Suspension Wishbone & rear control arm bushes
 

There has been cause for concern in the UK over the “seizing up” of these bushes that comes to light whenever an alignment adjustment is done and you are told ‘sorry we cant get the correct settings as you have an alignment adjusting bolt (s) seized’
What seizes are the alignment adjustment bolts in the sleeves that go through the actual rubber bush in the bottom wishbones along with rear control arm bushes.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Alignment adjustment bolt & sleeve

You have in respect of the wishbones (2 wishbones - top & bottom - in each wheel arch) front and rear.
The bottom wishbones have 2 large bushes that attach them to the sub frame.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Front bottom wishbone & alignment bolts

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Rear bottom wishbone & alignment bolts

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Front bottom wishbone mounting

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Rear bottom wishbone mounting

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Front bottom wishbone alignment bolt

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Rear bottom wishbone & alignment bolt

The top wishbone also has 2 bushes which mounts it to the car, the bolts used for the top wishbones mountings are splined which reduces the tendency for them to seize but never the less they can have a possible “seizing” problem but are not detected as easily as the bottom bushes as they do not have any alignment adjustment properties, they simply seize on the bolt going through them, making the top wishbone extremely hard to move up and down in its natural movement.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Front top wishbone & mountings

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Rear top wishbone & mountings

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Splined bolt for top wishbones

Rear control arm bushes: Again these alignment adjustment bolts will seizes in the bush that connects it to the rear sub frame and so causes the problem.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...1bd993846f.png
Rear control arm & alignment bolt

If they are seized then there is really only 2 ways of getting them out:
1/ heat, which usually destroys the rubber part that surrounds the bolt/sleeve
2/ sawing them, which obviously destroys them

Reason why they seize: They are assembled with no grease what so ever and if the vehicle is used all year round you are bound to get the ingress of water and corrosive salt (in the winter) that’s the start of it. Obviously I am more directing these comments to vehicles used in the UK with our damp weather and winter salting conditions.

Prevention; If your car is relatively new then I would suggest greasing these areas to hopefully cut down the moisture from entering, with vehicles older than that its anybody’s guess how far your corrosion problem will have progressed.
If you feel you want to have it stripped down, inspected and protected with thick grease, it will be quite expensive as it is quite a labour intensive job and not forgetting the “alignment” you will have to do afterwards.

(Sorry about some of the quality of photo)


Photo album: https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/gallery/a...ension-bushes/

very well documented and shown, i will be getting my cars bushes treated this weekend all being well. once again i am impressed with the way you go about things.

How much are we talking spendy wise if you got to have new bushes? Is it DIY fitment or stealers?

Very good info nigel :bow:

One to add to the Tech FAQ i think neil :)

Good Post! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

:iagree: Thanks for giving us some much needed info on this subject Nigel. Excellent :) It'll be going in the tech faq if that's ok with you :)

:bow: thanks Nigel

Mark, unfortunatly you cant get the bushes seperatley (unless you buy Mugen or Spoon) the OEM ones come in the complete arm/wishbone, they arent cheap,

APPROX: Lower front wishbone/arm

[QUOTE=biker1,Jan 18 2005, 12:37 AM] Mark, unfortunatly you cant get the bushes seperatley (unless you buy Mugen or Spoon) the OEM ones come in the complete arm/wishbone, they arent cheap,

APPROX: Lower front wishbone/arm

:( I had to fork out that kind of money last year....its really not nice....