front arm rear bush aligning the bolts ... help!

[Avulon]

Got stuck trying to get the bolts into the bush, two and half hours + and still couldn't get them in. All seems to be lining up with a bit of pull here and a push there, but although the bolts are right over the holes when I look they just won't start.

Any tips on lining these up gratefully received.

Funny thing is didn't have any problems last time, but those were powerflexed. so easier to get rotation right I suppose.

[jonathan63]

Like I said earlier this week on a thread about these....one takes 15 minutes and the other all day.

Im guessing that the holes might be one directly above the other but...the new bush unit will be at a slight angle to the chassis. The bolts are a tight fit in the holes. If the suspension are is at slightly the wrong angle the bolt might find the threaded hole but wont bite the thread because its at a slight angle.

I hope that makes sense.

I usually find the OS goes on fine and the NS is a pig???

[Mike Noc]

Easier if you use a G clamp to lightly hold the bush against the subframe then tap it into place - a small mirror and torch are ideal to align one hole. Bolt in and nipped up then remove the G clamp and fit the second bolt - again check with the mirror and adjust as required.

Just make sure the bolts start freely by hand - you don't want them getting cross threaded.








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[DMGRS]

Having helped a friend with these, I'll be the first to say they can be a right nightmare if they want to be. One side of his was fine, and the other took (literally) hours and some coarse language.

In the end we just had to move it fractionally and try again, and eventually it took bite.

[Avulon]

Yes, I think the angle is just slightly off, was expecting to be able to get the bolts in though, once started they'll pull everything straight. Looks like it's out with clamps then - thanks Mike. I daresay it is case of if it's right first time, nice'n'easy, if it's not bang on- hours....

I'll let you know how I get on.

[FrenchMike]

By lowering the subframe 2 inches,i encountered no difficulty:

DSCF3442.jpg


Home made extractor

outil palier.jpg


Good luck

Mike

[marinabrian]

This job needs to be done with the weight of the car on the suspension, i.e. on ramps and not axle stands

Won't help you at the minute though, so G-Clamp the bush to the subframe, align the rearmost bolt hole and with a mirror on a stick (or your missus's compact....shhhhhh) line up the hole in the bush with the threaded insert in the subframe.

Insert the bolt, and turn anticlockwise until you hear/feel a "click", now with fingers only screw clockwise until you are happy the bolt is not cross threaded.

Now tighten the rear bolt to the point it is just nipped, and release the G-Clamp.

The front bolt can now be fitted, if the bolt hole is not aligned, with a 10" shifting spanner fitted over the loop of the bush, the bush can be rotated around the now fitted rear bolt to allow you to align correctly.

A M10 bolt can be used as a podger to roughly set up alignment too

I made the mistake of doing this job for the first time with the car on stands, six hours later......well last time I did it both sides from start to finish, took 45 minutes, and while I was on a roll, I did the ones fitted to my dad's car too

Top tip, job must be done with the weight on the wheels, so ramps, not stands

Best of luck

Brian

[Avulon]

Thanks Brian, I have been trying with the jack under the end of the wishbone to load up the suspension, and was still having trouble. (had to lower the jack to get the new one into position, then jacked back up) I've no idea how I would've got the front bolt out with the wheels on anyway - can't reach it from the back underneath.

[klarzy]

Originally Posted by Avulon

Thanks Brian, I have been trying with the jack under the end of the wishbone to load up the suspension, and was still having trouble. (had to lower the jack to get the new one into position, then jacked back up) I've no idea how I would've got the front bolt out with the wheels on anyway - can't reach it from the back underneath.

pop the bottom ball joint, much easier

[Avulon]

Originally Posted by klarzy

pop the bottom ball joint, much easier

The outer joint? that's always a possibility, if the g clamp doesn't work.