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[Geoff-H]

I have just spent three hours fighting to fit a new wishbone to my Omega. Getting the old one off was no problem but having got the new one bolted in at the chassis end, I found that there was not enough downward movement available at the outer end to get the pin into the pinch bolt.

Is there a clever trick involving compressing the spring a bit? Or is the lower edge flange on the new wishbone a bit too tall? (and thus restricting downward movement). 

Would love some well informed advice before I do battle with the other one!

Thanks...  Geoff   :-/

[holtender]

If my memory serves me well one side is much easier to do than the other.

[Geoff-H]

Er.... So have I just done the easy one or the difficult one?

(I've just done the offside)

[Welung666]

Passenger side is the harder side, still only half an hour a side though

EDIT: Looden the chassis side back off, fit ball joint and get it back on the ground before you tighten the chassis side again

[holtender]

Offside is the easier of the two I thought.

[Agemo]

Geoff, there are some wonderful "How-to's" on here, the one on wishbones if no exception, I would advise reading it, even though you have done yours. It is recommended you change both sides then have a 4 wheel alignment. Drop links are cheap, and again it is recommended you change these while you are doing the wishbones.
How-to:-
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152986949
 

[Welung666]

Offside is the easier of the two I thought.

I just said that, well in a roundabout sort of way

[Geoff-H]

Thank you for all the replies and pointing me at the 'how to' listing (which describes exactly what I expected to encounter). Unfortunately, no one seems to have addressed the specific problem I encountered:  I got the new wishbone in position on the chassis side and the bolts back in without too much trouble but there was then insufficient downward movement to get the ball joint pin clear of the knuckle. Did I miss a trick? Or is there an issue with the parts I am using?  :-/

[manny]

Its because the new wishbone bushes are new and have got less flex than the old ones. I had some one push down with a size 10 boot on the wishbone while i got the hub to line up with pin.    

[Robin Hood]

A lump of wood on the edge of the wishbone and a hammer did it for me.  Had tried the car jack between wishbone and drop-link bracket on strut before that, but no joy.

[Agemo]

I find that someone levering the wishbone down does the trick, don't struggle yourself, get someone else to do it so they have full control. I always go over everything with an oily rag before fitting too.

[Geoff-H]

Thank you for all the comments. I was very tired when I posted my original message having fought the problem for so long!  I have come to the conclusion, (because no one else seems to have been there) that the problem I have encountered is as a consequence of the parts (factored cos I'm strapped for cash at the mo!) having  a slightly high flange on the lower edge. This then fouls the pocket in the chassis that the rear bush goes into. The error only needs to be very small as it is amplified by the length of the wishbone.

I will do battle with the other one next weekend and see how I get on!

Cheers

Geoff

[tidla]

birmingham screwdriver for the other side.

[holtender]

Sounds just about roite our kid if you know I mean loike.

[bodach]

I found if I left the front chassis unfixed & pushed the strut backwards it gave me a little bit more play to insert the ball joint. Like you I had to struggle maybe there is as you say a bit of a difference in the flange which exagerates at the ball joint. Good luck not easy thats for sure.