Front lower wishbone: 2006 FL 1

Border Boy · Sunday at 23:19

MOT now due and near side lower wishbone has rust holes.
I've searched this forum and YouTube and it looks a fairly straight forward job BUT the front bush area looks corroded.
I would really appreciate advice about removing the front bolt if it proves to be rusted up because I don't want to twist the head of the bolt off.
The two long bolts holding the rear housing look in less corroded condition so there's hope there

Arctic2 · Monday at 01:13

Border Boy said:
MOT now due and near side lower wishbone has rust holes.
I've searched this forum and YouTube and it looks a fairly straight forward job BUT the front bush area looks corroded.
I would really appreciate advice about removing the front bolt if it proves to be rusted up because I don't want to twist the head of the bolt off.
The two long bolts holding the rear housing look in less corroded condition so there's hope there

Soak all joints and nuts in plus gas, personally i would change both sides completely

Pardon our interruption...

Freddie17 · Monday at 06:37

^ +1
Give the whole area a good clean with a wire brush first, to remove as much rust and dirt as possible, especially from the bolt/nut/threads. Soak a few days before you are going to do the job, I use PB blaster.
Use good 6-sided sockets, not 12.
Work them backwards and forwards slowly when they crack... e.g. undo 5mm, back on 3mm, undo 5mm, back on 3mm, until well free. Give another soaking once initially cracked if needed, as the fluid can get into the threads easier once they work lose.

You’ll need a ball-joint splitter, or other method to separate it.

Do the pair, then get tracking done once complete.

pwood999 · Monday at 11:26

Also the front bolt is too long to remove with the undertray frame in place. If you undo the six rear bolts & slacken the front two, the tray frame will drop enough to remove the wishbone bolt.

Border Boy · Monday at 21:44

Thanks very much for helpful suggestions.
Wednesday is the next dry day so will have another go then

Border Boy · Thursday at 22:26

Had a good go on Wednesday but advice needed on removing the front bolt. Will plenty of heat be the answer where it screws into the sub frame. Would using a cutting disc on an angle grinder to cut into the rubber bush help or even burn the rubber bush!!
None of the YouTube vids I've seen answer this one

Freddie17 · 2024-11-22T07:30:20+0000

Border Boy said:
Had a good go on Wednesday but advice needed on removing the front bolt. Will plenty of heat be the answer where it screws into the sub frame. Would using a cutting disc on an angle grinder to cut into the rubber bush help or even burn the rubber bush!!
None of the YouTube vids I've seen answer this one

Have you sprayed it with penetrating fluids over a few days, then just tried a good 6-sided socket on a breaker bar?

Border Boy · 2024-11-22T20:27:45+0000

Dry day so had another go at loosening bolts and they are all moving

I must admit I was a little sceptical about the power of penetrating oil!
Fingers crossed that when the wishbone is lowered from front bush, I can hammer out the shaft from the rear bush without taking off the complete assembly
Which supplier has best value for money? I note one supplier has prices of lower wishbone varying from £22.00 to £37.00 + vat. The weight of each is the same so should I go for the cheap option?

Freddie17 · 2024-11-22T21:25:26+0000

I’d just replace it all, bushes as well. Don't faff about with it, its not a lot more ££.

pwood999 · 2024-11-23T12:31:37+0000

If the rear wishbone shaft turns in the bush, then it will come out, but using some penetrating oil will help. Either get the spindle moving before unbolting the mount, or fix it in a vice & move the wishbone back & forth.

If the bushes are ok with no splits, then you can probably re-use them. Changing the bush is a challenge. There's a thread on here somewhere about it. Easier to replace the mount if they are split.

Arctic2 · 2024-11-23T13:17:02+0000

Border Boy said:
Dry day so had another go at loosening bolts and they are all moving
I must admit I was a little sceptical about the power of penetrating oil!
Fingers crossed that when the wishbone is lowered from front bush, I can hammer out the shaft from the rear bush without taking off the complete assembly
Which supplier has best value for money? I note one supplier has prices of lower wishbone varying from £22.00 to £37.00 + vat. The weight of each is the same so should I go for the cheap option?

That pricing is it just for the bushes not the housing as below.

Pardon our interruption...

Front lower wishbone: 2006 FL 1

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