Hi guys,

Trying to replace the broken front n/s wishbone on my car but the front-most bolt is siezed and will not budge.

In the absence of compressed air tools, can anyone suggest a way to get the wishbone off?

Thanks!

More effort or bigger tools really!

You have to be careful as the front bolt is the one that can strip the threads out of the alloy housing and can turn into a right nightmare.

PlusGas in from the far end of threaded hole in the console. Leave for a while, then add some more, then long breaker bar and either release or snap the bolt.  Did it move at all, or are you unable to even start undoing it?  Long 1/2" extension bars coupled together so that you can work from out in front of the car is the safest approach.

If it moved and then seized, I'm afraid your console thread may already be damaged.

Cheers Wino and hutchy... Wino, I've never heard of PlusGas. Is it expensive? There isn't room to get a long bar in there. Bolts literally won't move at all.

Slight change of question. Everything we need to do on the car (New wishbone, brake fluid change) is being hindered by siezed bolts at every stage. How do I get seized bolts to move? It's an 02 1.9SDI and frankly I'm getting sick of seized bolts everywhere I look but I can't afford to just get rid and move on. It's been on axel stands for 2 and a half weeks now.

Plusgas is a around £1- £2 its a freeing agent that can be bought as an aerosol or with a spout, it works wonders if left to seep into the threads. All car accessory shops have it.

 

DB.

 

Update - It shows how long ago I last bought my can of Plusgas.

Edited 3 June, 201511 yr by mogwye

It's just another type of wd40 basically.

PlusGas is inexpensive, and one of the best tool investments you'll ever make. Rusty/corroded fasteners lose a lot of their ability to spoil your day once you have a can.

 

There is room for long extensions, I'm waiting for some photos to upload off my phone as you're not understanding my words...

 

 

 

 

 

 

500mm extension is similarly affordable and damn handy, often.

Cheers gents, I'll try and get some PlusGas. However, I've searched Halfords' website and it seems they don't carry it - the only place that does seems to be Euro - GSF and Andrew Page don't have it either - annoyingly Euro is also the furthest from my house (walking, seeing as my car's off the road). Any national chains carry it - perhaps places that aren't specifically car places?

{hijack time!} Weirdly, I'm trying to get my wishbone(s) off & have encounter the opposite problem - I cant get the wishbone out of the console bush, its properly held in. The bushes are the curpra upgraded ones that were fitted some years back by a garage & the wishbone isnt even budging.

Is there a 'best method' on getting the wishbone out? Theres no way to get behind the wishbone bar in the console as its blocked by the car floor.

Cheers gents, I'll try and get some PlusGas. However, I've searched Halfords' website and it seems they don't carry it

 

I tried to get a can at my local Halfords the other day and was told they'd stopped selling it. Useless bloody sods! Instead they had WD40 in several different new formulations, including a penetrant . Dunno if it's any good so didn't buy any.

{hijack time!} Weirdly, I'm trying to get my wishbone(s) off & have encounter the opposite problem - I cant get the wishbone out of the console bush, its properly held in. The bushes are the curpra upgraded ones that were fitted some years back by a garage & the wishbone isnt even budging.

Is there a 'best method' on getting the wishbone out? Theres no way to get behind the wishbone bar in the console as its blocked by the car floor.

Tbf this is probably my next problem; answers gratefully appreciated!

To get the wishbone out of the bush, pull it while moving it up and down at the same time.

 

This is a VW Polo but just the same...

 

Wd40 is a jack of all trades and a master of none. Plus gas is an out and out penetrating fluid. Makes a lot difference!

To get the wishbone out of the bush, pull it while moving it up and down at the same time.

 

 

Ha! Thanks, but I wish it was that easy for me!! Ive literally laid on the floor with both feet against the wheel arch & tried to yank/twist/wobble the bloody thing out - hasnt moved 1mm!!

Ha! Thanks, but I wish it was that easy for me!! Ive literally laid on the floor with both feet against the wheel arch & tried to yank/twist/wobble the bloody thing out - hasnt moved 1mm!!

 

Have you sprayed some penetrating fluid on the wishbone spigot in the bush?

If you need more leverage but haven't got a breaker bar put the ring end of a spanner on the bolt/nut you want to undo then use another similar sized spanner (the ring end) and interlock it into the open end of the spanner on the bolt/nut, thus giving you twice the length and more leverage. 

 

Plus Gas is awesome stuff it helped me remove a broke Turbo down pipe stud with out using a blowtorch, well worth having in your arsenal.

Ha! Thanks, but I wish it was that easy for me!! Ive literally laid on the floor with both feet against the wheel arch & tried to yank/twist/wobble the bloody thing out - hasnt moved 1mm!!

Cut as much of the rubber part of the bush as you can with a hacksaw blade that will help, eventually the wishbone peg will pop loose or the the rubber will separate from the plastic sleeve.

Cut as much of the rubber part of the bush as you can with a hacksaw blade that will help, eventually the wishbone peg will pop loose or the the rubber will separate from the plastic sleeve.

 

Could be hard for him to cut the rubber as he's got the solid Cupra bushes fitted.

Could be hard for him to cut the rubber as he's got the solid Cupra bushes fitted.

You could try drilling them or lever the front part of the wishbone out of the recess then put a scissor jack inbetween the console housing and the front wishbone bush and force it out.

 

Other than that I'm not sure I didn't have cupra bushes so It was that hard to get mine out.

I discovered that these bolts tend to seize too. We tried to replace the console and wishbone bushes on my brothers car, both bolts snapped! Which were impossible to drill out. Found a used subframe and was able to use the passenger side console, but once again the drivers side bolt snapped. Ordered another replacement console and finally it's all good

Theres a good vid on youtube may help people.

Subscribers name is fredintheshed1

Hes changed his seat ibiza console bush and made it look easy.

Guess this is the vid you mean: Link.

 

Looks useful, but I've only seen the first few minutes.

 

Guess this is the vid you mean: Link.

 

Looks useful, but I've only seen the first few minutes.

 

 

There are some inaccuracies in his video which I felt compelled to correct :p

The balljoint to wishbone bolts are 20Nm + angle too, 90° IIRC? Not just 20Nm. Biiig difference.

 

Lots of good stuff there though.

The balljoint to wishbone bolts are 20Nm + angle too, 90° IIRC? Not just 20Nm. Biiig difference.

 

Lots of good stuff there though.

 

Quite correct! Have added it in to my comment