Hi all.

Just changed nearside, wishbone, ball joint, bush etc, all good. When it came to doing other side when removing wishbone bolt it retracts into engine sump and cannot be removed. No doubt there is a way around this, as do not want to start raising engine, or sump removal until sure that this is the only way it can be done. 

Kind regards. 

Have you tried taking off the lower engine mount so you can move the engine slightly to get the bolt out?

Hi. Thanks for the reply. There is an engine mount 2 feet or so above the wishbone. This is the one that I think I need to disconnect and raise the engine an inch or two. Hope to speak to someone who as had the same issue and find the way that they gained access to the bolt. The danger of raising the engine could compromise the exhaust, other connections etc.

Kind regards. 

Undoing any of the engine mounts theoretically requires replacement of the bolts, but the 'dogbone' one under the gearbox, if you undo the gearbox end, those bolts go into blind holes so are unlikely to be in poor condition. 

 

There are flexible mounts (to cope with thermal expansion/contraction) in the exhaust, so won't be likely to break anything by rocking the bottom of the engine a little.

 

 

Thanks for the reply. Sounds good I'll give this ago before any disconnection of the top engine mount. Now I can remember a few years ago rocking the engine of a Peugeot by disconnection of the gearbox 'dogbone' Again that time I needed access for something at the back of the engine.

I will let you know how it goes.

Many thanks.

Hi. Sorry for the delay in replying. Job of replacing lower wishbones with new rubber bushes all done. Nearside all went OK. Offside is where one as to get more involved to overcome a few problems. Biggest problem, as wrote about above, is the removal of the wishbone bolt. The way I did this was to disconnect gearbox tie, "dogbone". Once this is done one can rock engine back and forth, transversely. I then had to disconnect all 4 exhaust rubbers and support exhaust. I tried this without disconnection of the exhaust, but still did not allow bolt to clear sump, ie could not raise front of engine enough so that bolt would clear the sump.

When I had disconnected the exhaust  I then used a trolley jack to raise front of engine whilst at the same time pulling on bolt. Bolt popped out I then lowered engine until putting bolt back in.

Note: Be very careful when raising front of engine, the secret is to slow down and take your time and also checking all the time that nothing is getting damaged.

I used a bush pulling/Insertion tool to replace the new rubber bushes and a rachet strap to pull wishbones into their rubbers. Use fairy liquid on the rubbers then the wishbones slide in very easy. I also lubricanted around the rubber bushes and inside their housing before fitting. I did this with copper grease and a little oil. Using the above tools is in my opinion well worth the expense.

Hope this is helpful to read for someone who is attempting the above job.