lower control arm bushes

[Doofy]

Started to change my lower control arm bushes (the whole aluminium block bit with rubber inserts) Driver side came off with a bit of swearing, Took 2 of us to put the new one on  as the whole wish bone moved out and had to be pulled back into place to get the bolts lined up with the holes. Passenger side was a different story, 2 bolts came out but the 3rd one snapped so drowned it in Plus Gas last weekend and left it,  i bought new bolts courtesy of TPS which cost £18 and a stud extractor, Applied some heat today while trying to get it out and (yep you guessed it) It snapped again, now flush with the sub frame where it bolts into. so im now stuck..The moral of this story is always buy new 'stretch' bolts ......And put the car into your local mechanic which is what i'm going to have to do, So he can have the hassle of replacing them cos i wont be doing 'em again..Too much blood sweat and tears...     

Edited 27 April, 2019 by Doofy

[Tilt]

@Doofy Seriously, almost same story with mine.

I didn't have the issue of lining up the bolts with the holes but on the passenger side one of the bolts snapped. It would have to have been that side too ffs.

IIRC it was my DSG that made access very difficult on this side and yep, in the end I had to admit defeat and find a garage happy to take it on.

I think it cost me around £100 for this side, as the sub frame had to be moved to get access required. it was a few years ago now but it was some scenario like that. What a ball-ache.

And one of the Lemforder replacements on the NSF only lasted about 30 months with about 10500 miles, so another £64. I do wonder what the garage man used to ease the bush onto the arm as it lasted such a short while. 

[Doofy]

I used copper grease to help get the bushes on but like you say access is tight. And yes they are a ball-ache, Horrible...Strange thing is the passenger side holes lined up no problem but the drivers side wish bone had dropped and moved out over.. dont know why,, Passenger side has now got 2 bolts in just to get the car to a garage...But i won't doing them again    

[Tilt]

17 hours ago, Doofy said:

Passenger side has now got 2 bolts in just to get the car to a garage...But i won't doing them again    

 

Same as, though my bolt was still through the hole. It was just the head snapped off.

Maybe my DSG box being in the way not allowing me to progress any further, was actually a good thing as it sounds like i still would not have been able to extract the bolt.

I know the mechanic said that he had to use heat to remove it.

 

And yes, straight to the garage for the last (very premature) replacement.

[Tilt]

@Doofy Be interesting to know what it costs you in the end..........Hopefully not too much eh!

[Doofy]

He hasn't said how much yet, But it's got to be done.  I'll update you on how much it was on friday , Hopefully it gets sorted out.. 

[Doofy]

Well as promised, A little update. Car was in today,  They welded a nut onto the remains of the bolt but it just sheared, They had to remove the aluminium sub frame on that side and drill the bolt out. Took them 4 and a half hours, And im now £122 lighter, But to be honest i thought it was gonna be a lot more... 

[Tilt]

Yes, I was surprised it didn't cost me more too, especially as we were both obviously shagged without specialist help.

 

I just hope you do not need a new one again two years later, like mine did. God knows what they used as lubrication to get it on, acid i think, Lol.