stewart.d.campbell

Hi does anyone know what parts im going to need to replace the subframe on my st170, i have a used subframe new wishbones and i think i need 6 subframe bolts, pinch bolt for the steering shaft and i was going to get new anti rollbar bushes, will i get away with reusing the wishbone bolts as the subrame came with wishbones so i figured out of the old subframe and the new one i would be able to salvage enough, have i missed anything? thanks.

Colin_P

You will need two steering column pinch bolts and it is a good idea to replace the funnel over the column to prevent future water ingress. Two pinch bolts as there is a riser piece off the rack.

You will also need some 'o' rings for the steering rack oil lines.

Also alignment is critical and you should really use a set of pins to do so.

Some pictures when I did this to replace the steering rack;

Pins in before I removed the S/F. It it didn't wasn't lined up to start with then trouble could be had later on.


S/F laying on the floor, note the riser piece on the column which you may or may not need the 2nd bolt for.


Make sure you set the ARB height properly


New rack, everything clean and ready to fit


New and old funnel. You can see how squished the old one was and how this could easily lead to water ingress.


Pins back in when re-fitted


Hope this helps. All done with only a trolley jack and obviously make sure the car is very well supported and cannot fall or be pulled off any axle stands. I put the some steel wheels under and a load of wood (as can be seen in the last picture) so the car could not go anywhere even if I did pull it off the axle stands undoing some of the very tight bolts.

Colin_P

And the parts;

Crush washers, two pinch bolts, 'o' rings and the alignment pins set. Funnel not shown.

stewart.d.campbell

Cheers for that, i have alignment pins, they are for mondeos but hopefully they will fit, have you a parts number for the o rings and also do i need to replace all the bearing washers as the ones on top of the new subframe (secondhand) are still fixed in place, thanks.

Colin_P

I did this four years ago so no part numbers.

The crush washers, as long as they are not rusty should be fine for re-use. I think all they are really for is to allow you to shift the S/F about to get the proper alignment before you wind the bolts up.

Also if you are doing this on your own then getting the S/F in and out and aligning it is much easier (lighter) with the wishbones off. If you have an assistant or are a body builder nutter then go for it with the W/B's on.

Not a difficult job to do but can be messy with the PAS oil.

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

I done all of the above after enthusiasm from Colin

I didn't bother with the alignment pins. I would buy new bolts mind as you may have problems getting the old ones out and they won't be reusable.

I bought the subframe/chassis bolts from Ford then had then zinc plated.

The others I sizes up and got them from my local fastener place £££'s cheaper.

I done the steering rack/arms etc whilst the whole thing was on the floor, then popped along to have the wheels re aligned, job done.

Then the next week I done the back axle

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

......

stewart.d.campbell

how many power steering pipes are there to disconnect, looks like 4 o rings in the picture, also there are 6 crush washers pictured so do they only go on one side ie on topp as thats where the ones on the new subframe are and why are 2 different, thanks for all the help.

Colin_P

The PAS connection is a single block with a flow and return only so only two seals needed. I bought a spare set in case I fucked them up. Cheap enough to take this precaution. I didn't fuck them up and ended up giving them away with the alignment pin set when I sold it.

There are crush washers on the wishbones as well as the S/F.

I wouldn't bother getting new crush washers, the old ones should be fine.

stewart.d.campbell

Are the crush washers on the top and bottom of the subframe or just the top, thanks again.

stewart.d.campbell

Just noticed something in your pics, is it just 4 bolts holding the subframe?

Colin_P

It was a while ago but I think it is three bolts each side.



The crush washers sit on the top of the S/F only. Same for the wishbones. All they are for as far as I can establish is to make it easier to move things about and aligning prior to tightening everything up.

Colin_P

Below , you can see where the crush washers fit.

Also the 3rd bolt are on the 'ears' / high parts of the S/F

stewart.d.campbell

Ah maybe thats what the different crush washers are for then, thanks for all that, think i have my parts list now.