Well Graham, you have a number if good drivers to choose from, so you are not out of transportation. Since you have found those trouble spots, I would encourage you to really look that underside over really very carefully. I suspect that there is more rust lurking under there then you have discovered. Look at it from the top also. Pull everything out and away from the car floor (carpets and pads) until you have nothing but metal. I wouldn't spend a dime on repairing what you have already found, until you are certain that it is all there is, nothing more. Look at the trailing arms coming back from the sub body mount also. There have been a number of trailing arms giving up lately because of rust. That rust acts so much like cancer. Hard to see at times, and almost impossible to cure once it begins. There is tremendous pressure on that torsion bar especially on high speed curves. That is what gives you control with that independent rear suspension. If it doesn't hold on a highway curve at highway speed, people are going to get killed.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!