sean999 Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 hi, just in the process of stripping the front end of my car to bits to repaint it. having taken the front suspension completely off i need to replace a few items, but not sure where to get them from or what they are called to be honest. firstly, on the hubcarrier there are what appear to be 2 ball joints, one upper and one lower. the bootom one seems to be fixed, while the upper unbolt from the wish bone. both have a rubber grease filled gaiter fiited to them. both of mine are knackered. are they still available, or will something else fit of another vehicle. where can i get hold of them and whats the propper name for them. secondly, having removed the suspension i have great difficulty in removing the 2 large bolts that attach the suspension to the chassis rails where the rails "swan neck" there is a turret nut and split pin in them. the steel sleeves had rusted in and i have had to burn the bushes out to remove them. daft question, but again what are these bushes known as. dont want to sound a t#at when i contact the local car spares place. cheers sean999 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantadoc Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 (edited) Deleted Edited October 2, 2017 by mantadoc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean999 Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 sorry, its a 79 cav coupe. the ones on the ends of the steering rack want doing as well (are they called track rod ends?) What Car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exclusive Opel Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 FirstLine part numbers: Upper Ball Joint FBJ 5045 (Left and right) Lower Ball Joint FBJ 5030 (Left and right) Outer Track Rod Ends FTR 4061 (Left and right) Found on FirstLine's site (links to available parts for MK1 Cav.) FirstLine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCarlos Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 from bitter personal experience I would heartily recommend that you buy a complete set of new ball joints I stripped my front crossmember over christmas and new year, painted it all, new bushes etc and there appeared nothing wrong with the ball joints so I was planning on leaving them alone and refitting. even the rubber bits were all fine. no way would they do back up, the shafts just span round when the nyloc section of the nut hit the threads. no amount of levering, clamping, grasping with every sort of grip wrench known to man would hold them firm enough I drafted in help, got the car on its wheels to see if that helped but absolutely no go. 2 solid days I was at it. Ended up having to take it all to bits again to fit new joints, burned all my nice new paint using heat to get the lowers out too I used a first line set, in stock from Partco all in cost including VAT £70. went together first time and took minutes Then I had to redo all the paint! Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean999 Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 ok guys thats brilliant thanks. anyone know what the bush is called that mount the front cross member/ wishbones etc to the chassis rails. the bush i am referring to is the one where it all bolts upto the chassis rail, where the rails "swan neck" it was a right pig to get out! sean999 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Front subframe rear mounts as far as i remember, assuming we both mean the same bit , see this page , the one i'm on about is No4 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/POWERFLEX-SUSPENSION...A1%7C240%3A1318 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean999 Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 yes, thats the bit, we're on the same page! talking of the ball joints, i have previously mentioned 2, on each of the hub carriers, one top (which unbolts from the top,) the bottom one which from memory has a 19mm nut on it seems to be pressed in, cant see any bolts etc. any ideas at to how this comes apart as i have to replace it. i can do the brute force and big hammer bit, but as yet haven't aquired a blow torch to heat things up. sean999 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowhusaberg Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 unless you have access to a press you will have to try brute force as the bottom ball joint has a rough surface machined on it to grip the arm to stop it turning.i did mine in a big vice ie.big socket/pipe on the back then do the vice up on the threaded side,not easy but it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCarlos Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Get a blowtorch, heat all around the lower joint until it's really really hot, get the arm in a big vice and hit it the top of the joint very hard with a big hammer. Helps if you put the nut on the top gives you more to hit, works every time for me. Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean999 Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 thanks, will try that, i've got a big vice, but still need to aquire the blow torch sean999 Get a blowtorch, heat all around the lower joint until it's really really hot, get the arm in a big vice and hit it the top of the joint very hard with a big hammer. Helps if you put the nut on the top gives you more to hit, works every time for me. Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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