Bought a lemon Sukuki Swift Sport - Control arms & Rad
Discussion
Ok so I'll admit, I rushed into buying as I needed a car urgently. I bought a 2007 SSS Mk1 2007 with 65k miles on clock for £2k, which has turned out to be a right lemon. It's MOT history was clean, so the previous owner was clearly using a dodgy MOT garage to get it passed each year.
So far in 2 weeks it's needed £500 of work, for 2 new front springs, drop links, AC recharge, new headlights, major service inc plugs and brake fluid.
Questions:
1. When the mechanic changed the springs, it turns out the 'upper spring mounts' were rusted through - badly (looked dangerous in the photos shared). I've been trying to source these but it seems like its a dealer only part. I never knew how expensive Suzuki parts are, they want £40 each for these parts. ECP and GFS can't source them, is there anywhere else I can try?
2. I've still got knocking from the front end, and turns out it needs a new front ball joint, so will change both suspension arms together. Does brand matter? I bought Moog drop links, or should I spend more for genuine?
3. More bad news is that the radiator is leaking. I didn't spot the coolant leak when I bought it because I didn't check properly. The radiator itself is £50 for Nissen brand. Should I replace anything else as the labour rate won't be much higher. Thinking thermostat or hoses etc.
So far in 2 weeks it's needed £500 of work, for 2 new front springs, drop links, AC recharge, new headlights, major service inc plugs and brake fluid.
Questions:
1. When the mechanic changed the springs, it turns out the 'upper spring mounts' were rusted through - badly (looked dangerous in the photos shared). I've been trying to source these but it seems like its a dealer only part. I never knew how expensive Suzuki parts are, they want £40 each for these parts. ECP and GFS can't source them, is there anywhere else I can try?
2. I've still got knocking from the front end, and turns out it needs a new front ball joint, so will change both suspension arms together. Does brand matter? I bought Moog drop links, or should I spend more for genuine?
3. More bad news is that the radiator is leaking. I didn't spot the coolant leak when I bought it because I didn't check properly. The radiator itself is £50 for Nissen brand. Should I replace anything else as the labour rate won't be much higher. Thinking thermostat or hoses etc.
That doesn't sound like a lemon to be honest.
It just needs some TLC.
Some Swift Sports are driven quite hard. As you likely know, they are the lightest hot hatch on the market. Which means that they are supremely chuckable - like hot hatches from the 80's and 90's.
That hard use means that things like bushes / ball joints get a harder life.
The engines are VERY strong. A Nurburgring Rent4Ring Swift Sport got buzzed to 10,500 RPM and didn't fail. I remember a comparison of the Swift Sport M16A lump compared to an E46 BMW M3 lump. The block, bearing caps and bolts on the Suzuki engine were far meatier than what BMW put on the M3's lump.
...and M3's do like to go pop on the Nurburgring - LOL.
So, it sounds like your Swift Sport has been driven hard for it's 65k miles. Which is not unexpected. It's one of those cars that encourages you to drive the wheels off it everywhere you go. It's too much fun not too! LOL.
I'm sure that once the worn items are replaced, it will be great fun to hoon about in for another 65k miles.
It just needs some TLC.
Some Swift Sports are driven quite hard. As you likely know, they are the lightest hot hatch on the market. Which means that they are supremely chuckable - like hot hatches from the 80's and 90's.
That hard use means that things like bushes / ball joints get a harder life.
The engines are VERY strong. A Nurburgring Rent4Ring Swift Sport got buzzed to 10,500 RPM and didn't fail. I remember a comparison of the Swift Sport M16A lump compared to an E46 BMW M3 lump. The block, bearing caps and bolts on the Suzuki engine were far meatier than what BMW put on the M3's lump.
...and M3's do like to go pop on the Nurburgring - LOL.
So, it sounds like your Swift Sport has been driven hard for it's 65k miles. Which is not unexpected. It's one of those cars that encourages you to drive the wheels off it everywhere you go. It's too much fun not too! LOL.
I'm sure that once the worn items are replaced, it will be great fun to hoon about in for another 65k miles.
Try eBay or Amazon for parts, but try to buy a “brand” you’ve either heard of or retailed by others. Moog are fine in my experience. I’ve used them on my S2000. Nissen is probably oe on a Japanese car?
RockAuto in the states is cheap for Japanese car parts even with shipping and duty, but there’s a wait of course. I don’t know if the Swift was sold over there but could be worth a try?
RockAuto in the states is cheap for Japanese car parts even with shipping and duty, but there’s a wait of course. I don’t know if the Swift was sold over there but could be worth a try?
You shouldn’t full control arms - ball joints are available.
Try auto-doc for all the parts usually pretty good.
Also some part numbers here:
https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/genuine/locate?c=S...
Try official Suzuki parts here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/suzukicarsukofficial
And a good used point of contact might get a decent set of control arms here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/suzukiswiftspares
Try auto-doc for all the parts usually pretty good.
Also some part numbers here:
https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/genuine/locate?c=S...
Try official Suzuki parts here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/suzukicarsukofficial
And a good used point of contact might get a decent set of control arms here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/suzukiswiftspares
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