Alfa 147 lower wishbone replacement

[Campbeli]

I've decided to have a crack at replacing the lower wishbones (bushes worn out), never done this before.
I'll be replacing the front discs and pads at the same time.
Been looking at the auto doc video https://youtu.be/UpnP9e23PyQ
And he detaches the axle.

Alfa workshop's guide does not https://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_lower_156_wishbone.shtml

I'd prefer not to detach the axle - any advice gratefully appreciated.

Neil


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[bazzbazz]

Just follow the Alfa workshop guide and you should be good. With the brake disc off it will be easier to get at the lower ball joint.

Just make sure you use quality name brand lower arms, cheap Chinese ones will strip out before you get the mounting bolts up to torque.

[Campbeli]

I bought the lower wishbones from EB spares, not the "genuine Alfa" ones but as they are from EB spares I assume they are fine.
I have everything "undone" now, and will start trying to extract the wishbone tomorrow.
It gunna be "a challenge"


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[Campbeli]

It's out! Had to take the sway bar bolts completely out (rather than "loosen")
Now to get the new one in


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[bazzbazz]

Now to get the new one in

Use a bigger hammer ?   

[Kay_147_GTA]

Keen to know how you go with this as I'll be swapping out lower, uppers, swaybar links and tie rod ends soon!

[Campbeli]

Getting the two legs of the wishbone roughly into place, but can't get the ball joint in. Of course, it came out so must get in, but have now got an impact wrench to see if I can get the axle nut off.


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[Campbeli]

Grinding the socket down now to fit the nut, any tips on how to release the tabs that lock the nut into place?


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[bazzbazz]

Use a screwdriver of appropriate size and hammer it in into the slot to force out the "staked" portion.

[Campbeli]

Thanks, have worked the stakes out, but still grinding away on the socket.
Got a cordless impact wrench from SCA, hopefully it will have enough guts to get the nut off.


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[bazzbazz]

Whats the max torque on the impact wrench?

[Campbeli]

It's a 18v cordless Rockwell from SCA - 380nm.
Haven't tried yet (more grinding of socket required)
If this doesn't do it maybe I should look at a breaker bar or a power impact bar - SCA have a Toledo rated up to 950 nm.
Got to get a good fit with the socket first.



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[bazzbazz]

I use a 240V Impact Wrench with 400nm, and it gets the nut off every time, so hopefully yours will too.

[Campbeli]

Some progress, axles nuts removed (gotta get a bigger impact wrench.......), but still could not get the wishbone in, referred back to the autodoc video and decided the remove the shock tower fork too.
That worked great, wishbone in with moderate effort, a bit tricky to line up the bolt holes and very careful not to cross thread, but in with ball joint connected too.

Now the shock absorber fork is fighting a rear guard action and refusing to get back.




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[Citroënbender]

So - did it eventually get back to where it once belonged?