Subframe in situ: accessing arm bolts - advice please

Blink · 14th February 2020, 14:13

Finally, there's a pause in the rain so I'm trying re-torque these bolts (one per side in each case):

Upper arm to trailing arm
Lower arm to trailing arm
Upper arm to subframe
Lower arm to subframe
Damper bottom to trailing arm

(All parts & bolts above are new).

I assembled the subframe, arms and springs off the car and torqued up 3 & 4 at the same time. Then I fitted everything to the car, which is still on blocks (all four corners).

The plan now is to loosen 1-5, jack the trailing arms up until the back of the car just lifts off the blocks, then re-torque 1-5.

The problem is I can't get a socket on #3 (upper arm to subframe bolt). A 15mm socket on a short extension won't go in via the vertical access holes because the fuel tank is in the way - and the socket on its own isn't long enough to get the ratchet on.

What does everyone else use?

NB. By "vertical access holes", I mean the ones shown below - not the other two that are parallel to the ground.

Horizontal access hole on right in this pic.

TIA.

14th February 2020, 14:13	#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	Subframe in situ: accessing arm bolts - advice please Finally, there's a pause in the rain so I'm trying re-torque these bolts (one per side in each case): Upper arm to trailing arm Lower arm to trailing arm Upper arm to subframe Lower arm to subframe Damper bottom to trailing arm (All parts & bolts above are new). I assembled the subframe, arms and springs off the car and torqued up 3 & 4 at the same time. Then I fitted everything to the car, which is still on blocks (all four corners). The plan now is to loosen 1-5, jack the trailing arms up until the back of the car just lifts off the blocks, then re-torque 1-5. The problem is I can't get a socket on #3 (upper arm to subframe bolt). A 15mm socket on a short extension won't go in via the vertical access holes because the fuel tank is in the way - and the socket on its own isn't long enough to get the ratchet on. What does everyone else use? NB. By "vertical access holes", I mean the ones shown below - not the other two that are parallel to the ground. Horizontal access hole on right in this pic. TIA.