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[Craig_R]

Re to my other post which has gone off on a tangent

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1181216795

I did my Wishbones at the weekend and i was asked by Matchless if i tightened them with the wheels on the ground which they were not but My Girl Friends brother who is a mechanic help me said he liked doing them his way and he had done loads his way, what do you think of his way is it ok.

With the car jacked up, The wishbones were only tightened once another trolly jack under the wishbone was jacked up to take the full weight of the car and the first trolly jack and axle stands as backup in case it slips.
 
And when I am saying Trolly Jacks I mean the big ones not the small 2 tonne ones.
 
He said if you tighten the wishbones jacked up or with no wieght on them its the circled part that fails as the rubber gets twisted after a load is placed on it is this right ?



Matchless also said I may have play in the Steering Box what does it look like and where would i find it ?
 

[Kevin Wood]

It's the angle of the wishbones during tightening that matters. If the tighten them on "full droop" the bushes will be constantly twisted once the car is lowered to the ground. This will cause prematire failure.

Jacking up the wishbone with the car already supported will achieve the same thing, although I'm not sure you could achieve the same wishbone angle that the car on the ground with weight in the footwells would have, since the wishbone won't be supporting the whole weight of that cornber of the vehicle (weight will transfer to the wheels which are not jacked up.

As for the steering box, it's on the front bulkhead about where the steering column breaks through into the engine bay. There is a procedure for adjusting it described on here somewhere.

Kevin

[Matchless]

The lower wishbone is only designed to restrain the front strut in the horizontal plane, it is not intended to bear any vertical loads and neither is the ball joint.
Im not happy with your mechanics method, it may be OK but I wouldnt use it my self because it is placing loads on a component that is not designed to take them, I wouldnt want a balljoint failure or a distorted wishbone on my car or on any one I had worked on.
There was a spate of wishbone failures some years ago when this type of suspension was first introduced, the mechanics were jacking up under the wishbones and bending them (Astra / Vectra??).
I prefer to fit the horizontal bolts loose, then lower and settle the suspension before tightening the bolt fairly tight, then up on the jack again (or ramps) for the final torque setting and angle tighten.

[Craig_R]

Hummmm i was not to happy the way he did it and i had print outs from the forum telling him what to do. I could not do the work myself as i have knacked both my hands up but they are getting better.

The car has only done about 10 to 15 miles since the wishbones were put on his way do you think i should jack up the car loosen the bolts off and retighten them with the wheels on the ground or do you think the bushes will be bedded in by now and ill make them worse ?

I cant seem to find anything on the steering box to do tweeks i dont want to just mess about with it as it been said you can knack them.

[Craig_R]

Right Been under the car and used the trolly jack handle as a pry bar to check the track rod ends and steering idler i dont think there is any movement so i guess all that is ok.

Had a look for the steering box also think i found it but i donthave a clue what i am ment to tighten up on it at all   so i am totally lost here now,

Is there anyone I can drive over too to have a look for me please I dont want to go for a full set up if there is a problem that can be fixed very quickly  

I have some track rod ends inner and outer but i could not get the old ones off as my hands are abit knacked at the mo and i think the fork typr ball joint splitter is not the best

Thanks Craig

[Andy B]

.......
There was a spate of wishbone failures some years ago when this type of suspension was first introduced, the mechanics were jacking up under the wishbones and bending them (Astra / Vectra??)......

I bent an arm on my first Senator doing this. I went through a pair of front tyres before I realised my mistake!   (fortunately they were cheapo Kuhmos)

[Craig_R]

Oh if anyone can help this week I can drive over in the day time as i am off work for the rest of the week because of my knacked hands