Time for some love for the white one

[stephendell]

Spent a couple of days fighting with the front suspension. Bottom wishbone pivot bolts are prone to seizing in the bushes which can make them impossible to remove.

This is the LH side

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This pivot bolt was seized in both bushes. The heat from cutting out the centre tube released the front bush so this could be removed once cut out.

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The second bush was still solid and would not move event with a pulley. However the nut on the end was free so cutting out down small enough to allow it to be rotated allowed it the be unscrewed.

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[stephendell]

A different approach was required for the RH side. While the LH wishbones are available the RH ones are not so it was more important to try and remove this one without damage.

Again the pivot bolt was seized in both buses and the central tube.

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It is not possible to cut completely through the pivot bolt using an angle grinder without damaging the wishbone so the final cuts were completed with a hacksaw. A reciprocating saw would have been quicker.

The pivot bolt was still seized so the head of the bolt needed off. While this allowed some flex in the wishbone bush it was still not possible to withdraw the wishbone even with the nut removed due to the angle so a further cut was required with the hacksaw.

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Here’s the last remaining piece of the pivot bolt which then unscrewed by hand.

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Wishbone is undamaged but now need to extract the bushes.

[stephendell]

Quick clean up and it looks presentable under the arches

RH Side

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You can see the optional ABS system tucked up inside the bumper.

LH side

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Here you can see the unused aircon pipes which were fitted in preparation to all of the later cars.

[stephendell]

Had some nice little spacers made to improve the engineering of the alternator fit.

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[stephendell]

Some new shims for the rear suspension.

Available in various widths 2mm, 1mm & 0.5mm

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Looking good, luckily never had that problem as a good impact gun and heat on the tube they always came out as the shock cracks the rust but there’s always a first time. Are you going to sell it when you have finished or drive it.

[stephendell]

Looking good, luckily never had that problem as a good impact gun and heat on the tube they always came out as the shock cracks the rust but there’s always a first time. Are you going to sell it when you have finished or drive it.

Yes I’ve never had one this bad for some reason. Used a snap on impact gun and it was destroying the socket and the nut. When it did turn fractionally it just burst the captive nut out of the bulkhead with a very loud bang as the bolt wasn’t budging. Typically, the very early atmo breaker LH one came straight out a treat by hand and the bolt looked like brand new. The other was seized in the front bush only so easy enough to deal with. I’ve also had upper rear pivot hangers near impossible to move even with heat and in a press.

[stephendell]

Drive it. Never had any plans to sell this one.

[stephendell]

Ordered a belt to try on the alternator. Can’t get a 4 rib pulley small enough off the shelf for the alternator pulley so stuck with a 6 rib one.

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Seems to line up ok. Will maybe try a 706 instead of a 715.

[stephendell]

Very happy with how these front upper wishbones turned out. They came from the early atmo breaker.

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They look excellent Steve.

Are the lower wishbones shared with anything else (R25?).

They look excellent Steve.

Are the lower wishbones shared with anything else (R25?).

Exactly the same as earlier R25 ones - 1984 to 1988-ish. The later ones are a different design.

[mettersl]

Darren...Renault Espace too...similar age ones anyway, but those supplies have dried up too.
Both my cars needed new or replacement ones, they rot underneath where the metal is double skinned.
If you haven’t cleaned and checked yours, I’d recommend it.

[stephendell]

Darren...Renault Espace too...similar age ones anyway, but those supplies have dried up too.
Both my cars needed new or replacement ones, they rot underneath where the metal is double skinned.
If you haven’t cleaned and checked yours, I’d recommend it.

Yes I have loads and most of them have a hole through the inside layer and some right through. Wondering if it would be possible to remove and replace the inner skin.

[stephendell]

Had a bit of a POR15 session. Hopefully it will all be dry when I’m next up.

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