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[Neil_MV6]

Hi Guys

Doing my wishbones this weekend.  I've read the how-to but just wanted to double check that no special tools or replacement parts are required, i.e. ball joint separators , other bushes etc?

I have all the basics; new wishbones of course, axle stands, spanners/sockets etc and a big hammer just in case   ..... I just dont want to get half way through and realise I need something that I don't have.

Cheers

Neil

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

A bigger hammer. HTH

[Big_Roger]

Hi,
When fitting the rear bolt (should read struggling to fit) it is easy to lose it down some mysterious cavity and into the subframe.

Tie a piece of thin string round the bolt just under the head just in case, then you stand a chance of retrieving the bolt should it drop.

Don't forget, don't fully tighten the bolts untill the weight of the car is back down on the wheels. I drove mine slowly round the block and over a couple of speed humps to settle everything before I fully tightened up the bolts.

Roger

[Lazydocker]

Never done the Miggy ones (wont be long as I know one needs doing) but I know from other cars that you might want a ball joint separator to get the ball joint (shank) out of the bottom of the suspension leg but normally you can get around this with a big lever, even in the worst circumstances.

 

[kcl]

Nothing special needed, just sockets (remember they are "the new DIN-size, e.g. 16mm, 18mm, 21/22mm IIRC) and some kind of a wedge to open the gap on the lower ball joint fitting... And a LARGE pry bar and some heavy lump hammer.

[JasonH]

I think the key tool is the 18mm socket (most kits don't have them) and I think you need that to undo the pinch bolt which can be tight.

I've done wishbones twice only removing the three bolts. It's a bit more fiddly to get it back together - there is a knack. But both times tracking and camber was OK afterwards!

The knack of getting it in is to get the wishbone roughly in place horizontally and drop the vertical bolt in (not the horizontal one you need the play). Lift the hub about and inch using a trolley jack under the disk (not good but you're not putting much force there, just taking the weight) and wiggle the ball joint stub into place.

[omega si]

Interesting!

I too am gearing up for some wishbone fun  

[Elite Pete]

I think the key tool is the 18mm socket (most kits don't have them) and I think you need that to undo the pinch bolt which can be tight.

I've done wishbones twice only removing the three bolts. It's a bit more fiddly to get it back together - there is a knack. But both times tracking and camber was OK afterwards!

The knack of getting it in is to get the wishbone roughly in place horizontally and drop the vertical bolt in (not the horizontal one you need the play). Lift the hub about and inch using a trolley jack under the disk (not good but you're not putting much force there, just taking the weight) and wiggle the ball joint stub into place.

I use spring compressors, its so much easier

[holtender]

I'd make sure you have a long extension bar in your socket set as the bolt going in from the top of the wishbone is a pig to get a socket onto and  has previously been said is easily lost in the cavity.

[Neil_MV6]

Eeek!

Thanks for the tips guys.  Sounds like one of those jobs that could go ok or could be a bit of a nightmare.  

I'll take some snaps as I'm doing it as there's no guide with pictures at the mo.  Will check my spanner and socket sizes too before I start (thanks for the info, I wouldn't have known that).

I need the car for work Monday and my only concern is if something happens that means I can't complete the job...or worse still means I can't get the car back on the road full stop.

Oh well, I have two days to do it, slowly and carefully.  Hopefully it will go without incident.  I'll let you know.    

[kcl]

Good luck to you, it really is not that difficult job, you only have to think before forcing the new parts to place as described above. I changed mine last summer and it was one night job, a few hours and a few beers, could be done within one hour without the beers  

[ians]

When I did mine the pinch bolt was a real barsteward.  I split my 18mm Halfords socket on it (they replaced it ).  I ended up buying a set of hardened sockets for the job (the black ones for air tools).  Its probably worth a soak in Plusgas beforehand too.

[Neil_MV6]

Well, I got home early today and have managed to do the drivers side.

None of the nuts and bolts were any trouble to undo, just a little awkward to get to (had to jack the car up quite high to get enough leverage on the front bolt) and yes, the ball joint tokk some manhandling to get off but apart from that I'm well chuffed.

test drove up the road and WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

Next one tomorrow.  Quite looking forward to it now!  

[markomega25]

Just did mine a few weeks back.  Pinch bolt was a real pain, could not get a socket squarely on it as the brake calliper mount was in the way - had to take callipers and calliper mounting off. Easy but annoying and time consuming.

Also I had to buy a Draper extending wrecking bar (400mm to 600mm for about £18) to get pinch bolt undone - it was so tight. Plus gas or rust freeze spray really helps too.

IIRC the wishbone bolts and nuts are both 21mm so you may need two sockets the same size - luckily I had an old imperial set and 13/16ths AF was a perfect fit (actually a better fit than the metric one!).

Copper slip on the metal insert in the bushes helps get the new ones in and lined up easier.

[HerefordElite]

Well, I got home early today and have managed to do the drivers side.

None of the nuts and bolts were any trouble to undo, just a little awkward to get to (had to jack the car up quite high to get enough leverage on the front bolt) and yes, the ball joint tokk some manhandling to get off but apart from that I'm well chuffed.

test drove up the road and WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

Next one tomorrow.  Quite looking forward to it now!  

other side can be a bit tricky see pics : http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1206397380