Forum:
Hi I am new to this site but could use some feedback from any one with similar problems to mine.
I have a 2008 Sirion 1.0 SE at the 2 year service with just 16153 miles on the clock I had to have both rear tyres replaced and the dealer had the geometry checked and then had to replace the complete rear suspension this suposedly cured the problem. The car is now 4 years old and just last month I had to replace another rear tyre due to uneven wear. I mentioned this to my service garage,he had the geometry checked again and it is still wrong. I know of at least one other person with a similar problem on a Sirion.
I would like to hear from anyone else who has had this problem, then at least I have some ammunition to go back to the dealer and ask for the car situation to be rectified.
Any information you can give me would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Nigel
Hi Nigel. First off
Hi Nigel.
First off welcome.
If you do a search on the site, I believe I have heard such a story before either this year or last, where a Sirion had an issue with the rear, and the rear axle was replaced.
Good luck.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
'12' Plate Mazda MX-5 2.0 litre NC 3.5 Venture Roadster 160BHP
'15' Plate SEAT LEON 184 FR TDI. 240BHP/500nm Torque.
Past: '53' Plate Yellow YRV Turbo Approx. 150BHP
Sirion suspension misalignment
Hi Bobf and Jpor.
Many thanks for your input on this. I will check back further on past forums and see if I can find anyone like Phil who has also had this problem.
Regards Nigel
You are not alone
Nigel,
What you have described is exactly what I have been through on my 2008 1.5 SX Sirion. I have posted extensively on this issue - check it out. There is apparently a defective bunch of Sirions out there circa 2008 with out-of-whack rear axles.
I had my axle set up completely replaced, as you did, free of charge with a completely different axle and new dampers and it did not make one jot of difference. I initially thought it had fixed it but after a while I stopped kidding myself. The car was still just as "awkward" around bends and rear tyre wear was once again noticeable. It was actually quite ugly to drive. It is a definite problem and recognised by Daihatsu and you are not imagining things.
In short, front drive cars (generally) have no adjustment available for the rear axle - they are built supposedly correctly aligned and that is that. So what do you do if there is no adjustment? That is the question.
I cured mine by ignoring the Daihatsu dealer and applying some of my own lateral thinking. I shimmed the rear hubs to correct for the misalignment (again I posted in detail on this), which a dealership will not do because it is not an authorised fix. It is, as it turned out, something which is quite commonly done though - I did not know it until I started looking.
It sounds easy but it took me some figuring out and a lot of DIY mucking around but my Sirion is now fine and runs true and it was worth doing. I had it checked prior to my fix, and afterwards it was near perfect and certainly well within limits. All I will add is please don't use a Kwik Fit/ ATS wheel centre for alignment checking. Use a specialist aligner that gives a printout reading for the rear. Indeed if you give me the figures for how much the rear wheels are out of align I can crunch the numbers for you and you can fit the correct shims yourself if you are handy with a spanner - I will advise what is required.
Obviously my axle is still out of line by the miniscule amount it is but the rear wheels are now pointing the right way, so it is not a perfect fix but nonetheless it has done the job and the car is sweet to drive. The oddest affect I noticed was a significant improvement in fuel consumption - you would be astonished at how much drag is being created by misaligned wheels.
Anyway have a read of my previous postings on this topic and if you have any questions I am more than happy to share what I know. Please contact via a Personal Message to save me posting it all again for others to get fed up with. I will deal via personal email as well - I have in the past for others.
Happy to help.
Regards. Phil
Sirion Suspension misaligntment
Hi Phil. Many thanks for getting back so quickly with that info. I must apologise for not replying sooner. Been a bit busy with work.
I have now made an appopintment with my Daihatsu dealer for this coming Thursday to check the car out and then put in a warrenty claim to Daihatsu. I am taking the printout from the local VW garage and copies of the info you supplied to show that this is not an isolated problem. I also have a friend at our church who bought a Sirion just after we bought ours. He is having similar problems with excessive tyre wear. I will keep you posted as to how it goes.
If I get no joy I may come back and ask you to crunch the numbers for me on shim sizes.
Regards Nigel