Rear subframe & arms - installation questions

Blink · 17th September 2019, 14:24

QUESTION 1

Is it possible to fit the rear subframe with the upper arms already bolted onto it (but not torqued up)? I ask because I just tried a dry run off the car and I can see that lining up the upper arms to get the bolts in will be a lot trickier if the subframe is already on the car.

The lower arm bolts can be seen from underneath but the upper arm bolts can't - so I'd rather put the subframe on with the upper arms already attached. The lowered exhaust might be in the way though.

QUESTION 2

How much lateral movement should there be between the upper arms and the subframe when the arm bolts are tight? (But not fully torqued)

I'm getting some play between the arm bushes and the bolts - i.e. the arms can swing a little in the arc shown by the arrows below. Shouldn't they be fairly immovable relative to the axis shown by the dotted lines?

Hope that made sense - it's difficult to describe in 2D.

17th September 2019, 14:24	#1
Blink Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Under the car Posts: 1,840 Thanks: 210 Thanked 244 Times in 221 Posts	Rear subframe & arms - installation questions QUESTION 1 Is it possible to fit the rear subframe with the upper arms already bolted onto it (but not torqued up)? I ask because I just tried a dry run off the car and I can see that lining up the upper arms to get the bolts in will be a lot trickier if the subframe is already on the car. The lower arm bolts can be seen from underneath but the upper arm bolts can't - so I'd rather put the subframe on with the upper arms already attached. The lowered exhaust might be in the way though. QUESTION 2 How much lateral movement should there be between the upper arms and the subframe when the arm bolts are tight? (But not fully torqued) I'm getting some play between the arm bushes and the bolts - i.e. the arms can swing a little in the arc shown by the arrows below. Shouldn't they be fairly immovable relative to the axis shown by the dotted lines? Hope that made sense - it's difficult to describe in 2D.