Wedge rear lower suspension bolt
Discussion
Hi Peeps
Popped out earlier and just as I turned off the motorway I felt a clunk and the back end became a large bowl of grey jelly...Not good...
On inspection the outer lower suspension bolt had snapped...Mind you its been in there 30 years..
The irony is I have two new bolts in the boot...Just no jack...Drift...Big hammer..Blowtorch or bottle of whiskey....
It was a bit precarious getting off the detachable bed truck, the wheel buckled twice and had to be jacked up and popped back in to be able to move it, I just hope it hasn't bent the inner bolt or fractured the A frame fixing...
Now I would say to you if you haven't done already then please...Change yours...
Cheers
Ziga
Now where that Wedge on a recovery truck thread gone...
Popped out earlier and just as I turned off the motorway I felt a clunk and the back end became a large bowl of grey jelly...Not good...
On inspection the outer lower suspension bolt had snapped...Mind you its been in there 30 years..
The irony is I have two new bolts in the boot...Just no jack...Drift...Big hammer..Blowtorch or bottle of whiskey....
It was a bit precarious getting off the detachable bed truck, the wheel buckled twice and had to be jacked up and popped back in to be able to move it, I just hope it hasn't bent the inner bolt or fractured the A frame fixing...
Now I would say to you if you haven't done already then please...Change yours...
Cheers
Ziga
Now where that Wedge on a recovery truck thread gone...
KKson said:
Glad it's a simple fix and more importantly you and car are safe. Cheers.
Thanks Keith...Not sure how simple it will be until I have a go at fixing it.....adam quantrill said:
Quite similar to my failure but the 400SX wheelarches are made of sterner stuff - just some mild rubbing, no other damage.
Hi Adam...When yours snapped did it snap and leave the nut and bolt part in the hub and is there enough room to extract it pulling it towards the front of the car?...The rear part should pull out from the rear but its the front part that concerns me....
Cheers
Ziga
This very bolt broke on my brother in laws 420 SEAC many years ago when the car was then just four years old. It seizes in time and eventually snaps off when under load. I remember he called me over to change the bolt and we had a terrible time trying to remove the old one. It was completely seized and I didn't like the idea of using a blow torch as it's very near the fuel tanks. Every time we hit it with the hammer after soaking it in WD40 the arm would bounce back and fourth. In the end we gave up and called a mechanic with the correct tools to remove it. If that bolt was to snap at high speed the driver could be history. It's always a good idea to inspect/service or replace or at least lubricate suspension joints from time to time.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
Mine was relatively stable to drive - it only went very funny when reversing. But then again it was the nearside so probably felt less wobbly because further away from the seat of my pants.
It was a bit of a bugger to get the old bolt out but the front-most part came out fairly easily, it was seized in the shock and had to be cut between shock and rear part in the A frame. Also now I think about it I pulled the front part forward on the thread as far as it would go, using spanners to pack out the nut, then cut the bolt off with the grinder, then drifted out the remainder with an iron bar.
I have some really thin cutting discs for the grinder - about 2mm or less thick - that can get in between the parts without damaging them, also rotating the bolt half way through the cutting to cut through the rest (by now the seized bushing was rotating in the rubber.)
It was a bit of a bugger to get the old bolt out but the front-most part came out fairly easily, it was seized in the shock and had to be cut between shock and rear part in the A frame. Also now I think about it I pulled the front part forward on the thread as far as it would go, using spanners to pack out the nut, then cut the bolt off with the grinder, then drifted out the remainder with an iron bar.
I have some really thin cutting discs for the grinder - about 2mm or less thick - that can get in between the parts without damaging them, also rotating the bolt half way through the cutting to cut through the rest (by now the seized bushing was rotating in the rubber.)
Mark, if you do end up having to cut through the bolt as Adam suggests these disk are great. http://www.screwfix.com/p/flexovit-ultra-thin-cutt...
Just 0.8mm thick. I use them all the time now. A little more expensive but worth it in my opinion.
Hope you don't need them. Cheers Steve
Just 0.8mm thick. I use them all the time now. A little more expensive but worth it in my opinion.
Hope you don't need them. Cheers Steve
I got the Erbauer ones which are 1mm thick and work well, they were on special offer so about half that price, the pack of 3 titans looks good value, you'll only need one of them for this job.
As for no damage to the car - you missed the shot of the rear valance which looks a little worse for wear...
As for no damage to the car - you missed the shot of the rear valance which looks a little worse for wear...
Thanks for all the helpful advice, however I have decided to not attempt it in the street...For obvious reasons, and some not so obvious...
1. I don't really have the correct tools needed for all scenarios....Including a 38mm socket, Torque wrench and breaker bar.
2. I do not have a press.
3. I would have to leave the car on axle stands for days if I can get the wishbone off....Not good when couriers bash into your car when its parked outside.
4. I need new bushes just in case.
And last but not least
5. I definitely do not have the patience for such a trying job
So I'm ordering the bush kit...Utilising all of next week by spraying the offending parts with some Deblock penetrating oil and have a trailer booked to take me to a fellow Wedger next weekend, who has his own garage with all the necessary equipment...And knows what he is doing...(I think)...
If its worth doing then its worth doing properly.
I would suggest that you all check yours as this is NOT something you want to happen especially if you are like me and enjoy spirited driving.
Take care out there fellow Wedgers...
Regards
Ziga
1. I don't really have the correct tools needed for all scenarios....Including a 38mm socket, Torque wrench and breaker bar.
2. I do not have a press.
3. I would have to leave the car on axle stands for days if I can get the wishbone off....Not good when couriers bash into your car when its parked outside.
