Hi Got to change my sons front consul bushes on his mk1 1.2htp and the old bushes are so worn so not sure which way new ones fit. I think the narrow slotted section in rubber is vertical and hex section has to be horizontal but they are offset so is it the narrower side or thicker side that is nearest engine. Photo from internet as example and his are about the same.

Going to replace swing arms etc at same time. Using Febi reinforced bushes.

Alasdair

If your Febi bushes have this lump like the OEM ones, the lump should be on the side nearest the midline of the car.

Do you have any tooling to help press them into place without damage?

Are you aware that on the (UK) driver's side ,with the HTP engines, you have to lift the engine a fair bit to give clearance to get the front bolt out and (preferably new replacement one) back in again?

PITA job which I did recently for the second, and last, time.

Cheers pete They do have the bump and I got the tool a while ago. Just never got round to doing them as they werent too bad at the time. MOT soon and reckon its a fail this time as ones knocking slightly and as I already have all parts including new arms might as well do it. Didnt realise had to lift engine but have a cross beam lift as I did the clutch a while back so shouldnt be too difficult. I assume I have to remove engine support and maybe dogbone?

Alasdair

I just undid the 4 M8s to release the whole driver's side mount from body, then jacked sump up carefully. If I did it again I think I would also unscrew the dogbone mount to allow easier movement.

Watch out also for the front bolts seizing on their way out. Abort early if this feels like it's happening.

No stranger to seizing bolts. Usual 1/4 turn out lubricate and back in again then repeat. Worst ones are the ones that thread protrudes through to other side which I normally clean up first.

So far any work done and bolts are remarkably good and have come out fairly easy.

Alasdair

Meant to ask what bolts you mean by front ones.

Alasdair

The ones that go through subframe, front bush of wishbone and then into long alloy thread of the console.

The thread goes all the way through the console, so you can get to the open end and spray penetrating fluid in there.

Trouble comes generally if bolts have been reused previously, and their anti-corrosion coating damaged.

Then it can be a 'cluster-hug' of corrosion and thread galling.

If it really jams up well it's replacement console too.

Dont think they have ever been out. Car is pretty good re rust as it I think came from way down south and has 75k on clock. Will give everything a good soak in fluid for a few days before hand. Have been having great success with 50/50 ATF/Diesel mix. Had a couple of litres of ATF that was fairly old so decided to mix with diesel and use in a pump up spray. Seems to creep into threads very well and doesnt dry out so quick like wd40 etc.

Alasdair

Great, but no point in trying to get to the threads via head end of bolt. Gotta go in from open end of thread in console.