Lower arm rear bush removal

chrishumphries · 12th June 2011, 21:40

I've just replaced the bushes on both bottom arms, for two **** bolts a side it was a pig of a job ! A quick tip, I would imagine that most of the worn bushes will be like mine and the inner part of the bush will be virtually detached from the outer, leaving it stuck on the arm. I spent an hour with a hack-saw cutting one off as I could n't knock it off. For the other side a neighbour lent me an angle grinder and it was off in seconds. You just need to be careful not to cut any further through than the metal inner sleeve.If you can lay your hands on a stubby 18mm ring spanner it makes the job a lot easier too.

92 squadron · 12th June 2011, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishumphries

I've just replaced the bushes on both bottom arms, for two **** bolts a side it was a pig of a job ! A quick tip, I would imagine that most of the worn bushes will be like mine and the inner part of the bush will be virtually detached from the outer, leaving it stuck on the arm. I spent an hour with a hack-saw cutting one off as I could n't knock it off. For the other side a neighbour lent me an angle grinder and it was off in seconds. You just need to be careful not to cut any further through than the metal inner sleeve.If you can lay your hands on a stubby 18mm ring spanner it makes the job a lot easier too.

Quite agree, done both mine, nearside was easier than the offside. Easy way was to burn them apart with a blowlamp they come of quite easy then. The space and movement of the spanner is minimal as you say. Found it easier to reposition the bush bolts by doing up the first bolt [rear] so as to aline the the front bolt, once the front bolt has started in the thread take out the first bolt as you will need the room to tighten the front bolt fiddly but less work than taking the whole bottom wishbone off!

tvpcop · 13th June 2011, 02:28

A flexible head ratchet spanner makes a hard job infinitely easier, cost me about a tenner from halfords. I use a bit of pipe over the end to increase leverage on it.

Trophy Blue Tourer · 13th June 2011, 13:11

Done a couple of sets recently (Phil T4's and ukmastifs)

Much much easier to remove the arms and remove/fit the bushes off the car I reckon!!

20/30 mins per side IIRC!! (well the second time at least - lifes a learning curve!!

)

Agreed the bush bolts are a pain!! I didnt have a 18 swivel rachet so I used a snap-on offset combo (ring end) with another spanner (as an 'extension') to 'crack' them loose then its just a case of 'a flat at a time' untill you can spin them with your fingers!!

Put bush inner across the vice jaws and tap out the arm

Lube the bushes/arm with some 'fairy' or eqiv and they slide on no probs!

Fit the arm back but dont put the nut on the inner ball so its loose and dont engage the outer ball at all untill you get both bush bolts started allows you to 'jiggle' the arm/bush to align the bolts easily and probably 'finger' spin them in most of the way - then engage the outer ball/swivel and tighten everything up not forgeting the inner swivel nut- simples!!

Andy

Fishytroll66 · 22nd July 2018, 17:25

Did you reuse the 18mm bolts, if so did you thread lock them or did they stay tight once you tightened them to hell?
Did mine the other day, granted I didn't have a flexi spanner then, today I found the bolts had come loose?! I've been back under and tightened them using ratchet spanner and a 24 inch long ring spanner for leverage. Do you think it'll do the job - or should I thread lock em?

Ta

wmick · 22nd July 2018, 22:31

I've done mine up with a ring spanner looped into an open ender making a total length of about 18 inches.

I've then tightened the 18mm bolts up with this setup and I've had no problems.

I think I've fitted about 6 or 7 bushes this way and they're still a swine to undo when you come to change them.

Mick

planenut · 6th February 2019, 12:18

These really are a nightmare to get to the bolts and get leverage on them; i've been trying for two weeks and one flange nut spanner just broke.

howardf · 6th February 2019, 17:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvpcop

A flexible head ratchet spanner makes a hard job infinitely easier, cost me about a tenner from halfords. I use a bit of pipe over the end to increase leverage on it.

