Well after 3 months of pain free ownership, the Supercharged has decided to cock it’s leg and give me its first leak! I suspect it’s something to do with the ARB as the Dynamic Response reservoir (is it called that?) is well below minimum and when I last checked it (about 4 weeks back) it was within limits. I’ve taken some photos but doubt they’re of much help. Can someone give me an idea of what/where I should be looking at. Is there any unions/pipes in the front right wheel well that could leak or is it pretty much a sure thing the ARB is goosed?








 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph

Most likely, the DR pipes

Had one in today with exactly the same leak from exactly the same area...

Thanks for the fast reply, are the pipes in question the 2 pipes seen in the photos I’ve attached? I thought they looked quite corroded so wouldn’t be suprised.

Next question, are their replacement suitable for a competent diy mechanic? I’m a fast jet engineer by trade but I’m not a trained automotive engineer so know when I’m in to deep.

Shame I don’t make regular visits to Leuchars anymore or I’d be landing on your door step. 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph

It's a full day's work.

Body need separated from the chassis

Pipes are usually seized in the valve block

Not a fun or easy job...

You were in deed spot on with your diagnosis. I took the wheel off and dried everything off. Started the car and after a while started with a weep at this body mount.




I also found a nut loose on the valve block. I reckon this should be tight.





Is this the reason the body needs lifting? To get the pipes over the frame?


 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph

Wow for a 2012 model there is significant corrosion present?

I think it’s pretty normal for a U.K. car that’s 6 years old. When I can get to it I’ll waxoyl the underdide as I’ve done with all my cars. The U.K. salted roads can make a real mess of the underside of a car, regular washing helps but it never stops. 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph

Parts ordered. £250 (VAT included), so just need to work out how much body lift is required and what I need to disconnect to achieve it. Luckily I dont need the car for about 10 days.

DM, can you give me an idea how much lift is required? I can jack an RAF Typhoon in 20 minutes but a RRS.... 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph

Happy to report all is fixed, now I just need to make a tool to bleed the ARB. I have a new filter for the valve block so I think I’ll do a full fluid flush front to back at the same time.

One thing I did notice, according to the workshop manual I should have a frame to body damper at the front like the ones at the back.

My car, no damper but holes are present.


From the workshop manual

 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph

did you have to have the body lifted? if so, what cost/time?

The body should be lifted but I didn’t. I bought new pipes, did some measuring, some cutting, and used some 3000 Bar couplers to join the pipes back together. £250 for the pipes and £12 for the couplers. My local indie quoted £1200. It took me longer to get the under tray off than it did to fit the pipes!


If you only have one corroded pipe, you could just fit a new length of standard sized pipe and use 2 couplers. 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph

Great job

Would you mind posting up the part numbers and specific couplers used please? It'll really help other DIYers in the future who don't have access to a lift. Kev

MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

I would love to but it’s 18 months ago and I just went to my local hydraulic specialist with the pipe bore size and he produced these couplers from stock.
Below is an example, SS304 is stainless steel which is what I got. You may see them for £30 but a good supplier should have them for a tenth of that.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1X-3mm-22mm-Equ...ozqWWKIWnA 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph

Ah, I didn't notice the dates on the posts

Thanks anyway! Kev

MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

No problem, hopefully others will find it a better option than lifting the body. If I hadn’t of bought the full pipe set, I would have just replaced the one pipe that had corroded. I also painted the pipes around the rubber insulators and put some grease on them (safe for rubber). 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph