Front Wishbones - Refitting Without Dropping Car

[maturin23 10]

Bit of a belated post, seeing as I did this a month or so ago.

 

When I fitted my re-bushed wishbones I forgot to drop the car onto its wheels before tightening them up.

 

Realised almost straight away, but there didn't seem much room to get in there with a long bar/torque wrench.

 

As an alternative measure I released the bolts, put the trolley jack 'cup' under the hub and compressed the suspension that way, then re-tightened the fixings - which meant easy access without the wheel/tyre in the way.

 

I can't see a reason why this wouldn't work, but as I'd not seen it suggested before I thought I'd double check!

[jackherer 543]

Thats how I do them.

[Anthony 1,003]

Thats how I do them.

Me too - I make a mental note of the rough wishbone angle, then jack the car up, swap the wishbone, and jack the new wishbone to approximately the same angle and tighten up. Much easier that way, especially on lowered cars where access to the wishbone bolts is poor

[Super Josh 4]

I just measure the tyre to wheel arch clearance and then replicate that with the jack. Job done

 

 

 

Josh

[GLPoomobile 958]

That's what I did Ian, and my OE bushes have been on for a year and have been fine.

[maturin23 10]

Excellent - thanks guys.

 

See you tomorrow Steve - hopefully just in time to help me refit the rear beam back to the car

[DaveK 0]

i drove mine up ramps just, easy if you have them

[jackherer 543]

i drove mine up ramps just, easy if you have them

 

1.9 alloys with 195/50 tyres are too wide for any ramps I've tried.

[Jrod 7]

Well my 205/50/15's fit on my ramps.

 

(ok they are f00kin huge ones )

[GazRallye 0]

Is it essential to tighten the bolts up with the car on the floor, as i torqued mine up whilst it was still on stands....

 

Should i slacken them and re-torque them?

[GLPoomobile 958]

I didn't even attempt to do mine with it on the ground. I just can;t see how it is possible, especially when the car is lowered a bit. I found it difficult enough trying to manouvre various tools in to the right places to torque up the bolts even with the wheels off and the car supported by the wishbones on the stands, so just don't see how you could do it with the wheels on and the car on the ground You'd have to be some kind of serious contortionist!!

[GazRallye 0]

Same here, i don't have a trolley jack either, the camber on the wheels looked pretty out tho when i dropped it onto the wheels, that was until i rolled it slightly and there was a bit of a creaking sound as it settled itself, seems ok tho...

[Paintguy 0]

Is it essential to tighten the bolts up with the car on the floor,

I'd say good practice, rather than essential.

 

If you tighten the bolts up with the wishbones on full droop (i.e. when it's jacked up) then as soon as you lower it to the ground they are going to be under torsional stress, which isn't totally desirable, and could wear them out faster.

[Phil H 16]

I just fully tighten them up on the pivot bolts just below horizontal before popping in the hub.

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

I usually jack up the hub too, until the car startts to lift off the axle stand, but find it makes difference to the longivity of the bushes.

[Dream Weaver 2]

Ramps also here, and only on the inner bolts. I did the actual balljoint bolts up on the stands.