Traction Avant

The TA was one of the first cars with unitary construction so the state of the body is very important.

 

Body:

• Sills are the best indication. A car with rotten sills will gradually collapse. Familiales and Commerciales are more at risk because of their increase wheelbase.

• Always check that the back doors fit properly (especially on Familiales and Commerciales) at the rear bottom corner. If they don't close properly and leave a gap, the structural integrity is lost and this is impossible to repair.

• Check for rust where wings touch the body.

• Floors rust around the edges but especially in the foot wells because of a leaking ventilation shutter.

• The body around the ventilation shutter can be very rusted. Repair panel available.

• Boot floor on both small boot and big boot cars rust.

• Parcel shelf rusts when rear window has been leaking.

• Doors often need new bottoms and skins. A new door skin should reach up to the the window. Check for a seem by removing the door trim. When a seem is visible lower down, low quality repair panels have been used. Most doors have (had) rust in the square corner near the B post.

• Front wings often have parking damage and when this is repaired with filler the flexing of the wing when driving will crack the filler and the paint.

• Small tears in the wing above the center of the wheel are very common and can be difficult to repair.

• Wings rust under ornaments on the tip. Remove them to check because the rust can be hard to spot from underneath (muck and undercoating).

• Front bumper supports tend to tear away from their mountings on the front axle caused by rust and vibration of the bumper.

 

Mechanical:
 

• The front axle can be a problem. They wear fast when neglected and by now most should have been rebuilt.

• Check out these points on the front axle:

  • Silent blocks: they provide the location of the under arms. Replacement is a specialist job.

  • Upper and lower ball joints.

  • Bushes on the inner side of the upper triangular arms.

• Drive shafts wear when not greased regularly. Wear is detectable as clonking when going through a corner.

• Vibrating of the steering wheel when braking means that drive shaft taper end or drum is damaged.

• Rear axle doesn't wear as much as the front. When worn, the car will feel sloppy, especially through corners.

• Later engines are very good but earlier ones can be troublesome especially since these parts are scarce.

• Exhaust manifold tears and expensive to replace. Often cause by omitting the brace between down pipe and sump.

• Gearboxes are fragile, especially when driven hard, but stronger then most people think.

• Most parts are easily available, especially in Europe.