Technical Front subframe replacement

[purf]

Hi All

Just fitted a 'new' front subframe to my 2002 5 door Punto as the old one was rusted to buggery! Will post some photos later.

The steering now has a very slight wandering which is a little disconcerting.

I have done all the work myself

Tracking was 100% before subframe replacement and steering wheel is now central. Was and still is running on alfa 15 inch alloys with 185 55 15's

The problem is most obvious when going on and off the gas?

I'm wondering if the subframe is not aligned 100%

Any ideas, tips or suggestions for checking its alignment? Or what else might be causing this?

 

[fingers99]

Tracking was 100% before subframe replacement and steering wheel is now central. Was and still is running on alfa 15 inch alloys with 185 55 15's

I think the "before" bit is significant. The wise and careful recommend tracking after replacing struts, let alone the subframe!

 

[purf]

Thanks Fingers

I should have said, I am considering getting the tracking sorted - just wondering if its something more major first?

cheers

 

[purf]

amazingly the body is not rotten!

 

[Ziggy122]

Holy cow!!!

Somebody in the previous owners / garages life has been jacking that up on that and allowed the rust to start working in

Did you get the donor one sand blasted and recoated?
I would have done personally - but thats me

Ziggy

 

[s and b]

i think that yellow chalk has caused all that corrosion
if your mot man ever attempts to use it on your car take it off him and stick it up his nose
its the work of the devil that yellow stuff




next

personally i think subframe came off another car
i have a car just like it
everything mint but subframe a disgrace

 

[purf]

I have replaced with a v good second hand one from ebay - with the fiat parts label still stuck to it! So didnt bother painting it...

Dont think it was jacking as the top of the subframe has vanished and the car had 1 lady owner who was careful not to do A THING to it...

I suppose its not galvanized while the bodyshell is. So it just evaporates!

so replaced so far:

subframe
arb mounts
wishbones
carpet
wiper linkage
bonnet cable
front door stays (removed)
coolant pipe o-ring
rad fan - on the way out

 

[fingers99]

It would never happen to a Cinq...........

 

[purf]

i know :worship:

I still have one don't worry ! needs welding though to be fair - only a tiny bit though!

 

[purf]

guess what - I had not tightened one wishbone front bolt fully which caused the subtle pull when going on and off the gas, allowing the bush to flex a little ... I knew it was something like that.

To centre the steering rack I drove it back and forth 15 feet on the drive with the wheel centred then tightened it up and the tracking is spot on, as it was before... as I hadn't touched the track rod ends.

I also sikaflexed the engine mount which doesn't make a noticeable change to the car.

Now tried to bleed the brakes and found one of the bleed nipples had mashed threads and had been glued in by someone!!! F.I.A.T

and won some -50mm springs on the bay - will start a thread on the car and get some pics up soon

 

[s and b]

guess what - I had not tightened one wishbone front bolt fully which caused the subtle pull when going on and off the gas, allowing the bush to flex a little ... I knew it was something like that.

To centre the steering rack I drove it back and forth 15 feet on the drive with the wheel centred then tightened it up and the tracking is spot on, as it was before... as I hadn't touched the track rod ends.

I also sikaflexed the engine mount which doesn't make a noticeable change to the car.

Now tried to bleed the brakes and found one of the bleed nipples had mashed threads and had been glued in by someone!!! F.I.A.T

and won some -50mm springs on the bay - will start a thread on the car and get some pics up soon

not previous owner then with mole grips and bad attitude

 

[purf]

funny S & B - looks bad but have you any holes yet. First place to go on mine was the front edges above the wishbones, which had been welded before I bought the car - noticeable through the engine bay.

I was expecting the captive threads to be shot once i had got the bolts out. The bolts where extremely tight to remove (3 ft breaker bar!) and i was going to throw in the towel and scrap it if the threads where ruined.

Then the bolts have those teeth on the end (which i guess is for cutting through the under-body paint when they are assembled?) - but they chew threw threads like anything when you refit them - so i was verfy carfeful and it all went ok, for once.

 

[Ziggy122]

i dont get how some are pure terrible!
yet... some are sweet as a nut 12years on....

Wonder if fiat missed a spot?

Bleed nipples - tbh if they dont come off easy - just buy new
Thats if the brake pipe comes off....

ziggy