Replacing your Bushes

[adzs12]

Nice one rich i just had my car motd this morning and got an advisory on my tie rod bushes so this will be usefull to me

[RichardK]

Removing your REAR subframe to change bushes.

• Jack the car right up. I put the jack in the centre on the subframe.
• Use some good, strong axle stands.
• Undo the 2 bolts + 1 nut from the plates either end of the subframe.
• Remove the plates.
• Put your axle stands where the plates were.
• Disconnect the handbrake cables from the centre of the subframe (where you would adjust the cable normally)
• Undo and remove top diff bolt (top one of three). You will need a 17mm spanner and a 19mm socket to remove this. The bolt will slide out if you jack the diff up enough to take the strain off it.
• Undo the bottom bolts from the shock absorbers.
• Disconnect the rubber brake hoses (there are 2 sets. The set to disconnect is the set that join the subframe to the car, NOT the ones that link to the calipers).
• Disconnect the prop shaft where it joins to the diff. You'll need a 14mm ratchet spanner do do this.
• With the car on axle stands, lower the jack down. Would be advisable to have an assistant help balance the subframe as it comes down.
• Pull the complete setup out and now the real work will begin...

NOTE:

While you have all this apart, change the grease in your CV joints! Not on a laminate floor though like I did - the old grease pours out when you remove the rubber gaiters, pmsl!