FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS

[marco2002]

Hi

The bushes on my suspension arms are a bit perished. Last year i got another from the breakers to get it through the mot. They didn't last long. So i'm in the same boat. I've priced up a set of bushes to do both arms comes in at about 35 quid. Looking at the rear bush the big one which two bolts screw into looks a real swine to get off. I'm thinking you would have to use a vice and some spacers to push a new one on?

Has anyone attempted to do these themselves or am i better off giving the parts to the local garage and getting them to do it for a drink? I've got an old fashioned press here on the farm 30 tonnes pressure which should make doing the small bush at the front quite easy. I've looked on ebay and theres a guy selling motaquip arms for £31.00 each which seems a bit too cheap . I'm looking at doing this on a budget as i still have an exhaust to replace and a crankshaft pulley to do. Any advice appreciated......Thanks

[lozz]

You might be best to get a garage to press the old ones out, and new bushes in,
if youve got access to vice,its possible to do this your self, ive used sockets and threaded bar for this in the past,
altho its alot off effort for what its worth, ive only done this kind of thing as not had a garage near by,
if youve one local, maybe its the quickest easiest way,

[marco2002]

Thanks lozz. I've got a press here so i'll use that to do the small bushes at the front of the arm. I think the large bush at the back of the arm needs some sort of puller to get it off. I did see a video on u tube for a citroen zxantia the arms looked quite similar to 406 the bloke cut the rubber out and the metal part that was left on the arm he just used a small angle grinder to cut through it so you end up with a cut then insert a chisel to finish it off. The New bush went on with a few bashes with a lump hammer. I've just cleaned the old set up and painted them with some smooth hammerite don't look bad at all.

[lozz]

Good luck mate,
hope all goes well,

the last bushes idid where on a fiat, front P bushes, Major pain, even tho they where fubard they wouidnt budge,
ended up heating an old screwdriver up till it was Glowing and cutting it off slowly,

[marco2002]

Just had a go at getting the big bush at the back of the front suspension arm off managed to snap most of the rubber off turned the bush back and forth a few times to weaken it , then used a hacksaw blade to cut the stubborn bits out came off eventually. Used a big chisel and tapped the metal ring off the shaft quite hard going i thought.
Just got the other arm to do and then i'll get the new bushes on next week when i get some time off work ......

[keppler]

Just had a go at getting the big bush at the back of the front suspension arm off managed to snap most of the rubber off turned the bush back and forth a few times to weaken it , then used a hacksaw blade to cut the stubborn bits out came off eventually. Used a big chisel and tapped the metal ring off the shaft quite hard going i thought.
Just got the other arm to do and then i'll get the new bushes on next week when i get some time off work ......

Keep us informed marco.......both my wishbones are fubar'd and Im just waiting on the weather to clear so I can tackle the problem. I have good tools but unfortunately I don't have a vice but I do have a home made pulling tool and a black and decker workmate to hold the the wishbones when I'm cutting off the old bushes.
Id be very glad if you could let me know how you got on with reinserting the big metal encased bush at the rear of the wishbone.
Cheers

[marco2002]

Hi
I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I'll be ordering some new bushes over the wkend. I'm beginning to think i need a vice and a decent bench to work on. this is definately going to be the cheaper option. I found a video on you tube for a citroen xantia how to change the arms and put new bushes on looks quite similar to 406 arm. Gives you a few pointers..... Also found another video showing how to do the lower balljoint on a 406. Here are the links. I've bookmarked them on my pc could come in useful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykJvkgMhAe8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrSCbMZLgKA

Hope these help someone i came across them by chance.......

[jasper5]

One thing about changing the lower ball joints.....

If you remove the brake caliper, disc, and back plate it is so much easier to replace the ball joint as you will have tons more room with the disc out of the way.

I never use a splitter, I always hit the side of the suspension arm with a hammer which causes the ball joint to jump free.

[marco2002]

Thats a good point. Since you said about giving the arm a good clunk with the hammer i've used your method and it works everytime. I put a smear of copagrease on the balljoint shank as well. I thought the video was quite funny with his scaffold pole and getting the missus/cameraman to help. I had a go at getting the other control arm bush off today came off a lot easier after doing the first one. I cleaned the shaft that the bush sits on up with some very fine wet and dry. Then had a trial run at putting the old bush back on turned the other way round to see how easy/hard it was and it seemed to go on easy enough just lined up the bush and tapped it on with a hammer. I'm thinking about getting myself a vice as that was something that was stolen along with my toolsa couple of years ago. Still in the process of replacing them. I'll keep you updated on the suspension arms. Should be getting the bushes next week. So far so good

[keppler]

Hi
I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I'll be ordering some new bushes over the wkend. I'm beginning to think i need a vice and a decent bench to work on. this is definately going to be the cheaper option. I found a video on you tube for a citroen xantia how to change the arms and put new bushes on looks quite similar to 406 arm. Gives you a few pointers..... Also found another video showing how to do the lower balljoint on a 406. Here are the links. I've bookmarked them on my pc could come in useful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykJvkgMhAe8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrSCbMZLgKA

Hope these help someone i came across them by chance.......

I actually went ahead and did the nearside my self today. I got two of those aluminium bushes from my local factors for 10 euro's each, bargain. I did it without the vice but to be honest the job would have been an awful lot easier with one! The rear bush went on with a few belts of a lump hammer but you have to be sure you get the guideline's marked on the wishbone and bush lined up 100%. If you have not got a vice then id seriously recommend having someone strong at hand to help you hold the wishbone.

[marco2002]

Hi everyone
Just got the new bushes today. Just got home and i've noticed that the original ones that i am replacing have a metal insert underneath that locates on the subframe the bolt goes through it as well. The new set do'n have this insert so i'm wondering if i will have to take the inserts off and install on the new bushes? Anyone else find that had this problem?

[marco2002]

Its okay ive figured it out now. I got the metal insert out it was quite hard and i just put it in the new bush with a press we've got here. I'll be fitting the new arms on next weekend. Putting a new set of rear droplinks on tommorow. fed up with the rattly noise on the back

[marco2002]

I've just fitted the new bushes on the arms. Didn't take long used a vice and lined the marks up put a dab of grease on the shaft just to help then used a lump hammer to bash them on. Had to use an old socket on the end to get the bush on by the last 3-4mm. I'll replace the other bushes later on this week......

[6speedmanual]

A kit of two complete arms and two bottom ball joints is available on ebay for around £100...

[marco2002]

Not being funny mate but not everyones got £100 to spend on a new set of control arms these days. A full set of bushes can be had for about 30 quid. If you have access to a vice and a press and a bit of time this is a far cheaper option. I can see where you are coming from though if i had a spare £100 maybe i would be tempted to buy new ones............