Replace lower wish bone

[True-Blue]

Interesting, and almost seems like a no-brainer at the price… how did you get around the headlamp levelling switch?

Saw the ‘knob’ off the old arm and glue with 2 pack epoxy onto new arm in same place..sensor places very little physical load on the ‘knob’ so worked for me on two cars OK..

FWIW..best to replace upper and lower links and fit Meyle HD (note HD) tie rod ends…quality solution that transforms front end feel and steering response..well it does on shagged ones…

Thanks Peter, by ‘Knob’ do you mean the raised protrusions that sit either side of the ‘clip on’ bracket? Did you break the bracket trying to remove it? was a bugger of a job clipping it on when I replaced it for the MOT in December

[tiglon]

Well worth doing, this. When I was hunting the parts one of the arms was out of stock everywhere so had to get it from the US.

Not sure it helps fuel economy or road noise though!

[Silverstar]

FWIW..best to replace upper and lower links and fit Meyle HD (note HD) tie rod ends…quality solution that transforms front end feel and steering response..well it does on shagged ones…

Given the age of most of these cars I would suspect most of them are.

[flybobbie]

The leveler bracket has two slots in it, so it wraps around with about 10mm gap.
So i cut a piece of tin plate, push through the slots and folded over.
Wire locking could do the same.

It has only been less than 12 months i replaced these items with new parts, original spec. so not worn.
Don't forget the bearing at top of shocks, one of my cars was worn.

It definitely runs quieter, less tyre noise.
I never fancied a long journey before, was tiresome to drive.
Now i fancy longer journey. Only had car 10 years!

Yes Autodoc has a habit of bouncing prices around.
I see some sites asking £400 for tail lights, madness.

[B21]

Interesting, and almost seems like a no-brainer at the price… how did you get around the headlamp levelling switch?

Saw the ‘knob’ off the old arm and glue with 2 pack epoxy onto new arm in same place..sensor places very little physical load on the ‘knob’ so worked for me on two cars OK..

FWIW..best to replace upper and lower links and fit Meyle HD (note HD) tie rod ends…quality solution that transforms front end feel and steering response..well it does on shagged ones…

Thanks Peter, by ‘Knob’ do you mean the raised protrusions that sit either side of the ‘clip on’ bracket? Did you break the bracket trying to remove it? was a bugger of a job clipping it on when I replaced it for the MOT in December

I didn’t break the bracket but due to the slightly different shape of the new link the old bracket won’t fit back in its correct place on the new bracket..various folks have ‘bodged’ it by various tying the old bracket with the ‘knob’ on it to the link…

I just bit the bullet and used epoxy cause it then looks like the factory did it..not Heath Robinson

[True-Blue]

Hi Peter,

So I’m understanding… you cut most of the bracket away and just Epoxied the ‘knob’ part to the new wishbone?

[B21]

Hi Peter,

So I’m understanding… you cut most of the bracket away and just Epoxied the ‘knob’ part to the new wishbone?

Correcto!

[True-Blue]

Hi Peter,

So I’m understanding… you cut most of the bracket away and just Epoxied the ‘knob’ part to the new wishbone?

Correcto!

Great, thanks. Trying to find them for a decent price now!

[B21]

Autodoc on a 40% discount day takes some beating…plus unlikely to be bogus parts…having said that, last time I did it I had to buy one of eBay as Autodoc didn’t have a full set..

I do have one of the links which I can let you have at 50% off plus p+p

[flybobbie]

Well having driven the car to work and back all week, have fallen back in love with the car.
There was a few days i drove to work and was ready to just given up on it, had 11 years, time for a change ?..
The steering and stability just awful. (plus the clunky gearbox, seems better with more weight in car, like full fuel).
I would never go on a long journey be too tiring.

But now i look forward to the drive, in fact i want to keep going and skip work.
It's hard to quantify what has changed.
The steering is effortless, slight nudge it turns.
Lighter on sport mode, not truck like. I would run sport all the time because being heavy aided stability, which seemed wrong.
No road noise from the front at all.
All i hear now is from the rear wheels via the rear speaker grilles.
Start to wonder if they have too much camber, they set at max. i think 2.5 degrees.
Might reduce to square up the tyre with the road.

After replacing the RFT's this is the best mod done to this car.
I don't have the servotronic option, so might be different on other cars.

Here's to many more happy (s)miles

[B21]

2 degrees of rear camber is more than enough , especially for less powerful variants..

It’s illogical that geometry settings are the same for both light and heavy and a 2:1 range in power..

[flybobbie]

Did my rough and ready check, rear camber reads 1.7 degrees.

[spitfun]

Now put some larger swaybars on it and you will really love it...

[Silverstar]

Flybobbie just out of interest does your car have the Msport suspension or standard SE spec?

[flybobbie]

Standard spec.
Just ordered the squiggly suspension bars, replace them next see what happens.