Bottom Arms, What's The Score?

[McPikie 0]

Do I have to replace both sides at once? Or is it just better to do so?

 

Also, do I have to replace the full arm, or can I just do the ball joint?

 

Finally, if I have to buy apair of bottom arms, where is best to buy from?

[welshpug 1,657]

on a 205 I imagine as you have one in your sig.

 

unfortunately with 205 and 309 lower arms you cannot replace the balljojnt, though you can replace the bushes.

 

its not necessary to replace both at the same time, but obviously its good practice to check the condition of the other side while your'e having a poke around underneath, its not like dampers or discs+pads where any imbalance could cause a dangerous car.

 

nearside wishbones/balljoints do tend to wear out quicker too (not if its a rally car though...)

 

GSF+ECP do good quality units, GSF do Febi-Bilstein ones.

With ECP you have to specify that you want the better quality ones (usually Lemforder, an O.E manufacturer)

Edited December 12, 2007 by welshpug

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

www.buypartsby.co.uk have been used by a few people on here for wishbones now & iirc I can't remember anyone saying they were bad quality.

 

Graham.

[jackherer 543]

buypartsby are the cheapest by a long way.

[jackherer 543]

My friend crashed at brands hatch and bent a buypartsby wishbone 90 degrees and the balljoint was still fine.

[sutol 0]

Finally, if I have to buy apair of bottom arms, where is best to buy from?

Andrew Page....and ask for discount

[matt-k 0]

So is it generally accepted that buypartsby wishbones are good quality as i want some new 309 wishbones? Thing is i seem to remember a thread a while ago where someone bought some and they were a really bad fit.? or am i getting mixed up with another company?

 

Matt.

[jackherer 543]

I've got them fitted to several 205s and they are fine. As is the case with all non genuine wishbones the inner bushes are poor quality but you can replace them with genuine bushes, a full set with bolts is £15 or thereabouts, do a search for the part number.

 

My previous post may not be clear, my friend crashed hard and despite bending the wishbone due to the impact the balljoint (a notorious weak spot) was intact.

[Pugnut 9 1 Cars]

see THIS topic

 

last time i fitted a new wishbone i bought the oe kit and fitted new bushes to both sides . For 17 quid it peace of mind. you should always change bushes symmetrically anyway.

[James_m 0]

I had 2 drivers side wishbones from partsby that were too wide to fit the subframe. I ended up getting a Febi Bilstein part from GSF which fitted fine. Also, the partsby bushes are shot after 4k, though thats not really suprising and as said its good practice to use O.E bushes in whichever 'bones you end up with.

 

Id change both wishbones. When i could'nt get the drivers side to fit i was driving round with one old and one new, but the torque steer was plain scary. I know its a bit of a cliche' but it literally would change lanes on its own!

And that wishbone was'nt known to be bad before either, i just decided to change them along with a load of other suspension bits and pieces.

Edited December 15, 2007 by James_m

[Alastairh 47]

I haven't tried Byparts, but i do remember people talking about crap fit.

 

But i have ECP 309 wishbones on mine.

 

The bushes lasted 7k, and as above said, if you buy the genuine bush kit, and with a good vice, chisel, hammer and press you should be fine.

 

Surprising the difference genuine wishbone bushes make actually.

 

Al