This is deffinately the way to go

12th June 2011, 21:40	#1
chrishumphries Gets stuck in Rover 75 connoisseur CDTI TOUR & ZTT+ CDTi Tourer - both in rare starlight silver Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Gloucester Posts: 666 Thanks: 48 Thanked 42 Times in 39 Posts	Lower arm rear bush removal I've just replaced the bushes on both bottom arms, for two **** bolts a side it was a pig of a job ! A quick tip, I would imagine that most of the worn bushes will be like mine and the inner part of the bush will be virtually detached from the outer, leaving it stuck on the arm. I spent an hour with a hack-saw cutting one off as I could n't knock it off. For the other side a neighbour lent me an angle grinder and it was off in seconds. You just need to be careful not to cut any further through than the metal inner sleeve.If you can lay your hands on a stubby 18mm ring spanner it makes the job a lot easier too.

13th June 2011, 02:28	#3
tvpcop Loves to post MG ZT CDTI 135+ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 434 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	A flexible head ratchet spanner makes a hard job infinitely easier, cost me about a tenner from halfords. I use a bit of pipe over the end to increase leverage on it. __________________ MG ZT CDTI+ 135 Drivers Intel pack, spec: full heated leather, parking sensors, auto dip mirror, traffic master, xenons, harmon kardon system, kenwood mp3, bluetooth, refurbed gridspokes, Decat Longlife Stainless exhaust, 190 brake conversion, Synergy2 + Pierburg, intake mod, FK-452's, Jules gold resistor To-do, Leon splitter, have drivers seat re-upholstered to repair rip.............the list never ends!!! [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

13th June 2011, 13:11	#4
Trophy Blue Tourer Gets stuck in MG ZT-T Trophy Blue CDTI Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 883 Thanks: 11 Thanked 25 Times in 18 Posts	Done a couple of sets recently (Phil T4's and ukmastifs) Much much easier to remove the arms and remove/fit the bushes off the car I reckon!! 20/30 mins per side IIRC!! (well the second time at least - lifes a learning curve!!) Agreed the bush bolts are a pain!! I didnt have a 18 swivel rachet so I used a snap-on offset combo (ring end) with another spanner (as an 'extension') to 'crack' them loose then its just a case of 'a flat at a time' untill you can spin them with your fingers!! Put bush inner across the vice jaws and tap out the arm Lube the bushes/arm with some 'fairy' or eqiv and they slide on no probs! Fit the arm back but dont put the nut on the inner ball so its loose and dont engage the outer ball at all untill you get both bush bolts started allows you to 'jiggle' the arm/bush to align the bolts easily and probably 'finger' spin them in most of the way - then engage the outer ball/swivel and tighten everything up not forgeting the inner swivel nut- simples!! Andy

22nd July 2018, 17:25	#5
Fishytroll66 Avid contributor MG ZT -T Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Rhuddlan Posts: 115 Thanks: 31 Thanked 13 Times in 13 Posts	re nuts Did you reuse the 18mm bolts, if so did you thread lock them or did they stay tight once you tightened them to hell? Did mine the other day, granted I didn't have a flexi spanner then, today I found the bolts had come loose?! I've been back under and tightened them using ratchet spanner and a 24 inch long ring spanner for leverage. Do you think it'll do the job - or should I thread lock em? Ta __________________ Paul (AKA Fishytroll)

22nd July 2018, 22:31	#6
wmick Avid contributor R75 Club Tourer CDT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Craven Arms Posts: 135 Thanks: 25 Thanked 20 Times in 16 Posts	I've done mine up with a ring spanner looped into an open ender making a total length of about 18 inches. I've then tightened the 18mm bolts up with this setup and I've had no problems. I think I've fitted about 6 or 7 bushes this way and they're still a swine to undo when you come to change them. Mick

6th February 2019, 12:18	#7
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,948 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	These really are a nightmare to get to the bolts and get leverage on them; i've been trying for two weeks and one flange nut spanner just broke.