these markings are stamped compared to mine that are embossed ? two diffferent parts with same number ?

 

[allandwf]

^ I thought that too.

 

[BennyD]

If you zoom in, it is stamped. It's the shadow (again) that is creating an illusion.

 

[GeoffK]

Guys ,
This is because sometime the aluminium cracks on the casting join .
This is the reason they should be checked every time they go in for a service , also if someone replaces the bush's and they don't have the correct pullers to do the job they can crack the aluminium and then eventually fails all together .
This is the reason I keep saying you should never be modifying wish bones ans you have to use the correct pullers to remove and refit .


Marios

Did anyone read this?

Geoff