4. I need new bushes just in case.
And last but not least
5. I definitely do not have the patience for such a trying job
So I'm ordering the bush kit...Utilising all of next week by spraying the offending parts with some Deblock penetrating oil and have a trailer booked to take me to a fellow Wedger next weekend, who has his own garage with all the necessary equipment...And knows what he is doing...(I think)...
If its worth doing then its worth doing properly.
I would suggest that you all check yours as this is NOT something you want to happen especially if you are like me and enjoy spirited driving.
Take care out there fellow Wedgers...
Regards
Ziga
I didn't think it took me more that 3 hours, 1.5 of that was extracting the siezed bit out of the shocker bush.
I didn't have to remove the A frame (that's a lot more work and one for another day) so if I were in a similar situation I could have replaced the wheel for the overnight while I fiddled with the shocker - although it would have sat quite low on that side - but could have had an axle stand under there too.
The socket isn't that big for the 1/2" bolt - I would give it a go first, and if you get stuck, then call in the pros.
I didn't have to remove the A frame (that's a lot more work and one for another day) so if I were in a similar situation I could have replaced the wheel for the overnight while I fiddled with the shocker - although it would have sat quite low on that side - but could have had an axle stand under there too.
The socket isn't that big for the 1/2" bolt - I would give it a go first, and if you get stuck, then call in the pros.
adam quantrill said:
I didn't think it took me more that 3 hours, 1.5 of that was extracting the siezed bit out of the shocker bush.
I didn't have to remove the A frame (that's a lot more work and one for another day) so if I were in a similar situation I could have replaced the wheel for the overnight while I fiddled with the shocker - although it would have sat quite low on that side - but could have had an axle stand under there too.
The socket isn't that big for the 1/2" bolt - I would give it a go first, and if you get stuck, then call in the pros.
Thanks AdamI didn't have to remove the A frame (that's a lot more work and one for another day) so if I were in a similar situation I could have replaced the wheel for the overnight while I fiddled with the shocker - although it would have sat quite low on that side - but could have had an axle stand under there too.
The socket isn't that big for the 1/2" bolt - I would give it a go first, and if you get stuck, then call in the pros.
Im going to have a good look at it tomorrow as the weather is supposed to be good...Mines snapped from the shock bush back and left the piece with the nut on in the hub, I'm really hoping that its not seized, although I tried a 19mm socket on the bolt head and it wouldn't budge...
I have a micro blowtorch and some penetrating rust eating oil...If this bolt comes out easy then I will start going to church ....Only to confess my sins that is...
I had to dismantle the rear A frame and suspension on the 390 due to the cracked, welded and generally f**ked condition of it. The bolt was totally seized in the A frame and shock so cut the bolt in various places and eventually had to get a local garage with some serious oxy-acetylene to heat it up to get it dismantled. Hope yours comes out somewhat easier Mark. Cheers.
Undo that front nut a bit, then get an open spanner (9/16" or thereabouts) between the nut and the hub carrier, then do it up trapping the spanner, it should draw the bolt forward. Also you can use the spanner as a lever and/or smack it with a hammer.
For the rear section I got a cold chisel onto the big washer behind the bolt head and it started moving.
Once the old bolt was out the new one went in easily, just jiggling the shock on a scissor jack to raise it a few mm to line it all up.
It's worth a try - noting to lose eh.
For the rear section I got a cold chisel onto the big washer behind the bolt head and it started moving.
Once the old bolt was out the new one went in easily, just jiggling the shock on a scissor jack to raise it a few mm to line it all up.
It's worth a try - noting to lose eh.
Thanks for the heads up.....Still waiting for the weather to perk up a bit to have a better look, however I seriously think that I will be taking it to my fellow Wedger and friend who knows what to do as it his livelihood ..
My other concern would be the side that hasn't snapped, not sure I could travel up motorways with a clear mind...There would always be that worry'so if this one does come out relatively easy then we will change the other side along with bushes.
Again I share my concerns...If you haven't changed your suspension or addressed these bolts...EVER!...Then I implore you...PLEASE do.
I would hate immensely to read of anyone being less fortunate.
Im ordering a full rear A frame suspension kit from Superflex and will have all the rear wishbone and suspension bushes changed.
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.su...
Part number
SF384-1032-95KSS
Thanks
Ziga
My other concern would be the side that hasn't snapped, not sure I could travel up motorways with a clear mind...There would always be that worry'so if this one does come out relatively easy then we will change the other side along with bushes.
Again I share my concerns...If you haven't changed your suspension or addressed these bolts...EVER!...Then I implore you...PLEASE do.
I would hate immensely to read of anyone being less fortunate.
Im ordering a full rear A frame suspension kit from Superflex and will have all the rear wishbone and suspension bushes changed.
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.su...
Part number
SF384-1032-95KSS
Thanks
Ziga
Zig, I think that they're the bushes fitted to my refurbed wishbones by 1fingerbandit.
Went in really easy (with new shocks), however the old wishbones had seized bolts on the outers (inners were fine), and I ad to use a 1mm cutting disk to remove them from the hubs.
The old bits of bolts were still in the wishbone when I brought them to BBWF2016 and gave them to Lee.
I reckon you're doing the right thing mate.
Went in really easy (with new shocks), however the old wishbones had seized bolts on the outers (inners were fine), and I ad to use a 1mm cutting disk to remove them from the hubs.
The old bits of bolts were still in the wishbone when I brought them to BBWF2016 and gave them to Lee.
I reckon you're doing the right thing mate.
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