Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: jjleonard on 03 January 2011, 16:23:45

Title: Replacing rear wishbone bolt - quick tip
Post by: jjleonard on 03 January 2011, 16:23:45
I've spent two days doing my wishbones, steering idler and droplinks, and have re-learnt all the tips I used last time - after much swearing and heaving at stuck bolts.

I have a tip for those of you that struggle to get at the famous PITA rear bolt on the wishbone - I managed to drop one into the subframe the last time I did this:

Lie underneath the car in line with it, so your feet are sticking out from under the bonnet and your head is almost directly underneath the bolt hole. From this position it's relatively easy to get your right hand (for the passenger side, and vice versa) up between the steering rack and base of the engine, and on top of the bolt. I've managed to firmly grab, retrieve and fit a new bolt without any worries about losing it!

Cheers
John.
Title: Re: Replacing rear wishbone bolt - quick tip
Post by: Jukeboxnut on 03 January 2011, 16:45:02
Thanks for that tip, I've got to replace my wishbones soon and that should save some swearing and struggling (it's over 5 years since I have last done the job on my previous Omega).
Title: Re: Replacing rear wishbone bolt - quick tip
Post by: feeutfo on 03 January 2011, 21:49:35
Rearward bush can be a very tight fit in the subframe bracket. The bush center metal spacer often has large burs or iregularitys that make the problem worse. If dressed with a file or bench grinder they fit in lovely and the bolt just drops in, in my case i was sat by the side of the car in the wheel arch, at that stage i didnt need to go under the car at all, which suprised me. 8-)

...obviously its very important not to remove to much material from the bush spacer ends though, just a brush up, nout more.
Title: Re: Replacing rear wishbone bolt - quick tip
Post by: Kevin Wood on 04 January 2011, 12:56:03
Looks like I need to do this little job again <grumble>. >:(

Still, it got through the MOT.

I found a spark plug socket was the ideal length for getting onto the rear bush bolt and yes, reaching up and down the hole in the box section is a good plan. Take your time and don't rush it.

Kevin
Title: Re: Replacing rear wishbone bolt - quick tip
Post by: feeutfo on 04 January 2011, 13:00:31
Having another go at the m5 bushes at the weekend. Well, they're pre pressed in anyway, just got to fit them and try and set camber and toe somewhere near as it will be miles out again.
Title: Re: Replacing rear wishbone bolt - quick tip
Post by: Kevin Wood on 04 January 2011, 13:41:26
Quote
Having another go at the m5 bushes at the weekend. Well, they're pre pressed in anyway, just got to fit them and try and set camber and toe somewhere near as it will be miles out again.

Wondering what to do with mine. Fit the spare wishbones with normal bushes (and which will put the alignment right out) or cut out the front bushes and fit poly ones.  :-/

Kevin
Title: Re: Replacing rear wishbone bolt - quick tip
Post by: Elite Pete on 04 January 2011, 13:45:30
Quote
Quote
Having another go at the m5 bushes at the weekend. Well, they're pre pressed in anyway, just got to fit them and try and set camber and toe somewhere near as it will be miles out again.

Wondering what to do with mine. Fit the spare wishbones with normal bushes (and which will put the alignment right out) or cut out the front bushes and fit poly ones.  :-/

Kevin
Think thats what I will do. Get some cheap £55 Ebay special and fit poly bushes to the front and the free rear bushes my local dealer gave me :)