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[Tick Tock]

I'm in the process of tidying up the sills, and access near the rear subframe (inside edge of sill) is very tight to get in there to clean down.

The assembly bracket is held in place with 3 bolts (to chassis / body), and a central bolt for the subframe. The central bolt is obviously mated with a captive nut at the top which is not accessible when everything is in place.......  so the question is -

Is the captive nut held fully or just in a channel? I imagine once the central bolt is undone and removed, the nut may be lost, and I'd have to end up stripping out the whole rear assembly to find it again.

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Thats the cover plate for the rear donuts - as far as im aware you can remove that bolt with impunity.
I personally would remove the whole plate as well, by undoing the three bolts round the outside.

[05omegav6]

Not lost one yet

[Tick Tock]

That's good to know, so I will remove the bolt (and the plate) and clean it all up.

I'll know who to blame if it goes missing!! 

[jimbo125]

No I am sure it is a captive nut and no one on here has reported loosing one and the how to guide does not state any problem with the big bolt or its nut

[johnnydog]

Replaced the doughnuts on my estate last year, and the captive nut wasn't an issue. What WAS an issue was having wrestled with the doughnuts in removing the old ones and reinstalling the new,  the subframe moved slightly, and then locating the centre bolt properly was a bit of a pain, probably with the tension from the springs. Maybe there's a simpler way to do it, but I ended up using a large ratchet strap and a sling round the subframe to move it to the precise position to refit the centre bolt. Just worth bearing in mind when you remove the bolt and plate.

[Kevin Wood]

If you support the car using an axle stand under the subframe either side, it shouldn't move.

[05omegav6]

A 12" threaded rod of suitable size might help... it would allow the subframe to be dropped both sides simultaneously without affecting geometry and could be left in place as the cover plate is removed/refitted.

Would allow much better access to that rear sill area

[Tick Tock]

I'll no doubt be tackling the job sometime this week, and appreciate the feedback so far 

[biggriffin]

Why not change bushes while plates are off.

[05omegav6]

Why not change bushes while plates are off.

Now you're just being silly... 

[biggriffin]

Why not change bushes while plates are off.

Now you're just being silly... 

The op is" Tidying" up, so why not, something to do while awaiting the paint to dry on the plates.

[Tick Tock]

One thing leads to another, and despite this project just starting out as a front end suspension re-bush, it's turning out to be a 16 year all over refurb...... 

Front end now sorted, but will require a full geo set up.



Scabby front wheelarches cleaned down, scuttle drain refurb and preventative maintenance,



sill clean and protect..... working my way towards the back and come across lack of access to inside sill at rear.



Still got rear wheel arch, rear brake disc & pads, and now probably donut bushes & shocks amongst other things to take into account.

Luckily there's no rush to finish refurb project, as car has been SORN for last 4 years, but MOT runs out on the standby ebay bargain at the end of Aug!!!

[Tick Tock]

Why not change bushes while plates are off.

I hadn't even considered the donut bushes when I started this tidying up of the old girl, but thanks to the comments / advice on this thread it would be silly not to do, especially as planned removal of parts gives access to them.

From the very little I can see of them in situ', they don't look too bad..... and replacement of these bushes isn't something that is regularly commented on this forum AFAIA. Having seen a guide on the old forum, and found a source selling them.....

http://www.vauxhallworldparts.com/show_parts.php?cate=102&Submit=Go%21&ecode=25&vrm=&vid=21&filter=Yes&esize=2.5+Petrol&specials=true&cont=true

Anyone have any comments about Febi?

[05omegav6]

Depends how you drive... If you like to press on, then ring Monkfish Performance and ask for the Monaro rear end pack for Harrop diffs. £99 + postage. This replaces the donuts with poly and tightens the back end up nicely

If you don't press on, then the Febi ones should be fine.