22 replies to this topic

[Dan]

If you use a good quality ball joint splitter you won't do any damage. If you use a fork type and a hammer you will probably wreck the rubber cover. If the split washer does not recover when released, fit a new heavy duty split washer and nut. The tracking shouldn't be affected, unless the old bushes were completely destroyed or you are replacing bent tie rods and the tracking had been adjusted to compensate.

[998dave]

Dan, I didn't think you had to undo either ball joint, at least I never have and I've done four of these since Christmas. Bolt always coming out the top and going back in the same way, I admit it can be a struggle to get it in and out, but it is possible.
Hadn't noticed if you've edited the first post, will have a look later if I get a chance and PM you to double check?

Saxo-Fiesta-Mini, thanks for putting this together, please continue and we'll develop a decent how-to section.
Also, what's your name - I hate referring to people by their screen name!

Dave

[will.i.am]

That would be great to get a how to section,especially for a numpty like me .

[mini mark]

just got mine off without doing anythink with the ball joint it also says in the hains you dont need to. i was playing round with it and found as you jack it up the bolt goes towards the wheels and the gap for getting it out gets smaller. i dont no if this is right or will damage anythink but as i kept lowing it i tried to pull the bolt out and once i got a fair bit down with the wheel on the floor it came out. is that how you did it dave or without jacking it up. anyone now of the best bushes i can get now for the standard tie rods it would be great thanks. and would also be good to no if the way i took it of is safe or would damage anythink.

thanks mark

[998dave]

I'd have had it with the jack under the subframe, so wheel at full droop, and just got them out, getting it back in is harden, use a round pointy thing to line up from the bottom, then push bolt in from the top, can be a fiddle, but is certainly possible.

Dave

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

the names Sean firstly secondly i have help set up how to sites before with my mate andy fiestaguides.co.uk

ive done audio, rewiring, resprays and refurbing wheel, suspension and geometery, interior mods, aftermarket upgrades, engine builds, servicing and other car related jobs also been a tyre fitter and a scrap yard dimatler not someone who cuts the car in 2 i did it properly ie took everything apart bolt by bolt

im probs going to start doing work on peoples cars for them and open a lock up so if anyone wants any help with anyjobs or even just want me to come and show them how to do a job on their car so they know for themseleves for future work themselves id be happy i also done valeting ect lol#

so again if anyone got even a run about punto or a vectra and need a lil tlc or want a pre mot check give me a pm main aim is help people to get the jobs fixed for considerably less that what you'd pay at the dealership and a service that put your car first


dave 998 thanks very much for re - editing this it looks great thanks if you can help me by re editing any of my rough guides that would be superb ill try make a better pics next time lol

anywho im gonna go do the clutch on my sisters escort zetec and then do the other sister zorst

as said anyone needs any help or a lil assiatance give me a pm


and lastly i undid the ball joint bolts and the strut mount and then the arm just lifted up with my hands no hammer although if you can pop out the tie rod by using a pry bar but i wouldnt advise this as you can bend the brake pipe lol

so as said any help or work wanting help with or wanting me to do pm me

[Dan]

Dan, I didn't think you had to undo either ball joint......Hadn't noticed if you've edited the first post

To be honest when I'm working and I have all the tools to hand if something looks like it's going to cause a problem I'll just pick up the tool and get it whatever it is out of the way. I've learned painfully that it's often easier. You probably can work it past without splitting the joint but I've never bothered trying! Having said that I don't generally remove the whole arm to swap the bushes anyway, for one thing still having that end attached while you are working on the bushes give you a good idea of how healthy the bottom arm bushes are. I just pull the rod out of place and then work it back in. I know a fair few people have been on here saying they couldn't get the bolt out but then again who knows if these were original bolts or even if BMC/BL/Rover fitted the same bolt all the time or just put in whatever was to hand.

No I hadn't edited this, I like what you've done Dave. I'd really like to get some order into the FAQ section this year and I think we should come up with a standard format for how-to guides (will.i.am said above that it would be nice to have a how-to section, try looking around! That's what the FAQ is there for and it's full of how-tos, why does nobody look in the FAQ?). This is probably a good template to start from. I'll move this over at some point and prune through a lot of the posts in it and we'll have a good beginning.

[midridge2]

i think you will find that the spanner size for the nut on the front end of the tie bar is not 7/16 its 11/16".