Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Martin_1962 on 07 March 2009, 12:08:59

Title: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 07 March 2009, 12:08:59
I cannot get at the rear bolt as the head is inside the chassis - so that is half removed.

As to the ball joint into the strut - completely stuck fast

HELP!!
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Loch View on 07 March 2009, 12:11:42
You can get a ratchet with socket in the hole on top of the subframe to hold the bolt.

Did you get the bolt out for the ball joint?


Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Loch View on 07 March 2009, 12:24:13
Actually I made something to get easier access to the top of the rear bolt (in frame)

(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/lochlomondclassics/Picture036.jpg)

Won't win any beauty contests but because of the angle in the spanner it does the job quite well  :y
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 07 March 2009, 12:26:33
Ball joint bolt out and rear bolt loose.

After dinner I am going to reassemble and try again another weekend :( :'(
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Loch View on 07 March 2009, 12:29:20
When you got the bolt out it's a shame to stop :y

I hammered a big screwdriver in the gab for the ball joint, wiggled it a bit then some very powerful bangs with a hammer on the wishbone and voila
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: razzo on 07 March 2009, 12:31:34
Quote
Ball joint bolt out and rear bolt loose.

After dinner I am going to reassemble and try again another weekend :( :'(

but you're half way there Martin
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: feeutfo on 07 March 2009, 12:36:28
as said the bolt is recessed but you can get on it with a ratchet just to hold it while you undo from underneith.

The knucke bolt is usually a bit seized. Any form of penetrating oil and spray on. I used wd40 as thats all i had, in extreme cases have herd mention of plus gas.

Then get a wedge shaped something, coal chisel ?, and hammer it into the slot to spread the clamp. wedge it open and leava wedge in there. Then hammer the top of the knuckle by what ever means. I used a long punch at an angle down through the strut gubbins. Be carefull the wedge/cole chisel does not go in too far and hit the knuckle. And and be aware that wishbone will very nearly as far down as travel will allow, so you will have to push it down to clear the knuckle from the strut when it does free. I have on occassion been hammering away to find its been bouncing back up into the hole.

If you cant hammer on the knuckle directly with a punch. Try a long bar of some sort, maybe another hammer or prie bar and place it horizontal with one end on the pin and hold the other while you hammer on that as near to the pin end as you can. Hth
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: feeutfo on 07 March 2009, 12:40:59
Quote
Quote
Ball joint bolt out and rear bolt loose.

After dinner I am going to reassemble and try again another weekend :( :'(

but you're half way there Martin

Exactly. All you have to do now is place the new wb in and re assemble that instead. But torque correctly of course. It can be awkward to get the new bushes in the bracket, but do the rear ones first and pull the strut out the way and you pretty much there.

Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 07 March 2009, 12:41:17
My drifts are bending and it has gone very cold - just got to push the rear bolt back down into position.

Going to give a good spray with penetrating oil and try next weekend
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Loch View on 07 March 2009, 12:44:13
energetic movments with spanners and hammers will keep you warm  :y
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: feeutfo on 07 March 2009, 12:46:52
indeed, your actually making more work for yourself.
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Loch View on 07 March 2009, 12:48:16
I did mine when it was below zero, The cursing kept me warm as well  ;D
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 07 March 2009, 14:01:45
Still can't get the bottom apart but JV6CDX may be visiting
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Loch View on 07 March 2009, 14:05:03
good news mate
Hope you get it sorted today  :y
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 07 March 2009, 16:19:48
R/H Wishbone - 6 hours - who said it was easy >:(
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 March 2009, 16:20:45
Quote
Still can't get the bottom apart but JV6CDX may be visiting

Unlikely to have the light today - are you around tomorrow?
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 07 March 2009, 16:48:25
Quote
Quote
Still can't get the bottom apart but JV6CDX may be visiting

Unlikely to have the light today - are you around tomorrow?


Yes but the weather doesn't look too good.

However how long do you think it would take two of us compared to one person with a bad back?

I am suffering now ;D
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 March 2009, 19:03:22
35 mins?

Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 07 March 2009, 20:24:43
Quote
35 mins?



 :o :o :o :o

How?

Took me 5 minutes to get tools out, another 5 to jack up and about 10 to put tools away.

That said managed to get back bolt in quite well twice (accidentally put front in :'()

Still umming and ahhming about tomorrow doing the pass side
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 07 March 2009, 20:35:14
40-50 mins a side.


Its true though, you cant hit your own car hard enough!
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 07 March 2009, 20:42:31
Tomorrow doesn't look too wet.

I am happy to drill holes in it but hitting with hammer :-[
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: HerefordElite on 07 March 2009, 22:13:24
I struggled to get ball joint apart it took me a day to do the pair Martin so you're not alone.

Seem to remember a big lump hammer and a fence post as a drift ;)

Also tried spring compressors to pull the strut back up as i hit WB down :y
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 March 2009, 22:44:16
When Kev and I did mine - we had a barsteward with one side, while the other was a doddle....

Hopefully you get the easy one tomorrow Martin. ;)
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 07 March 2009, 23:20:49
Putting it back together was a PITA as well - ended up jacking the car up and hitting the knuckle with a hammer - then it went too deep >:(
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 08 March 2009, 10:55:06
Today is out - raining and my back is in agony :'(
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: ngrainqey on 08 March 2009, 11:31:57
*rolls eyes*
atleast it's not front wheel drive (so you dont have to worry about a seperating cv joint) lmao! anyway your not poly bushing them so wont need a vice and a short piece of scaffold like i do next weekend maybe lmao! ..on my "tank"

Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Martin_1962 on 08 March 2009, 12:43:44
I am on Ibuprofen now - hope the pain goes soon
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Seth on 08 March 2009, 13:08:21
Quote
I am on Ibuprofen now - hope the pain goes soon

Join the club Martin!
Still, I reckon that if you wedge the jaw apart above the ball-joint, it'll come apart pretty easily. Whatever, let us know bud.
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 08 March 2009, 13:40:46
I shall be under teh rear o an Omega doing springs shortly!

Its just like bloody Newent out there!

The trick to the ball joint is to remove the bolt and insert a small chisel or large screwdriver into the pinch point gap on the base of the hub assembly.

Place a lever so its heal is against the ball joint casting and the sharp end is pushing up on the base of hub assembly pinch point.

Now get a LARGE hammer and hit the lever about 4 inches from the wishbone.

Never failed to split one yet...!
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Lazydocker on 08 March 2009, 14:50:54
Quote
I shall be under teh rear o an Omega doing springs shortly!

Its just like bloody Newent out there!

The trick to the ball joint is to remove the bolt and insert a small chisel or large screwdriver into the pinch point gap on the base of the hub assembly.

Place a lever so its heal is against the ball joint casting and the sharp end is pushing up on the base of hub assembly pinch point.

Now get a LARGE hammer and hit the lever about 4 inches from the wishbone.

Never failed to split one yet...!

Or use a ball joint splitter as you aren't worried about the rubber sleeve of the Ball joint :y :y
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 08 March 2009, 15:09:23
Quote
Quote
I shall be under teh rear o an Omega doing springs shortly!

Its just like bloody Newent out there!

The trick to the ball joint is to remove the bolt and insert a small chisel or large screwdriver into the pinch point gap on the base of the hub assembly.

Place a lever so its heal is against the ball joint casting and the sharp end is pushing up on the base of hub assembly pinch point.

Now get a LARGE hammer and hit the lever about 4 inches from the wishbone.

Never failed to split one yet...!

Or use a ball joint splitter as you aren't worried about the rubber sleeve of the Ball joint :y :y

A bit of a tinker to get in.....plus I often re-bush the wishbones so like to get them off in one piece  :y
Title: Re: Wishbone Nightmare
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 08 March 2009, 17:42:36
Quote
40-50 mins a side.


Its true though, you cant hit your own car hard enough!

 ;D ;D

thats true.. so my friends send me out of the shop when necessary ;D