corroded upper wishbone
Discussion
just failed my MOT with "badly corroded" upper wishbones.
This being above and beyond my technical abilities, I shall be getting the garage to complete the job.
What I need advice on, is if I am getting work done in this area:
- should I be getting the lower wishbones changed at the same time?
- should I be using the opportunity to do other handling improvements (e.g. polybushes)
Thanks in advanced for your advice.
Andrew
This being above and beyond my technical abilities, I shall be getting the garage to complete the job.
What I need advice on, is if I am getting work done in this area:
- should I be getting the lower wishbones changed at the same time?
- should I be using the opportunity to do other handling improvements (e.g. polybushes)
Thanks in advanced for your advice.
Andrew
It is obviously safer to have the lower wishbones checked at the same time, however typically the front upper wishbones corrode much sooner, usually at the end where they come close to the exhaust.
Any mechanic who knows the cars will automatically fit poly bushes.
>> Edited by rick.e on Thursday 7th April 20:47
Any mechanic who knows the cars will automatically fit poly bushes.
>> Edited by rick.e on Thursday 7th April 20:47
The new wishbones will come with the standard bushes fitted.
If you want polybushes, obviously you will want to do the lower wishbones at the same time, and also consider doing the back.
A full set of bushes will cost you around £300, and possibly a couple of days labour to do, as removing some of the wishbone bolts can be a pain, as can removing the old bushes, and you will need a full suspension geometry re-alignment once complete.
My advice would be that unless you want to start going down the never ending road of upgrading your car, just buy the two front upper wishbones (around £45 each) and have them fitted. The only geometry check you will need after is the front camber.
It is a very easy job to do yourself - two bolts at the pivot points on the chassis, and two where the top ball joint is held by the wishbone.
Hope this helps.
If you want polybushes, obviously you will want to do the lower wishbones at the same time, and also consider doing the back.
A full set of bushes will cost you around £300, and possibly a couple of days labour to do, as removing some of the wishbone bolts can be a pain, as can removing the old bushes, and you will need a full suspension geometry re-alignment once complete.
My advice would be that unless you want to start going down the never ending road of upgrading your car, just buy the two front upper wishbones (around £45 each) and have them fitted. The only geometry check you will need after is the front camber.
It is a very easy job to do yourself - two bolts at the pivot points on the chassis, and two where the top ball joint is held by the wishbone.
Hope this helps.
Simply having the upper wishbones replaced may get the MOT but the chances are that if they have failed they have not been regularly cleaned and waxoiled, (which really sould be done at least once a year). That would suggest that the rest of chassis will be in a similar condition. If you employ somebody so simply fit the new parts they will probably do just that. Far better to get the spanners out and do it yourself so while you are at it you can clean off the chassis, and at least dob on some paint. It really is a fairly simple job, cleaning and painting the chassis is by far the worst bit. Next best way is to “help” your repairing garage. That way they can do the spannery bits and you can send them off to lunch while you get out the scraper and paint brush.
Having trouble sleeping Starmist?
Thank you both for your advice.
I am a sucker for an honest salesman, and after visiting the garage this morning agreed to replacing top and bottom wishbones and fitting poly bushes (at £16 each
)
total bill around £750
Apperciate the encouragement to do it myself, but its cold, i dont have a covered garage, just been paid my bonus, ... am a lazy git!
Thank you both for your advice.
I am a sucker for an honest salesman, and after visiting the garage this morning agreed to replacing top and bottom wishbones and fitting poly bushes (at £16 each
) total bill around £750
Apperciate the encouragement to do it myself, but its cold, i dont have a covered garage, just been paid my bonus, ... am a lazy git!
steve-v8s said:
Simply having the upper wishbones replaced may get the MOT but the chances are that if they have failed they have not been regularly cleaned and waxoiled, (which really sould be done at least once a year). That would suggest that the rest of chassis will be in a similar condition. If you employ somebody so simply fit the new parts they will probably do just that. Far better to get the spanners out and do it yourself so while you are at it you can clean off the chassis, and at least dob on some paint. It really is a fairly simple job, cleaning and painting the chassis is by far the worst bit. Next best way is to “help” your repairing garage. That way they can do the spannery bits and you can send them off to lunch while you get out the scraper and paint brush.
Good points, and well made. Thanks.
Although it is a '91 Griff, I had a new chassis fitted at the factory in 98. I perhaps rather naively thought it should be ok for a while, and my doesn’t time fly!
I will be getting the chassis painted and waxoiled this summer – I have learnt the error on my ways!
No, I couldn't sleep
£750! Bloody hell, I'm in the wrong job. I would be very interested if you would post the breakdown of that on here, i.e. cost of upper wishbones, lower wishbones, bushes and labour, because that seems one hell of a lot of money to me.
I'd do it for far less than than, and repaint the wushbones with POR 15 as well!
£750! Bloody hell, I'm in the wrong job. I would be very interested if you would post the breakdown of that on here, i.e. cost of upper wishbones, lower wishbones, bushes and labour, because that seems one hell of a lot of money to me.
I'd do it for far less than than, and repaint the wushbones with POR 15 as well!
thatch said:
For those who expresed an interest, here's how it breaks down:
2x upper wishbones £104
2x lower wishbones £216
8x 'Powerflex' sports poly bushes £135
1x 'D/link'??? £ 40
5x hours labour £200
VAT £120
Total £815 Ouch!
2x lower wishbones £216
I'd query this - I paid £57 for one from Peninsula, a year ago. Maybe the spare parts pricelist has been updated with the changeover, but by nearly 100%???
Interesting!
I have an out of date (2000) price list.
Can anyone confirm the new prices of wishbones.
If there is enough interest i would consider having some better quality CDS wishbones made TIG welded rather than the snail shit and tin plate.
PS. I have a couple of standard lower and upper wishbones newly powder coated that i might sell.
They were removed from low mileage cars.
I have an out of date (2000) price list.
Can anyone confirm the new prices of wishbones.
If there is enough interest i would consider having some better quality CDS wishbones made TIG welded rather than the snail shit and tin plate.
PS. I have a couple of standard lower and upper wishbones newly powder coated that i might sell.
They were removed from low mileage cars.
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