14 replies to this topic

[Minitrio]

Ok the saga so far:

Need to change tie bars due to them both being bent. Unfortunately the bolts connecting them to the lower arm sheared off! So i need to remove lower arms and drill them out. I've managed to detach them from the ball joint and i've removed the 15mm retaining nut at the subframe.Haynes manual then says "Lever the pivot bolt forward and off the subframe, then lift out the lower suspension arm"

This is where my problem is! It doesn't move what so ever and i can't see how it would pivot forward, because there looks like there is no room for movement!

Can anyone please explain how i actually pivot it and lift it off?

Cheers

[mars red mike]

You shouldnt need to take the bottom arm off to fix that. Disconnect top and bottom ball joints and move hub to one side. Now you should have enough room to drift the broken bolt out. There is no thread in there so you aint going to damage anything.

[OJM]

Mine sheared off too, but all I did was get a screwdriver to gently tap them out from the bottom upwards.

Like 'mars red mike' said, they're not threaded so basically drop in. You might find they're in there quite tightly, but move the tie bar a little and you should be able to work them out with a screwdriver and hammer.

[bmcecosse]

But be sure to use proper high tensile bolts in there (Allen Cap Head are good) - not just any old bolt you have lying around!

[OJM]

http://minispares.co...ty=pb&pid=33765

[Minitrio]

I've tried most methods of drifting out the bolt and have soaked it several times a day with release fluid for over a week. So hence the drill out option.

Like the detach the hub and move it to one side approach, will give that a crack.

Thanks for the bolt link, already have them.

So back to the original question how do i remove the Lower Suspension Arm, should the hub to one side approach not work.

Cheers

[bmcecosse]

As the good book says! Undo the nut - and push the 'bendy' mounting bolt through the subby - then wiggle the arm off the bolt!

[mars red mike]

When you do get the bolt out, give the new one a dab of copper grease before you put it in and save yourself all this hassle next time you want to take the tie bar off.

[Minitrio]

I will certainly will be doing that, because eventually i will be fitting adjustable lower arms, once funds allow.

So another reason why i would like to know how to remove the Lower Suspension Arm.

[Minitrio]

As the good book says! Undo the nut - and push the 'bendy' mounting bolt through the subby - then wiggle the arm off the bolt!

So should mounting bolt move towards the front of the car? Because i tried that and it doesn't move.

When i look at it the bolt, it looks like its welded to the subby.

[bmcecosse]

It's not supposed to be welded - but you never know what a PO has done ! It should move to the front - may take some hammering - don't spoil the thread!

[Minitrio]

It's not supposed to be welded - but you never know what a PO has done ! It should move to the front - may take some hammering - don't spoil the thread!

I'll give it another good thump tomorrow with a larger hammer tomorrow!

[bmcecosse]

Protect the thread by putting a nut on it!

[Minitrio]

Cheers, will do!

[bmcecosse]

Probably best to get a longish steel rod - and use that (with hammer!) to batter the inner face of the 'head' of the bendy bolt - so knocking it forwards out of the subframe.