Discussion
Basically the procedure is as follows:
Remove exhaust system
Undo rear brake cables from brake drums and from the quadrants on the radius arms, then thread the cables through the sub-frame webs and clear them from the sub-frame.
Undo the hydraulic brake connection where it meets the 3-way connector. Be careful as hydraulic fluid will flow out - catch this as it is very corrosive.
Remove the fuel tank(s) after safely draining down the petrol.
Undo the top damper nuts to allow the radius arms to drop, then undo the bottom damper nuts and remove the dampers.
Check that all lines which should pass over the top of the sub-frame have not been re-routed under the frame.
Put a support under the sub-frame.
Undo the 4 bolts at the front going horizontally into the heel boards at the ends of the sills, and hope that they do not shear off as they sometimes do.
Undo the 4 vertical bolts going from the boot floor through the rear attachment points.
Lower the sub-frame from the car.
I hope this helps.
Remove exhaust system
Undo rear brake cables from brake drums and from the quadrants on the radius arms, then thread the cables through the sub-frame webs and clear them from the sub-frame.
Undo the hydraulic brake connection where it meets the 3-way connector. Be careful as hydraulic fluid will flow out - catch this as it is very corrosive.
Remove the fuel tank(s) after safely draining down the petrol.
Undo the top damper nuts to allow the radius arms to drop, then undo the bottom damper nuts and remove the dampers.
Check that all lines which should pass over the top of the sub-frame have not been re-routed under the frame.
Put a support under the sub-frame.
Undo the 4 bolts at the front going horizontally into the heel boards at the ends of the sills, and hope that they do not shear off as they sometimes do.
Undo the 4 vertical bolts going from the boot floor through the rear attachment points.
Lower the sub-frame from the car.
I hope this helps.
It's a bit of a fiddle. You really need to remove the sub frame, cut out the heel board end on one side. Line up the new end, re-fit the sub-frame using the other 3 mounting points to ensure correct alignment. Then you tack weld the new heel board end in place firmly and repeat for the other side. Then remove the frame, seam weld, grind back, paint and finally re-fit the sub-frame.
The big risk in not doing it this way is mis-alignment and consequent 'crabbing' of the whole car.
The big risk in not doing it this way is mis-alignment and consequent 'crabbing' of the whole car.
Cooperman said:
It's a bit of a fiddle. You really need to remove the sub frame, cut out the heel board end on one side. Line up the new end, re-fit the sub-frame using the other 3 mounting points to ensure correct alignment. Then you tack weld the new heel board end in place firmly and repeat for the other side. Then remove the frame, seam weld, grind back, paint and finally re-fit the sub-frame.
The big risk in not doing it this way is mis-alignment and consequent 'crabbing' of the whole car.
Didn't realise it was such a big job. I thought it was just new bushes to be replaced. The big risk in not doing it this way is mis-alignment and consequent 'crabbing' of the whole car.
Weay be at cross puropses here. When you said the mountings I thought you meant the part of the body to which the sub-frame front trunnions are bolted. i.e. the heel board ends.
If you mean the rubber bushes in the trunnions they can be changed with the sub-frame in situ, although they very rarely need changing.
If you mean the rubber bushes in the trunnions they can be changed with the sub-frame in situ, although they very rarely need changing.
Yes sorry may of got our wires crossed. I only might the bushes etc. I will look in to the actual mountings to see what condition they are in. I was advised by the garage to change the mountings but I was under the impression that they ment the bushes front and back. I have ordered new ones so will have to inpect them brackets etc when I come to change them over hopefully this weekend.
Cooperman said:
Those bushes normally last forever.
Check that it's not the mountings into the heelboard that are being referred to as the heel board rusts and it's not uncommon to have to fit new end panels.
Yeah I will do. I'm taking to the garage to get the final once over and MOT hopefully in a couple of weeks so I'll see if they need doing and get the garage to do them. Check that it's not the mountings into the heelboard that are being referred to as the heel board rusts and it's not uncommon to have to fit new end panels.
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