Soooooo turns out I've managed to snap a wishbone somehow in the last couple of days.

 

I'm up for doing the swap myself, just wondering if there's anything I should know before I start?

Is it safe to get one from a scrappy or am I best going to Andrew Page/GSF?

 

Cheers

They cost about £40 from gsf. It can be quite tricky to get the hexagonal shaped part into the console bush without s bit of leverage and some grease. fairly easy job for diy person, leave the balljoint attached to the upright and just unbolt it from the control arm.

How on earth did you manage to snap a wishbone?

Hahaha I wasn't clear, it's not actually the wishbone itself, its the bit that goes into the rubber bushing. Possibly reversing up into my drive was the final straw as even though it's a dropped kerb it's actually more like half a normal kerb.

Edited 26 April, 201511 yr by alessio92

Hum, I've always wondered if anyone would snap off that pin/peg after fitting Cupra bushes (like I have fitted), as I would have hoped that the standard bush would rip out and save that pin/peg from breaking.

Cheers guys. Further question: the bushings at the end of the wishbone looked to be in very good nick but bearing in mind the car has been driven with the damage I'm guessing they should be replaced anyway?

 

Does a new wishbone come with the bushings or are they a separate purchase?

 

Cheers

Cheers guys. Further question: the bushings at the end of the wishbone looked to be in very good nick but bearing in mind the car has been driven with the damage I'm guessing they should be replaced anyway?

 

Does a new wishbone come with the bushings or are they a separate purchase?

 

Cheers

 

A new wishbone can be bought with or without the rear bush. They come with the small front bush already fitted.  If your rear bush is damaged it needs replacing. If it's OK you could reuse it but it's probably good practice to fit a new one.

 

There are plenty of wishbones on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2057872.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xfabia+wishbone.TRS0&_nkw=fabia+wishbone&_sacat=0

 

I see no problem with using a decent used one either.

Problems I had were :

The 3 captive nuts holding the ball joint on the wishbone became "not captive" and, because they are thin/rusty, there is not enough to hold, so it was out with the Dremel/hacksaw.

When the nuts stay captive the screws are so tight they snap when trying to undo.

 -  So have a new set of screws and backing plate with captive nuts ready.

The long bolt for the front bush can be a right b...... to unscrew (18mm a/f). And, if you are very unlucky, unscrewing will wreck the thread in the console so you will end up having to change the console!!

  -  Have a new screw ready (that will minimise the effect of any damage you might do to the console). Also when unscrewing, stop and screw in a turn every now and again (as if you were tapping a thread, only in reverse), that will minimise the chances of damaging the thread so much that you can't tighten the screw to the required torque on assembly.

Good luck.

 

Hey guys,

 

Andrew Page wanted £89 including VAT for a pair of front wishbones (I'm assuming it's good prractise to do both at once? Or does it not matter?)

Seems pretty steep, shall I look online?

 

Cheers for all your help, much appreciated.

Check they come with all bushes and ball joints.

Don't need to do both sides but if you can afford it, might as well.

Got a new wishbone with the bushing today... no ball joint though... should there be one?
 

Also, to get the bushing on the hexagonal bit at the end (so technical, I know..) do you have to have proper grease or will something like Vaseline do?

Got a new wishbone with the bushing today... no ball joint though... should there be one?

 

Also, to get the bushing on the hexagonal bit at the end (so technical, I know..) do you have to have proper grease or will something like Vaseline do?

 

A non-petroleum based lube would be better. Try plumbers silicone spray or silicone grease.

 

Also, have noticed in a lot of cases "difficult" bolts or machine screws sometimes protrude through the plate/casting. The exposed thread ends get covered in rust and all sorts of crap causing a lot of the removal problems. Cleaning, lube, maybe heat and backing off and re-lubing is the way I've avoided disaster in the past.

Got a new wishbone with the bushing today... no ball joint though... should there be one?

 

Also, to get the bushing on the hexagonal bit at the end (so technical, I know..) do you have to have proper grease or will something like Vaseline do?

 

There won't be a balljoint unless it was advertised as coming with one.

 

Good quality washing-up liquid works well for the hexagonal bit. You need a ratchet strap to pull it on as well.