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29th April 2024, 20:47 | #1 |
Gets stuck in
75 Saloon Join Date: Apr 2022
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Loose lower arm bush bolts
Back in January, at 77000 miles, I had an MoT test done which noted play in the offside front lower arm ball joint. I did have a slight knocking noise over rough ground which I attributed to this and planned to replace both arms and bushes once the weather improved.
Anyway, the car is now on 79000 miles and in the last 50 miles or so the knocking noise has developed quite rapidly into a severe knock and rattle, so bad that I haven't used the car in about a week. I assumed this was the ball joint finally giving up although was confused at it sounded like it was on the nearside... I ordered a pair of arms and bushes and today set about replacing them. Upon removal I found that one of bolts holding the nearside bush was finger tight and the other was half way out! Has anyone ever heard of these working themselves loose? The lower arm itself looks to be original (it has a Rover part number and 2001 manufacturing date) but the bush looks to have been replaced in the not too distant past. Unfortunately my car came with only part service history and I have no record of this work being done but it definitely doesn't look 23 years old. My guess is that the mechanic only nipped the bolts up and intended to fully tighten them later, but forgot. The job is on hold however as I forgot to order new bolts and being single use and finding them loose, I wasn't prepared to risk using them again!
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Matt 2001 Rover 75 Connoisseur SE 2.5 (BRG) 1999 Rover 75 Club 2.5 (Dorchester Red) 1973 Triumph Dolomite (Honeysuckle) |
29th April 2024, 21:49 | #2 |
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ISTR from reading the various ‘how to’ guides on this job, everyone says to do the bolts up as tight as you can. I believe it’s not unheard of for them to come loose.
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30th April 2024, 06:00 | #3 | |
Doesn't do things by halves
Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007
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Quote:
The problem is that a socket and torque wrench cannot be used on at least one of those bolts without removing the nearby anti-roll bar saddle clamp. The bolts for that are recessed with a non-standard size head, smaller than you'd imagine and probably rusted in. However, with the right tools and patience it can be done. You've found out what can happen when someone thinks that a torque wrench is unnecessary. Unless damaged, the existing bush housing bolts can be re-used. There's no need for new ones. Simon
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30th April 2024, 06:55 | #4 |
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The torque spec is 155Nm but access isn't great, so I can see why people would just do them up as tight as they can. Last time I did this job (on a different 75) I did manage to get a torque wrench on them, but it was a bit of a pain!
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Matt 2001 Rover 75 Connoisseur SE 2.5 (BRG) 1999 Rover 75 Club 2.5 (Dorchester Red) 1973 Triumph Dolomite (Honeysuckle) |
30th April 2024, 07:06 | #5 | |
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Quote:
The Rover manual that I have says they should be discarded. Is there a revision to this guidance in a later issue? I'm not sure what the rationale for discarding them is though. Are they torque to yield?
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Matt 2001 Rover 75 Connoisseur SE 2.5 (BRG) 1999 Rover 75 Club 2.5 (Dorchester Red) 1973 Triumph Dolomite (Honeysuckle) |
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30th April 2024, 09:41 | #6 | |
Doesn't do things by halves
Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007
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Quote:
Simon
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"Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce. |
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