The lower front ball joints on my 2015 Fiat Panda cross 4x4 1.3MJ had become excessively worn, as the car has completed 50,000 miles I decided to replace both front lower control arms (wishbones).
The following procedure may be of interest to forum members and does NOT require the removal of the front of the car.
1) Chock both rear tyres.
2) Loosen the wheel nuts on both front wheels.
3) Jack the front of the car onto axle stands allowing sufficient ground clearance of approximately 30 cm / 12" inches.
4) Remove both front wheels.
5) Remove both plastic inner wing protectors.
6) Remove front sump guard.
7) Remove the 3 plastic studs securing the front of the car to the bumper.
8) Slacken off the 3 bolts securing the bottom part of the front of the car, these are just below the 2 front fog lights on either side high up.
9) Holding the bottom part of the front of the car gently pull it towards you, this will unclip the sides, you only need to pull the lower part out approximately 8 cm / 3" inches.
10) Wedge the bottom front of the car between the front steel bumper bar and lower part of the front, allowing approximately 75cm /3" clearance, I utilised 2 blocks of wood.
11) Where the two tow hooks are located on the front bumper, there are 4 bolts on each side, the nuts on the opposite side are accessible from within the wheel arch are captive, welded into position, so an additional spanner / socket is not required.
12) The 8 bolts are tight so using a breaker bar "crack off" the 8 bolts then fully loosen with a ratchet, remove the bolts.
13) Working from the wheel arch position loosen the top bolt from the vertical support arm, then remove the lower bolt, there is no requirement to remove the bar.
14) From under the front subframe remove the 2 securing bolts, these are very tight i used a 24" breaker bar.
15) Remove the detachable part of the front sub frame, this will then allow access to 1 of 2 bolts securing the control arm in position.
16) Remove the single bolt securing the control arm to the subframe the one that has just been exposed, it's very tight so a large breaker bar will be necessary.
17) Remove the other bolt from under the subframe securing the control arm into position (2 in total), the nut on top of the subframe is not captive, welded in position so another socket / spanner will be required.
18) Remove the pinch bolt securing the bottom ball joint from the hub assembly.
15) Using a ball joint splitter tool disconnect the ball joint from the hub.
16) The complete Control arm can now be removed by using pry bars and a hammer.
17) Apply silicone, ceramic, or red rubber grease liberally into the 2 areas where the control arm is located, do NOT use copper grease as this will cause the rubber bushes to deteriorate prematurely.
18) Firstly line up the bush closest to the rear of the car, once it's correctly aligned replace the nut and bolt loosely, do not tighten.
19) Forcing the control arm down swivel it around to the other side where the bush is secured with the single non- accessible bolt, this is quite difficult, replace the bolt loosely.
20) Align the ball joint and reinstall into the hub, it will need assistance from a dead blow mallet or similar, replace the pinch bolt and nut but do not fully tighten.
21) Raise up the shock absorber to the end of its travel by placing a jack under the bottom ball joint, this simulates the car supporting its own weight on all 4 wheels and being level.
22) Tighten the 2 bolts securing the control arm.
23) Tighten the ball joint pinch bolt.
24) Remove the jack.
25) Replace and secure back into position the removable lateral subframe.
26) Remove wedges from the front lower part of the car, replace all securing bolts.
27) Replace plastic inner wing protector and tighten all screws, bolts and nuts.
28) Replace opposite lower control arm if required.
29) Replace Jack lift car, remove axle stands, lower car to the ground, remove rear wheel chocks.
30) Road test car.
Additional notes:-
There is NO requirement to disconnect any of the daylight running or fog lights and the complete lower front of the car.
Clean the threads of all the bolts with a wire brush and and apply either copper or ceramic grease.
Replacement control arms and ball joint pinch bolts are all available from "shop4parts".
If you require any further advice or assistance please message me.
Good luck.
Best regards,
Steve.
The following procedure may be of interest to forum members and does NOT require the removal of the front of the car.
1) Chock both rear tyres.
2) Loosen the wheel nuts on both front wheels.
3) Jack the front of the car onto axle stands allowing sufficient ground clearance of approximately 30 cm / 12" inches.
4) Remove both front wheels.
5) Remove both plastic inner wing protectors.
6) Remove front sump guard.
7) Remove the 3 plastic studs securing the front of the car to the bumper.
8) Slacken off the 3 bolts securing the bottom part of the front of the car, these are just below the 2 front fog lights on either side high up.
9) Holding the bottom part of the front of the car gently pull it towards you, this will unclip the sides, you only need to pull the lower part out approximately 8 cm / 3" inches.
10) Wedge the bottom front of the car between the front steel bumper bar and lower part of the front, allowing approximately 75cm /3" clearance, I utilised 2 blocks of wood.
11) Where the two tow hooks are located on the front bumper, there are 4 bolts on each side, the nuts on the opposite side are accessible from within the wheel arch are captive, welded into position, so an additional spanner / socket is not required.
12) The 8 bolts are tight so using a breaker bar "crack off" the 8 bolts then fully loosen with a ratchet, remove the bolts.
13) Working from the wheel arch position loosen the top bolt from the vertical support arm, then remove the lower bolt, there is no requirement to remove the bar.
14) From under the front subframe remove the 2 securing bolts, these are very tight i used a 24" breaker bar.
15) Remove the detachable part of the front sub frame, this will then allow access to 1 of 2 bolts securing the control arm in position.
16) Remove the single bolt securing the control arm to the subframe the one that has just been exposed, it's very tight so a large breaker bar will be necessary.
17) Remove the other bolt from under the subframe securing the control arm into position (2 in total), the nut on top of the subframe is not captive, welded in position so another socket / spanner will be required.
18) Remove the pinch bolt securing the bottom ball joint from the hub assembly.
15) Using a ball joint splitter tool disconnect the ball joint from the hub.
16) The complete Control arm can now be removed by using pry bars and a hammer.
17) Apply silicone, ceramic, or red rubber grease liberally into the 2 areas where the control arm is located, do NOT use copper grease as this will cause the rubber bushes to deteriorate prematurely.
18) Firstly line up the bush closest to the rear of the car, once it's correctly aligned replace the nut and bolt loosely, do not tighten.
19) Forcing the control arm down swivel it around to the other side where the bush is secured with the single non- accessible bolt, this is quite difficult, replace the bolt loosely.
20) Align the ball joint and reinstall into the hub, it will need assistance from a dead blow mallet or similar, replace the pinch bolt and nut but do not fully tighten.
21) Raise up the shock absorber to the end of its travel by placing a jack under the bottom ball joint, this simulates the car supporting its own weight on all 4 wheels and being level.
22) Tighten the 2 bolts securing the control arm.
23) Tighten the ball joint pinch bolt.
24) Remove the jack.
25) Replace and secure back into position the removable lateral subframe.
26) Remove wedges from the front lower part of the car, replace all securing bolts.
27) Replace plastic inner wing protector and tighten all screws, bolts and nuts.
28) Replace opposite lower control arm if required.
29) Replace Jack lift car, remove axle stands, lower car to the ground, remove rear wheel chocks.
30) Road test car.
Additional notes:-
There is NO requirement to disconnect any of the daylight running or fog lights and the complete lower front of the car.
Clean the threads of all the bolts with a wire brush and and apply either copper or ceramic grease.
Replacement control arms and ball joint pinch bolts are all available from "shop4parts".
If you require any further advice or assistance please message me.
Good luck.
Best regards,
Steve.
