Hi, I have replaced the swinging arm on my Skoda mark 1 2006. I have almost finished the job but the bolt won't do up, i cant get the thread to catch. I have looked down the bolt hole to see of it is lined up and moved the swinging arm around to try to line line bolt up. Where the swinging arm slides into the sub-frame, it is a vary tight fit and i need to drift it in with some wood and a hammer. I think that the news swinging arm might be a little wider then the original. Is it normally diffibult to grt the bolt to catch?

cheers

Have had similar problems in past. It doesn't take much so the bolt won't catch. Try some pressure on bolt and turn anticlockwise until you feel the threads click. This helps the threads line up ready to start and also helps stop cross threading then with same pressure turn bolt clockwise. Have in past used a slightly smaller diameter rod to line up first but careful not to damage threads.

Alasdair

Thanks, I have nearly lined the bolts up but did not want to cross threads. I will try out what you say as it looks a good method.

Guessing it's the bit closest to the camera giving you the trouble? As long as it's not the actual arm itself, only the sleeve inside the bush that's touching the subframe, that's fine, just knock it in unless it's obviously well over sized. If in doubt, wind the bolt in and out without the arm there to see what it feels like. If you're reusing the original bolt, it'll probably want a good wire-brushing to clean it up.

At risk of stating the obvious, leave the outer ball joint (the one that goes in the bottom of the wheel hub carrier) until last.

Hi, I spend a logs time lining it up and tapped the bolt lightly to get it in but i have cross threaded the bolt. It screwed in when ok to when I took the swinging arm off. What is the part the the bolt goes into? Do i need a new sun-frame?

THanks

Known as console. Left (UK nearside)or right?

Item 2 here: Car Parts Catalog - LLLParts.

Those suffix D parts have been superseded by suffix J, not sure why LLL isn't showing that, either OK though.

Avoid any aftermarket versions that might have the early/original style rear bush fitted, with single rubber webs top and bottom, they're junk.

Be careful when fitting, the holes that the vertical bolts go up through into the chassis have a 5mm clearance, designed to allow for a little alignment setting during factory assembly.

You should try to ensure the car isn't subtly twisted during fitment (such as by just jacking up one front corner), as this might cause things to end up in a different spot and alignment compromised.

Edited 28 June, 202528 Jun by Breezy_Pete

I have looked in my Haynes manual and it does not cover replacing the 'mounting bracket that the swinging arm goes into and bolts it on to the car body' this is the console. Can this job be done by a home mechanic? Why have haynes not covered it.

thanks

There's nothing particularly challenging about the replacement. I think it probably needs doing quite regularly on mk1 Fabias, since the very same thread that you appear to have had trouble with during reassembly is often damaged or destroyed during disassembly.

The bolt tends to seize into the alloy thread because of oxidation corrosion of the alloy.

Don't know why Haynes omits it. I would have thought it would be in there somewhere.

Tech1e's uploaded workshop manuals should cover it.

The Chassis pdf I expect here:

Skoda say that the two bolts that go into the chassis should be renewed, as well as the horizontal one you're having trouble with.

Edited 28 June, 202528 Jun by Breezy_Pete

Thanks, I don't think that i did anything wrong when i put the bolt in but it bolts into aluminium.

Hi, did you use a gearbox jack to support the subframe? I only have a trolly jack. and did you use the actual T10096 fixing device to hold things in position.

I am starting the job of replacing the console that the swinging arm wishbone goes into. I am following the manual that was provided by this site. The manual explained to put fixing bolts into the assembly carrier and to lower the assembly carrier. I have looked at the bolts that they say to replace with fixing bolts but these look as though they go through the console itself. Thus i won't be able to slide it out.

I haven't started the job yet so might but they look at they go through the console. I have a skoda fablia mark 1 .2 and the manual says fabia 2000.

thanks

I think the fixing bolts they're referring to are actually special things that fit within the 17mm holes of the console. They are designed to maintain the position of the console relative to the chassis holes.

I think they're only any use if you're dropping the whole assembly, both consoles and subframe, all as one unit.

I guess you're not doing that, so forget those locating tools and just make sure the car isn't twisted, as I think I've already mentioned, and try very hard to fit the new console in the same position as the old one, despite the very big clearance of the bolts in these 17mm holes in the consoles.

Do this by noting the clean/dirty paint areas that the original console will have made on the chassis. Maybe add some spray paint of your own to enhance the contrast.

The manual that you sent me says lower the assembly carrier 4cm and support it on a gearbox jack and remove the front exhaust as it goes under the assembly carrier. It also says do the same to both sides. So do you mean just do one side. Thanks.

If you only have one console to change, just undo what's holding it on, and take it off. No need to move the subframe at all IIRC.

I didn't send you any manual, I just showed you where to find it on this forum.

Edited 14 July, 202514 Jul by Breezy_Pete

I have put in the console and tightened the bolts but the ones that go up into the assembly carrier and then through the console I cant get into the bolts. I think I should have done this first. I can see a semi circle thing going over the steering and they have nuts to screw the bolts into. I might have to loosen the other bolts and get these in and then position the colsole or is there some other reason

thanks

I finished this job. There were a few bits that were a bit difficult.

The bolts that go up through the subframe bolt into a clamp that is around the steering rack. These were hard to get in. You need to get one side in but only tighten slightly 1-2 turns then get the other side in and then tighten them. You need to put your fingers up to line up the bolt and nut.

When putting the hub onto the swinging arm, I could not pull the hum out far enough to slot the ball-joint part into the swinging arm. In the end I had to pull the hub out and to the side and move the ball joint around to line it up so i could slot it into the swinging arm.

When pushing the swinging arm into the rubber bush i lined up the swinging arm and put both feet on the swinging arm and pushed it in.