Good Morning........(not really)

Here I was, just enjoying some sun in the Florida Panhandle, when suddenly I have developed a pressure leak in my left front air shock (I can hear a high-pitched squeal from that corner, the compressor cycles a time or two trying to raise the car, the squealing noise starts, and I get an "Air Suspension Fault" followed by an "Auto too low" warning. This all happened last week, and my local Indie down here (who I trust very much) ordered me in a set of Arnotts for installation Tuesday. This all against the backdrop of the Coronavirus outbreak, and our (Canadian) government is telling us to get home ASAP before the border closures begin. Normally, I wouldn't even think of driving any distance with the suspension faults, but this could be a very serious delay in getting across the border. I realize that the trip would be less than smooth, and there is some compromise in the handling dept., but is there any real danger in driving on relatively good roads in this condition? The rear end of the car appears to be at it's normal height, so I don't think there would be any continual mis-alignment of the drive train components, but am I risking real mechanical damage in a 1200 mile dash for the Border? To be broken down half way home would be a real disaster; then my best bet might be to wait for the replacement onTuesday. A real conundrum, as they say.

 

Don't do it ! Leave the car in Florida, take a plane, and get the car trucked up to Canada if you need to. Whilst short journeys on the bump stops are OK a multi-thousand mile journey isn't.

 

I have 2 Greyhounds with me, my 4-legged children. Flying home is not an option.

 

Wait until the new shocks are installed,

Your two dogs have made your decision for you.

i personally think this virus hype is just a lot of bull droppings.

You will make it back as soon as you can, W T F

Are they not going to let you go back home?????????

Show them your receipt, at the border, they will comply.

 

I just crossed back into Canada at Port Huron,11-00am this morning, after driving from Destin on Sunday. There were only 3 cars there including mine and I was through in about 3 minutes. We are on 14 days self quarantine, the Customs official gave us a sheet of instructions for the self quarantine including phone numbers if you get the symptoms.
Take reasonable precautions while in Forida per Trudeau'message this afternoon.
Ignore US citizens who think the virus is a hoax.
I recommend not to panic, get your car fixed properly then drive home.

 

" I just crossed back into Canada at Port Huron,11-00am this morning, after driving from Destin on Sunday. There were only 3 cars there including mine and I was through in about 3 minutes. We are on 14 days self quarantine, the Customs official gave us a sheet of instructions for the self quarantine including phone numbers if you get the symptoms.
Take reasonable precautions while in Forida per Trudeau'message this afternoon.
Ignore US citizens who think the virus is a hoax.
I recommend not to panic, get your car fixed properly then drive home."

+1

 

Thanks All for your advice and support; the Deed is done, I crossedd the border yesterday in about 30 seconds, and I am at home, self-isolating for the next two weeks. Thank God I have plenty of supplies for Quarantinis. The ride home was pretty stressful; I felt every bump (figuratively, and literally) and I have promised Mr. J the full clay bar & wax treatment, an oil & filter, and the installation of those Arnotts as soon as they are shipped to me here. I feel I made the right decision, but I was between a rock and a hard place, and it was a chancey move I wouldn't like to repeat. I'm afraid the world will be a very different place whan this is all over. Be safe.

 

Did you drive home on your old shocks???
If so i'm glad your luck held out, and you made it home.

 

i DID. The famous Jaguar Ride was more like a mechanic's creeper. I will inspect the front end thoroughly when it's up on a lift for the Arnott install

 

That was a big bet!
I hope for you that nothing was damaged underneath.
Curious to know about

 

Well, I've got the Arnotts installed, and I have to say I'm pretty happy- not that I had to do it, but with the results. The front end seems to take pavement irregularities with less of a 'thump', and it is certainly more poised over whoop-de-doos. I have suspected that the front end of the car was set a bit low from the time I got it, and this is no longer the case.. Next is a quick alignment check to make sure I didn't knock anything out of whack on the trip home with the blown left front, I'd give the Arnotts a 5 out of 5.

 

You are lucky, if the suspension dropped too much the tire would scrunch into the fender when you made a turn..........

 

IT DID, I had actually burned a hole in the inner fender liner about the size of a business card. I patched it up, and we are none the worse for wear. My alignment was spot-on, but I have damaged a tire slightly (a belt is out of position, and the car pulled left.) Moved that tire to the rear of the car for now, and everything is good again.