164

1968-1975 / Sedan / Sweden

All 164 problems All workshop issues

Common Suspension and Steering

Front Suspension Bushings and Ball Joints

Symptoms

Clunking over bumps, vague steering, uneven tyre wear, wandering on the road.

Cause

Rubber bushings perish and tear with age. Ball joints wear and develop play. The 164 uses a solid front axle with trailing arms, bushings in the arms and at the mounting points all wear.

Fix

Jack up the front, grab each wheel and check for play.

Inspect all bushings visually for cracks or tearing.

Replace ball joints if there's any vertical or horizontal play.

Polyurethane bushings are available and last longer than rubber but transmit more noise.

Recheck alignment after replacing any suspension components.

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// More 164 problems

Other known issues

Common Suspension and Steering

Steering Box Play and Leaks

Excessive play at the steering wheel (more than an inch or so of movement before the wheels respond), heavy steering, groaning noises, power steering fluid leaks.

Common Suspension and Steering

Rear Suspension Radius Arm Bushings

Clunking from the rear over bumps, axle tramping under hard acceleration, vague handling.

Common Engine

Oil Leaks from Camshaft Seals and Gaskets

Oil weeps or pools around the valve cover, drips down the side of the block, or accumulates around the timing cover. You might also see oil on the bellhousing or clutch/flywheel area.

Common Engine

Carburettor Issues (B30A/E with Dual Strombergs)

Rough idle, hesitation, stalling when cold, uneven running, black exhaust smoke, poor fuel economy.

Critical Engine

Cooling System Neglect

Overheating, coolant loss, white smoke from the exhaust (head gasket failure), corroded radiator, seized water pump.

Common Engine

Ignition System Wear

Hard starting, misfiring, poor performance, backfiring through the carburettor.

View all 23 164 problems