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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: terry paget on 29 September 2017, 13:39:19

Title: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: terry paget on 29 September 2017, 13:39:19
2.5 petrol manual estate
I am changing the wishbones. Guide says tie the Mcpherson strut out of the way to allow wishbone to be horizontal during removal and replacement. In the past I have had sons hold strut out of the way, but sons are unreliable. I have tried tying it to a nearby chest of drawers, but it did not work well. Could I perhaps remove the wing inner plastic liner and tie strut to something strong at the front? What do members do?
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 29 September 2017, 14:00:52
Pop the track rod out, and shove the strut forward, then use the wishbone to hold it to the side...

When it comes to removing the wishbone, simply put some weight against the strut to keep it off the wishbone as you hoik it out :y
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Nick W on 29 September 2017, 15:08:22
Undo the antirollbar drop link. Then you'll be able to move the strut about as necessary.

Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: terry paget on 30 September 2017, 20:25:04
Thanks for the advice gentlemen. Right hand wishbone successfully changed.

Have you any tips for inserting the vertical bolt? I did it today with the horizontal bolt loosely inserted and the wishbone supported roughly horizontal. I aligned the bottom hole with a tapered punch, looked down from above, could see the top holes were still not aligned, eventually by holding the vertical bolt above the frame hole with one hand and wiggling the wishhbone with the other, it eventually went in. It took me 20 minutes. Is there a better way?
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 30 September 2017, 21:07:59
Stout and long screwdriver to lever the bush into place as you drop the bolt in from above... works every time :y

Once located, I tend to use a 1/2" 24mm socket with a selection of extensions to enable the bolt to be driven home with an 'ammer as by that point I have had enough of fannying around ::)
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: terry paget on 01 October 2017, 06:29:08
Stout and long screwdriver to lever the bush into place as you drop the bolt in from above... works every time :y

Once located, I tend to use a 1/2" 24mm socket with a selection of extensions to enable the bolt to be driven home with an 'ammer as by that point I have had enough of fannying around ::)
Many thanks. I'll ty it today.
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: terry paget on 01 October 2017, 16:41:22
Stout and long screwdriver to lever the bush into place as you drop the bolt in from above... works every time :y

Once located, I tend to use a 1/2" 24mm socket with a selection of extensions to enable the bolt to be driven home with an 'ammer as by that point I have had enough of fannying around ::)
Many thanks. I'll ty it today.
It just fell in on the first attempt - magic. Old wishbones don't look too bad, impressive for ATEC bones.
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: terry paget on 01 October 2017, 21:41:40
Haynes gives a wisshbone change 3 spanners difficulty rating, the same as replacing steering tie rods or the steering idler. I reckon it's worth more than that.
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: TheBoy on 02 October 2017, 18:24:18
Haynes gives a wisshbone change 3 spanners difficulty rating, the same as replacing steering tie rods or the steering idler. I reckon it's worth more than that.
If you watch chrisgixer do it, its a 1 spanner. Watch me, its 5 spanners. I just lack the knack  :-[
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 02 October 2017, 20:12:34
Haynes gives a wisshbone change 3 spanners difficulty rating, the same as replacing steering tie rods or the steering idler. I reckon it's worth more than that.
If you watch chrisgixer do it, its a 1 spanner. Watch me, its 5 spanners. I just lack the knack  :-[
We were discussing this very (amusing) point just the other day ;D
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 03 October 2017, 13:32:03
I always struggled with the rear bush bolt, it always took me ages to get it aligned to get the bolt in.  :-\

And there was the time I forgot to stuff a rag into the sub frame gap and managed to drop the bolt in there....  ::)  >:(  ;D

What a barsteward of a job that was getting it out!  ::)
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: terry paget on 03 October 2017, 20:17:18
I always struggled with the rear bush bolt, it always took me ages to get it aligned to get the bolt in.  :-\

