12340987

Finished all the jobs on my car yesterday, with one remaining to do, lower the back a little more so it matched the front...

and from the moment i opened the toolbox the attempt went sour!

Jack broke, kept falling off the stands, and then tried undoing the rear wishbone bolt (focus) as its near on impossible to get the springs out otherwise, head of the bolt snapped, so gave up, need to get a new wishbone/arm tommorow, got to cut the bolt the other end out first because thats siezed/snapped too !

If im correct the wishbones are around £30 - £40 a side?

fordsportjay

iTrader: (6)

yes,they always seize up.have fun!

12340987

Well the outer one snapped and we cut the other end off already, that end is free, so ive got to cut the other side tommorow as ive got the nut off but the bolt is in there well and truly.. damn thing :@

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Havent I already explained the way to do it, that takes 5 minutes a side and doesn't even involve breaking a sweat?

12340987

There is no possible way of doing it! You either struck lucky and the bolts undid for you or what i dont know.

NONE of the bolts, on the wishbone, the rear beam, anti roll bar or the rear wishbone will undo, they either round off, snap, or seize solid in their bushes, i asked you which bolt and if you had a picture of what and how you did it but dont think you replied again?

Only way is to cut the wishbone bolts off, and thats how garages does it ive heard.

Im intrigued as to how you did it though, clarify a little?

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Unbolt the shock absorber from either the bottom, or the top, it doesn't matter. I usually do it from inside the boot, behind the carpet. Then unbolt the anti roll bar links if you can. If you can't don't worry but it is a little easier if you can. Put spring clamps INSIDE spring, up through hole in the lower arm then clamp up as tight as you can. This way there is much more room. Then get a mate to stand on top of the disc / drum to lower the arm down as much as it will go, then with a lever bar, just pop the spring out.

Don't undo the bolts that mount the lower arm to the chassis as this will affect the geomety of the suspension and you will never get it right again.

I've done about half a dozen focus's this way and have never had a problem. New lowering spring should be shorter than standard spring so will go in the cups with ease.

12340987

So you basically took the top hook off the spring clamp (one is loose and one winds on a thread) put it through the hole of the wishbone and then placed the other hook by hand inside the spring? i can sort of get what your sayin but cant work out how the spring will come out once its free? ive had to take the wishbone off now cus the bolt snapped and siezed inside the bush, its only bolt on bolt off

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FOCUS...item3f0c041214

this bit