Technical Suspension / Front hub issues

[Lord Azrael]

I'm just in the process of doing the suspension change on my wife's 2010 1.3, and of course everything is being difficult! Everything is seized solid and being a real pain and the pinch bolt for the front of the wishbone has just sheared! Does anyone know whether the bolt is threaded through the actual bracket or does it just slide through so I know how careful to be whilst trying to drill it through? Cheers

 

[bugsymike]

I'm just in the process of doing the suspension change on my wife's 2010 1.3, and of course everything is being difficult! Everything is seized solid and being a real pain and the pinch bolt for the front of the wishbone has just sheared! Does anyone know whether the bolt is threaded through the actual bracket or does it just slide through so I know how careful to be whilst trying to drill it through? Cheers

I think you will find it is a nut and bolt that once lined up with the groove in the ball joint it should slide straight through so that the nut and bolt pinch the bottom of suspension to hold it tight to the ball joint.
Obviously you are removing so I would just give any parts that you are undoing plenty of oil to help.
Does it like like this one on a Fiat Doblo? you may be able to see the groove in the shaft of the ball joint that allows the bolt to slide past and stop pin from dropping out.
You will need a good quality nut and bolt of same dimensions.
If it looks like the second photo which is a Panda then it is as I said. So just give it lots of oil and you should be able to drive the remains of the bolt out of the hole if lucky.
I would just oil it and use a good metal punch with a big hammer and knock it out.

 

[koalar]

7601061 bolt
15503621 nut

I fitted mazda/ford pinch bolts (£2.40 Inc VAT each)., wrong pitch but everything else is identical, plus I can pick them off the self at my local motor factor

grade 10.9

You will sear them most of the time if you try and turn the bolt in the hole


Undo the nut, first

Just slides out

Lump of brass over the end and a few firm wacks

3lb club hammer

If you don't have a heavy hammer I would get one. It will help to seperate the two parts later as well

Now it's broken

A 8mm drift or slightly smaller

You can get away with an old bolt or similar if you haven't got a punch


Done literally hundreds, never had to drill one yet


Be careful with the torque

It's 32nm

Some YouTube videos and manuals are wrong

 

[Lord Azrael]

7601061 bolt
15503621 nut

I fitted mazda/ford pinch bolts (£2.40 Inc VAT each)., wrong pitch but everything else is identical, plus I can pick them off the self at my local motor factor

grade 10.9

You will sear them most of the time if you try and turn the bolt in the hole


Undo the nut, first

Just slides out

Lump of brass over the end and a few firm wacks

3lb club hammer

If you don't have a heavy hammer I would get one. It will help to seperate the two parts later as well

View attachment 464715


Now it's broken

A 8mm drift or slightly smaller




View attachment 464716


You can get away with an old bolt or similar


Done literally hundreds, never had to drill one yet


Be careful with the torque

It's 32nm

Some YouTube videos and manuals are wrong

Cheers. I did actually get the nut off fine, its just the bolt that's seized into the housing and had left it soaking in release compound for a few days too. At least I know it just knocks out as that will make life easier. I've got LOTS of big hammers!

 

[koalar]

Yep they can be a pain, no amount of soaking will help, the two parts have grown together, so the oil has no way to get in, I post some pictures of something I left soaking for 24H and when it was finely opened the threads completely were dry

Shock is the way to go, once there's a little movement penetrating oil will then help

At least if the last person to put them on did it correctly, the nut should be towards the front, which makes getting a swing slightly easier

I fell for it once by tying to loosen it by turning the head of the bolt, seem logical but 8 mm Is just too thin, drift them out is the way to go

 

[bugsymike]

I am fortunate , if all else fails I have a 3/4 drive Makita 110volt impact wrench from the old days.

 

[DaveMcT]

The bolt should be fitted with nut at the front, as its sheared turn the wheel outwards and use a 8mm (7mm is better) to bash it out. You will then struggle the extract the ball joint pin from the clamp. I use a flat blade screwdriver as a wedge to CAREFULLY spread the clamp. It needs to be fat enough the spread the clamp before the tip hits the pin.

When reassembling, use plenty of copper anti seize on the pin, and pinch bolt. Make sure the pin is sitting with the groove aligned with the pinch bolt. The bolt should simply slide in.

Fitting the new bottom arm and be "fun". I fit the back bolt first but leave it loose. Then red rubber grease the front bush and lever it into place. If you do it the other way around it gets really hard to align the rear bolt. Of course, it's all much easier when you have a car lift. I don't so this is how I do it.