320tourings 1.4 VW Lupo - SELT!

[spartacus]

I might be telling you something you already know but jack up and support both sides of the car, otherwise the anti-roll bar acts on the side that is in the air and makes it extra hard to get the arm out.

If it has an anti-roll bar.

Car looks all right, I can't serially hate 90s/2000s VW's like some, they're well nailed together really and usually a reliable drive.

 

Edit. Don't just lean on the nut with a massive bar, use a gentle in-out action, ooer! It worked on my G#@f.

[320touring]

thanks folks..

 

I may bell some local chaps to see what they'd charge. I don't have a vice or covered area to work at here

[320touring]

Having found some info on removing the front arms it looks like some of the bolts should be replaced?

 

ore are they reusable?

[Sigmund Fraud]

Having found some info on removing the front arms it looks like some of the bolts should be replaced?

 

ore are they reusable?

 

I have re-used them and lived to tell the story.

 

However, they often are so rusty and/or mangled by previous removal attempts that they're worth replacing. Especially for the sake of £10 or whatever they cost.

[320touring]

cool- intention is to get a look tonight and see how the bolts are.

 

If they are a PITA, its getting papped to a garage as I only have the outdoors to work in..

[320touring]

Some moar progress on this tonight..

 

I got her jacked up and attempted to loosten all the bolts in both front arms.

 

on both sides the rear bolts, subframe bolts and arb droplink nuts came undone no bother. The subframe bolt on the drives side needs to be undone with a spanner as a scoket will not fit due to the sump.

 

On the passenger side, I had the first 13mm balljoint bolt I tried snap.

 

I decided not to attempt undoing anymore at the moment. I'll call a local garage and see what they'd charge- I know I can get the arms for 60 quid inc balljoints. As long as I can get the 13mm bolts out then the arms should be swappable without doing the balljoints.

[Sigmund Fraud]

The subframe bolt on the drives side needs to be undone with a spanner as a scoket will not fit due to the sump.

 

If you want to make access to the offside subframe bolt easier, take the engine mount off and use a scissor jack to slightly raise the engine out of your way.

 

In my view, if the arms have enough miles in them to bugger the bushes, the balljoints will probably be near the end of their service life. So don't bother with the balljoint bolts, just undo the taper nut and use a fork splitter to separate the balljoint from the upright.

 

Then replace the whole lot ! You'll be amazed at how much better the car will drive !

[dome]

don't bother with the balljoint bolts, just undo the taper nut and use a fork splitter to separate the balljoint from the upright.

 

Then replace the whole lot ! You'll be amazed at how much better the car will drive !

Yep, this very muchly. You don't need to worry about the ball joint bolts if you're replacing the wishbones and balljoints.

[320touring]

Yep, this very muchly. You don't need to worry about the ball joint bolts if you're replacing the wishbones and balljoints.

The balljoints look like a pain in the hoop to get to as the driveshaft is directly above..

 

I'm gunna call the garage and see what they say cost wise as working in the pissing rain last night was nae fun

[320touring]

After the local VAG specialist garage quoted £96+VAT a side to supply and fit, I've ordered the 2 arms with balljoints and will aim to get them fitted this weekend.

 

*sharpens balljoint splitter*

[M'coli]

I bought something like this to get the nut off the balljoint on my Uno, which was similarily placed in relation to the driveshaft:

https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/hand-tools/pipe-wrenches/8%22-12%22-speed-wrench-set/p/SEN5889010K?utm_campaign=pla+-+&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping-pla&utm_keyword=SEN5889010K&istCompanyId=6aa6787b-063e-4414-802d-129f235df603&istItemId=aqrxaxiqi&istBid=tztx

 

If I can get the nut off a balljoint in darkness and split it at the roadside (University Avenue!) to get the driveshaft back in, I'm sure you'll be fine!

[320touring]

Despite some mild beverage consumption on saturday, I saw fit to sort the 2 front arms on this today.

 

Passenger side was a doddle but by the time I got to the drivers side I was due a bit of grumpages.

 

I couldn't get the rear bush to slot in properly.additionally, I had to jack the engine up to get clearance to take the front 16mm bolt out the subframe. Despite several attempts, I had to admit defeat and gave my brother a shout. he turned up, looked at tit, and turned the steering to thr other lock.

 

boom job done.

 

Thats the 2 failure issues sorted so I'll get her in for an MOT this week:)

[Rusty_Rocket]

Nice job Mr 320T!

[320touring]

Nice job Mr 320T!

The garage quoting 96 +vat per side was a great motivator..

[spartacus]

Good effort, as has been said, you won't regret doing the balljoints too. If you ever do any that are similar they won't seem half as bad.

[320touring]

Good effort, as has been said, you won't regret doing the balljoints too. If you ever do any that are similar they won't seem half as bad.

yeah seemed to go ok-first time I've done one with that setup.

 

reckon it helped that it was a low miles unragged example..

[Split_Pin]

I think garages make prices up as they go along sometimes.

 

So that's a jolly nice saving you have made, nice one!

[SiC]

I think autodata make times up as they go along sometimes.

 

 

FTFY

[Sigmund Fraud]

I hope you didn't forget to transfer the little air deflectors onto the new wishbones ? They're not critical, but do help a bit with brake cooling.

[dome]

I hope you didn't forget to transfer the little air deflectors onto the new wishbones ? They're not critical, but do help a bit with brake cooling.

You've seen his driving I take it?

[320touring]

I hope you didn't forget to transfer the little air deflectors onto the new wishbones ? They're not critical, but do help a bit with brake cooling.

Getting the tabs aff appeared to be a PITA, and I was racing the light failing.

 

I may clip them on later bur as Mr Dome says , I'm a believer that "brakes juat slow you down"

[Sigmund Fraud]

Getting the tabs aff appeared to be a PITA, and I was racing the light failing.

 

I may clip them on later bur as Mr Dome says , I'm a believer that "brakes juat slow you down"

 

They're pretty easy, actually. They're like the 4331 design, here. Use a tiny screwdriver to pull the middle bit out, then the whole thing comes out easily.

[320touring]

Can haz achieved an MOT ftw!

 

now to work out what I'm doing with it..

[dome]

Well done.

 

Stick it up for swaps and accept the most inappropriate thing offered...

[320touring]

Well done.

 

Stick it up for swaps and accept the most inappropriate thing offered...

Ahm no you..

[Richard]

 

now to work out what I'm doing with it..

 

Sell it to Robin of course.

[Tickman]

now to work out what I'm doing with it..

Sell and make floaty Citroen dreams come true with the massive* profit!

 

*Smaller profits are available but may not help floaty dreams come true.

[Split_Pin]

Sell and make floaty Citroen dreams come true with the massive* profit!

 

*Smaller profits are available but may not help floaty dreams come true.

Gotta agree with this!

[320touring]

With this being legal for a whole day, It was only appropriate that it be pressed into service as a Kullekshun Schlaaag.

 

I huckled the Colleauge to go and look at a Mazda 3 1.6 to the north of wur place o employments..

 

Ut turned out to hae a rustier arch than our old 535 which is saying summat.

 

That said we managed to come back with a 1 owner 2008 Focus 1.6 petrol with 110k on the clock and full service history for peanuts.

 

Car seems a good un and performed admirably whilst being driven in a spirited manner.

 

the wee Lupo was flawless- I especially enjoy the 34L tank meaning £7 to fill from 1/8th a tank..

[SiC]

Focus is the same platform as the Mazda 3 and shares a lot of similarities between them.