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Upper Control Arm

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arm upper
1K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  115686 
#1 ·
Hi Guys,

N/S suspension is creaking on my 147 and I think it is the upper control arm.

Can anyone tell me from experience if I replace them if the tracking needs re setting?

Many Thanks

Bertie
 
#4 ·
And if I want to grease them do I push the metal top hat out of the bush and apply grease there or the ruber bush out of the casting and apply the grease in this location.

I suppose the other option is both.

I don't want to start trying to push parts out that aren't meant to.

Any advice from experience would be welcome before I start struggling unnecessarily.

Many Thanks

Andrew
 
#8 ·
And if I want to grease them do I push the metal top hat out of the bush and apply grease there or the ruber bush out of the casting and apply the grease in this location.
Yes, pop the metal collar out, may find you can push it out with your thumb but don't be surprised if you can't. You'll notice when they're removed the surface of the rubber bushes is covered in 'X' dimples, this is to trap grease inside. Manufacturers are really stingy with the grease and they soon dry out and creak. Make sure you use a rubber friendly grease.

The bolt and collar remain stationary when tightened, the arm and bush move as one about the collar.

The bushes will come out with a lot of effort (I know as I replaced mine) but they're a really tight fit and are not designed to move once in the arm. Other than providing rust protection greasing the bolt is pointless.

Good luck

Pub
 
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#5 ·
The best option is to grease both. Liberally.
If the top hat doesn't come out though I wouldn't force it.

I'd just ram grease into it instead.
I also grease the bolts too.

I'm only just getting a bit of creaking on Birth upper arms after 19k miles and 14 months.
So ideally I need to do them again.
 
#7 ·
Upper wishbones are a joke design. Great lump of cast aluminium but the bit that takes the loads and acts as a bearing (not an elastomeric bush) is made of .... rubber. Got to have been a better way of designing them using proper metal bearings if nothing else.:banghead:
 
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