Bongo Fury

Posted: **Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:36 pm**

ronhud wrote:I've now got the front ARB bushes and brackets from the shop. I am about to go under the Freda for the first time! I've bought a pair of axle stands from Halfords and I've had a quick look under the Freda to see where to site them. I would really appreciate some advice on this - it may seem a naive question but better safe than sorry. I can see a drive shaft probably about 2ft approx long between what I take to be the CV joints. Should both axle stands be positioned under this? When I unbolt the ARB brackets is anything under tension that I should watch out for?

I guess this is one of the simpler jobs underneath and a good one to start with.
Ron

Not a good idea to put the axle stands under the drive shafts, you want to have the weight of the car on the suspension, so don't use them on the jacking points either, I can't advise exactly as I did mine on ramps, & can't presently go & look underneath, choose wisely & carefully & make sure it's chocked , in P & handbrake on, You will probably have to use a lot of force to undo the nuts, so make sure it is supported securely.

Posted: **Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:26 pm**

when you take the wheel off..... I always slide it under the sill as well,

if it fell off a stand it may damage a wheel or even the sill..... but better that than you

but you want to support it at the inside of the suspension, or the chassis, I think there are two chassis rails running down, and the wishbone mounts to them, I'd support it there somewhere, so the suspension is unloaded

John

Posted: **Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:30 pm**

mikeonb4c wrote: It might be worth checking that the relevant bolts are going to undo (i.e. are not seized) and/or WD40ing them etc. before assuming the job will be simple. It is simple provided the bolts comply! Also, when doing the job (can someone confirm I've got this right) make sure before you tighten the droplinks/bush brackets up that the vehicle is levelled (side to side really, fore and aft not so important) and that a normal running load/compression is on the suspension. Otherwise you will leave the various rubber bushes in a torqued condition when the vehicle is in its normal running attitude and this will cause premature failure. In practice this mean axle stands are fine but doing things one at a time using the vehicle jack is not.

Mike

Would recommend following Mikes advice rather than unload the suspension, That's my opinion anyway

Posted: **Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:54 pm**

Thanks - I saw Mike's note about levelling and thats why II bought the stands. I was hoping tho that someone might reccomend a definite place for stands at the front.
Ron

Posted: **Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:20 pm**

oooops

still worked for me!!

maybe I'll do it right next time

John

Posted: **Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:36 am**

Ron - sorry I can't advise on that one as Ive only done my rears and that was a simple thing. One of the experts (e.g. Dandywarhol will no doubt be along shortly with some sensible advice). Good luck and keep us posted.

Posted: **Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:14 am**

Why buy droplinks if they are ok.If you are not sure how to check them,disconnect them and go for a run,if the noise is gone the jobs half done.

Posted: **Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:31 am**

missfixit70 wrote:
mikeonb4c wrote: It might be worth checking that the relevant bolts are going to undo (i.e. are not seized) and/or WD40ing them etc. before assuming the job will be simple. It is simple provided the bolts comply! Also, when doing the job (can someone confirm I've got this right) make sure before you tighten the droplinks/bush brackets up that the vehicle is levelled (side to side really, fore and aft not so important) and that a normal running load/compression is on the suspension. Otherwise you will leave the various rubber bushes in a torqued condition when the vehicle is in its normal running attitude and this will cause premature failure. In practice this mean axle stands are fine but doing things one at a time using the vehicle jack is not.

Mike
Would recommend following Mikes advice rather than unload the suspension, That's my opinion anyway

Having the vehicle level and loaded usually only applies to bushes etc. not ball joints.

Posted: **Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:02 pm**

oglivy0 wrote:
missfixit70 wrote:
mikeonb4c wrote: It might be worth checking that the relevant bolts are going to undo (i.e. are not seized) and/or WD40ing them etc. before assuming the job will be simple. It is simple provided the bolts comply! Also, when doing the job (can someone confirm I've got this right) make sure before you tighten the droplinks/bush brackets up that the vehicle is levelled (side to side really, fore and aft not so important) and that a normal running load/compression is on the suspension. Otherwise you will leave the various rubber bushes in a torqued condition when the vehicle is in its normal running attitude and this will cause premature failure. In practice this mean axle stands are fine but doing things one at a time using the vehicle jack is not.

Mike
Would recommend following Mikes advice rather than unload the suspension, That's my opinion anyway
Having the vehicle level and loaded usually only applies to bushes etc. not ball joints.

Just to confirm, the rear droplinks feature bushes (steel sleeve centre, bonded to rubber bush, bonded to metal dumbell end of droplink (one each end). No idea about front ones - never done 'em

Posted: **Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:07 pm**

Why buy droplinks if they are ok.If you are not sure how to check them,disconnect them and go for a run,if the noise is gone the jobs half done.

Driving with a disconnected ARB? That should be fun.

Posted: **Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:42 pm**

Veg_Ian wrote:
Why buy droplinks if they are ok.If you are not sure how to check them,disconnect them and go for a run,if the noise is gone the jobs half done.
Driving with a disconnected ARB? That should be fun.

I mean go around the block a few times that should be sufficient.You probably wouldn't know they were missing.

Bongo Fury

Clonkin' down below.

DROPLINKS

LINKS

Re: LINKS

ball joint