Fitting New Wishbones Query

[andyjstone 6]

I'm fitting new wishbones on the 205 and I have a query.

 

Where the wishbone fits on to the bottom of the hub you have a pin on the end of the ball joint that locates with a hole on the hub, how far should this pin be pushed into the hole?

 

On the existing ones it is pushed up so the top of the pin is flush with the top of the hole, but on the new ones there seems to be more rubber boot and a recess in the pin to hold the clip in place at the top of the rubber boot, if I push the pin all the way up this recess is inside the hole in the hub and the rubber boot seems to be squashed at the bottom.

 

Your help would be appreciated ASAP.

[Rob Thomson 6]

Doesn't the pinch-bolt control where the pin sits? If you insert the pin too far (or not far enough) you can't get the bolt through its hole.

[welshpug 1,655]

indeed, the shank on the bolt sits in the groove

[andyjstone 6]

indeed, the shank on the bolt sits in the groove

 

OK, so I've got it right - pin pushed up so top is flush with the top of the hole and the groove in the pin lines up with the bolt - that will explain why I couldn't get it in first time as I had the bolt in, took the bolt out and it worked fine.

 

One side done - nice shiney new wishbones, hubs, drive shafts and brakes - just got to do the other, but time for a coffee break

[EdCherry 34 1 Cars]

Nice, when am I going to see you back at combe with the new and improved car then? Had a look over it at Miles when it had the cage put in, if its finished to the high standard the engine was it will be great.

[andyjstone 6]

Nice, when am I going to see you back at combe with the new and improved car then? Had a look over it at Miles when it had the cage put in, if its finished to the high standard the engine was it will be great.

 

As you know it's a never ending story, but it's definitely much better with the cage and Sparcos and as usual Miles did an excellent job. Got to finish off the front end now and hopefully that will give me better brakes and stop me getting grooves in the tyres and then next month its time for the rear beam to go 309.

 

I've got no plans to come back to Combe at the moment, I'm doing Bedford on 28th Sept and Brand Hatch on 19th Nov, but I'll let you know if I'm coming

[andyjstone 6]

One other question on this, it says in the good old Haynes manual that you need to tighten the wishbone fixing bolts when the wheels are back on and the car is on the flat - ain't very easy when it's lowered by 30mm and got a '6' sump hanging off the bottom.

 

I was thinking of either taking the wheels off and sitting the hubs on some bricks with a bit of rubber on them or just jacking it up and putting some bricks under the wheels.

 

Anyone got any suggestions?

[Rob Thomson 6]

Ramps would be the easy way if you've got some. I'm not sure I'd be too confident crawling around under a car that's parked on some bricks.

 

Or what about parked with one wheel on a kerb?

[andyjstone 6]

Ramps would be the easy way if you've got some. I'm not sure I'd be too confident crawling around under a car that's parked on some bricks.

Yes, that thought did occur to me as well, I was thinking of putting a couple of axle stands under the sub frame as I don't have ramps.

 

Or what about parked with one wheel on a kerb?

Hadn't thought of that one, good idea

[Anthony 1,002]

Just jack the wishbone up so that it sits at approximately the same angle that it would with the car on the ground, and then tighten the bolts

[andyjstone 6]

Just jack the wishbone up so that it sits at approximately the same angle that it would with the car on the ground, and then tighten the bolts

 

Hadn't thought of that one either, even better idea, I'll give that a go tomorrow.