And there was the time I forgot to stuff a rag into the sub frame gap and managed to drop the bolt in there....  ::)  >:(  ;D

What a barsteward of a job that was getting it out!  ::)
I had rags stuffed in the right hand sub frame left and tight, then dropped the bolt and it rolled to the back. I tried to extract it with a magnet, but only succeeded in pushing it further back. As I had a spare bolt I abandonned it. This is a job which I would not start without spare bolts.
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: TheBoy on 04 October 2017, 18:16:41
Haynes gives a wisshbone change 3 spanners difficulty rating, the same as replacing steering tie rods or the steering idler. I reckon it's worth more than that.
If you watch chrisgixer do it, its a 1 spanner. Watch me, its 5 spanners. I just lack the knack  :-[
And it pisses me off every time I see him do it, knowing I'd be cussing and swearing at it for hours.

I consul myself by letting Mrs chrisgixer make me a tea, and chat to her at that particular critical moment ;D, as I've learnt its still quicker to drive to his, watch him do it all, drink tea and eat his cakes, and drive back, than to attempt it myself. Grrrr.
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 04 October 2017, 23:48:37
Haynes gives a wisshbone change 3 spanners difficulty rating, the same as replacing steering tie rods or the steering idler. I reckon it's worth more than that.
If you watch chrisgixer do it, its a 1 spanner. Watch me, its 5 spanners. I just lack the knack  :-[
And it pisses me off every time I see him do it, knowing I'd be cussing and swearing at it for hours.

I consul myself by letting Mrs chrisgixer make me a tea, and chat to her at that particular critical moment ;D, as I've learnt its still quicker to drive to his, watch him do it all, drink tea and eat his cakes, and drive back, than to attempt it myself. Grrrr.
For what limited comfort it will bring, it took four hours to remove and replace one front wheel bearing on the BMW >:(
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 05 October 2017, 12:08:50
Haynes gives a wisshbone change 3 spanners difficulty rating, the same as replacing steering tie rods or the steering idler. I reckon it's worth more than that.
If you watch chrisgixer do it, its a 1 spanner. Watch me, its 5 spanners. I just lack the knack  :-[
And it pisses me off every time I see him do it, knowing I'd be cussing and swearing at it for hours.
 ::)
I consul myself by letting Mrs chrisgixer make me a tea, and chat to her at that particular critical moment ;D, as I've learnt its still quicker to drive to his, watch him do it all, drink tea and eat his cakes, and drive back, than to attempt it myself. Grrrr.
For what limited comfort it will bring, it took four hours to remove and replace one front wheel bearing on the BMW >:(

Is that your E39?  It took me about the same to do mine.  It's one of those jobs that look easy and it probably is with a lift and proper workshop facilities.  ::)  Much like an Omega wishbone swap!  ;)
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 05 October 2017, 12:32:15
Yup. Sodding thing ::)

You can't quite get the strut far enough up to get at the top front bolt ::) Be easier if done when arms off as hub can then be pulled down... End up using a deep ring spanner and reusing bolt with threadlock :-X
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 05 October 2017, 13:11:14
Yup. Sodding thing ::)

You can't quite get the strut far enough up to get at the top front bolt ::) Be easier if done when arms off as hub can then be pulled down... End up using a deep ring spanner and reusing bolt with threadlock :-X

If I did one again, I'd remove the strut and hub completely and disassemble/reassemble on a bench.  ;)

I have a pile of parts and special tools for the rear subframe bushes and ball joints sat looking at me.  ::)  In theory it looks easy, but I know differently!  ;D
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 05 October 2017, 13:27:40
It's only four bolts... What could possibly go wrong  ::)
Title: Re: WISHBONE CHANGE: HOW DO I TIE STRUT OUT OF WAY?
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 05 October 2017, 14:07:10
Ive had a pair of rear doughnut bushes sat on my bench looing at me for the last year, but I keep finding excuses to postpone the job.
Might have to wait until after the winter now.  ::)