Trailing arm bushes

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by passenger

VIDA: Looks not complicated. Tie rod I would also change. Cost like 15€

Amazing! Many thanks

[simboc2004]

I changed both my rear trailing arm bushes at the start of this year., using one of the newer bush removal/insertion kits. I did it on my driveway, using axle st ands and it was definitely doable in a day (both sides), though I took longer because I knackered one bush by not getting stone bush in straight and then distorting it when I applied pressure. It would be much, much easier to do it with the car on a lift, but that's not an option for me. I did take photos of this process and posted them on here at the time, but not sure where that link is now. I'll look...

[simboc2004]

Here goes, some photos of my swap over in February this year:

Photo 1: The tool I used was around £100 on Bay - and I resold it for £70 after doing the job.

Search for: Trailing Arm Bush Tool For Ford Mondeo Mk4 S-Max Galaxy Volvo V70 XC60 S60 S80

Photos 2&3:I had to make a modification to the exhaust hanger bracket, as the one supplied with the bush replacement kit didn't have the correct mountings. I basically cut off the old mounting once it was removed, cut out a shape to fit around the back of the new bush, then knocked out the original mounting bolt (just a splined interference fit) and bolted it all to the new bush mounting.

[simboc2004]

Here follow photos of the process in time order:

I didn't photograph the process of removing all the brake pipe clips and electrical cable holders from the arm before undertaking the job. They all came off easily - I broke a couple of the plastic brake pipe clips and had to buy new ones (not easy to source, buy them in advance!). All the electrical clips pushed off OK, or were held on with cable ties. Don't forget the brake pipe flexi needs to be unclipped at the front top of the arm - and replaced before refitting the bearing as it can't be done after bolting it all up (yes, I know this from experience!)

[simboc2004]

more photos:

1710 shows the brake flexi unclipped from the arm. This has to be done to drop the arm enough to get at the bearing. By jacking up under the spring mounting (see 1705 in the first photos) and "fixing the arm" at the midpoint (1726) you can deflect the bearing(front) end of the arm downwards enough to use the removal/fitting tool... this is a pivoting action and makes sense when you are doing it...

[simboc2004]

more photos:

1712 - arm dropped enough to use the tool

1714 - tool fitted to the arm and bearing. It's very heavy - I used my knees as weight bearing tools. Keeping it straight isn't so important at this stage, but it IS VERY IMPORTANT when refitting the new bearings (as they are squeezed out of shape VERY easily by the tool.

1717 - arm with bush removed.

1715 - old and new bush contrast - this was the "good" one.

1725 - this is the "bad" one - completely delaminated

[passenger]

This is what forum is about. Many thanks for pics. I need to checke mine and do it. I have 12€ per hour autolift, but problem is if you are not done in your time what you booked, you need to take car from lift.

[simboc2004]

more photos:

1721 - new bearing installed (the pain is getting all the parts to fit squarely before pushing the bearing. you need to put marks on the arm to get the tool properly aligned so that the bolt on bits are at the right angle - this takes some fiddling and experimenting. It's much easier to get it right BEFORE pushing the bush home, than trying to get it out again afterwards to correct the angle (I know!).

1727 - part of the tool fitted over the arm prior to installing the bush. This is the part that needs to be correctly aligned. This is, obviously, on the other side of the car.

1728 - the guide ring over the new bush - thus MUST fit accurately, or it will crush and distort the metal outer part of the bush when pushing it in with the tool (yep, I did that!)

1729 - fully fitted nearside bush and arm assembly. Note the customised exhaust hanger and brake flexi guide.

Hope this helps - sorry, I forgot to photograph some stages as I went - in my defence it was snowing at times (1711)...

[passenger]

Any driving changes?

[simboc2004]

No, not really. The only change I noticed was that it doesn't make a crashing sound when you hit a pothole now...