Wishbone bolts

[dan1w]

Just spent 2 days trying to change one bloody wishbone. The first day I didn't have the right size spanner, so had to cancel, but only after I'd got the car jacked up, wheel off, broke the ball joint etc.

I bought the spanner, but then couldn't for the life of me get the horizontal bolt undone. Had to get the RAC to come out as I couldn't leave the car where it was. RAC loosened the bolt, but buggered off sharpish after breaking my ratchet and not telling me.

The bolt was almost rounded off, since it was the horizontal one where access is difficult, I switched the bolts over 'cos I thought it'd be easier to do it up vertically. Couldn't tighten the thing all the way 'cos of it being rounded, but I couldn't tighten the horizontal one all the way either. Just phoned Vauxhall to order a new bolt, and they've told me these bolts are different. Though they looked the same to me. One under £2 and the other was over £3. Parts bloke says they both have the same size code. Anyone know if these are actually different? I'm hoping I haven't buggered up the thread or anything.

Not sure if I'm going to do the other wishbone myself after all the hassle. Something just seems to go wrong everytime I touch a ratchet. Just phoned up a few mechanics though, all of whom tried to rip me off. One guy said 2 1/2 hours labour for one wishbone.

Anybody get any tips for getting stubborn bolts off? Just incase I get the motivation to go out and do the other side.

Cheers,

Dan

[johnny_adidas]

i was gona change mine ages ago but didnt have anything to get enough leverage to get the bolt off. left it in the end. 6 months on its still der. ive heard heating them up can loose them a bit.

[Fraz]

you really do need a 28 inch breaker bar and some 6 point heavy duty sockets, a ratchet just will not take that sort of strain...and your going to be lucky using a spanner

<a href="http://www.honest-johns.co.uk/index.php?product_id=105101&option=Prod_detail&image_id=38343" target="_blank">like this </a>

[dan1w]

I only used a spanner for the ball joint, since a socket won't fit in there. Wasn't a problem. I used a breaker bar, but it didn't help, didn't use 6 point sockets, would that make a big difference? The main problem seemed to be that the bolt wasn't deep enough and whenever I managed to get some resistance the socket would just slip off, eventually rounding the bolt off.

[tobys73]

go down the local scrappy and get bolts off an astra or something they r all the same or i can send u one as i have some spares if u send me a sae with stamps to cover postage

as for the bolts i'm doing mine now but replacing the ball joints too (great fun with the grinder) if u aint got a breaker bar use 2x spanners for leverage


the bolts are 15/16 and the front is 17 iirc

[Fraz]

I think you will find all the bolts are Metric. and yes you need a spanner for the ball joint and might be wrong but the ones on mine are 18mm for ball joint and the front and rear arm bolts are 16mm

though if the arm or ball joint has been replaced it might be a 19mm on the ball joint

[dannypacu]

i did my wish bones and anti roll roll links had no probs with a socket and ratchet

having said that mine are snap on

only prob i had was the bolt on the anti roll bar link started spining inside the link so had to cut it off, also getting the new ones on are it bit of a bugger

[Fraz]

<!--QuoteBegin-dannypacu+--><div class='quotetop'>(dannypacu)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->i did my wish bones and anti roll roll links had no probs with a socket and ratchet

having said that mine are snap on<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

and so are mine, but much better to crack them first with the breaker bar (hence the name)[img]/smile.gif[/img]

and not everyone is going to have snap on tools

[dannypacu]

i did have £ shop ones but they was called SNAP OFF lolol

[T.F.S.]

you just put a spanner on the bottom of the rachet and pull (the spanner gives you a longer fulcrum)

that is if your ratchet can take the heat!, a cheap halfords one will..

[C411BRA]

<!--QuoteBegin-Fraz+--><div class='quotetop'>(Fraz)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->you really do need a 28 inch breaker bar and some 6 point heavy duty sockets, a ratchet just will not take that sort of strain...and your going to be lucky using a spanner<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I agree, I used one on my Astra. Took about 30 mins per side including Tea breaks.

I was wondering why go to the bother of fitting new ball joints when a whole wishbone inc bushes and balljoint is only about £25. A lot less hassle fitting them too.

It only gets difficult if you are fitting Poly bushes in them, took me 7 hours a side as i couldnt get them in the holes due to the non flexiness of the poly bushes.

[T.F.S.]

<!--QuoteBegin-C411BRA+--><div class='quotetop'>(C411BRA)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I was wondering why go to the bother of fitting new ball joints when a whole wishbone inc bushes and balljoint is only about £25. A lot less hassle fitting them too.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

very true....they are cheap enough!

i have removed the whole engine and subframe without a breaker bar though.....

[tobys73]

<!--QuoteBegin-C411BRA+--><div class='quotetop'>(C411BRA)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I agree, I used one on my Astra. Took about 30 mins per side including Tea breaks.

I was wondering why go to the bother of fitting new ball joints when a whole wishbone inc bushes and balljoint is only about £25. A lot less hassle fitting them too.

It only gets difficult if you are fitting Poly bushes in them, took me 7 hours a side as i couldnt get them in the holes due to the non flexiness of the poly bushes.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

know what u mean with locatig the holes
as for the ball joints its not the money its the satisfaction of doing them yourself [img]/smile.gif[/img]

so far i done everything myself- engine bodywork, suspension, kit etc and if i can find a good location i wil try and paint it too, though it will be harder cause its pearl [img]/sad.gif[/img]

[C411BRA]

Yeah, I resorted to a big hammer and broke one of the wishbones first time I did it with poly bushes, they are a bit fragile, as i found out.

[jusser]

You shouldn't really swap the bolts over as they are different.
One has a pointed end and the other is a taper.
Buy new ones - they are only pennies from vauxhall.