hey guys,


I need a new wishbone on the drivers side - how is this job for a diyer?


I've done wishbones before on a couple of Japanese cars, apart from separating the joint it was easy. Can I expect the same with a stilo?

Wishbones are easy enough to replace. The ball joint pin fits into the bottom of the hub carrier with a pinch bolt. The bottom of the carrier is split (arrowed yellow) so if the ball joint pin won't come out, you can hammer a screw driver or similar into the split to open it a little.

You only need to remove the front and rear bush bolts and the ball joint pin. The hub carrier is partially removed in my picture below because I was fitting a new driveshaft.

You will only have the sensor and link rod (circled red) on the right wishbone if you have original HID Xenon headlamps.
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Davren, as ever, you are a superstar, thank you for the advise. I will get a set ordered and do them on Saturday!

arrghgh...was about to order the parts, but been told there are three different sizes...so I need the size!!


How do I find this out? my car is a 2005 Stilo 1.9 JTD 115...?!

Did mine last week first pair, you will need a few sturdy tools and long bars.
From memory i needed a 21mm socket for 14mm bolt(you may be 12mm)a couple of 17mm sockets and 19mm, i bought a ball joint splitter set and im glad i did as it was very tightly corroded inside and the bolt in the hub also rusted in, i bought a pair of new bolts and nuts also ready.
Use proper stand not jack as you will do some heaving on bush bolts.
Not sure if correct or not but i put a smear of coppaslip on new ball joint and hole, so i wont struggle as much next time.
Also had issue with ball splitter had bent disc stoneguard into disc made horrible grinding noise ,check before finishing.
Also i think a 32mm socket just fitted the new arm around the ball joint head to tap the shaft up into the hub(also knocked too high first go and needed tapping back down to get bolt in cut out)

never mind!! I rang Perry's, got the part numbers nearside is 50705083 and offside 50705084. Apparently for my year, the size of the bushes is increased and not so common maybe? he said its 14mm, I don't know otherwise but the price I am paying is more than reasonable because I also get some drop links too (I dont think I need them but may as well replace them)


Just glad I can do it myself on the drive :/

cheers SussexA, hopefully the tools I have will be ok, I don't have the splitter but if I need one I will go buy one. The last couple I did involved me using a scoffold pole and some heaving as you say, fingers crossed I can manage!!

wow just checked eper and fiat price inc tax is 252.79 GBP per arm.
I paid £70 each off ebay for the 14mm bushed cast arms, and £25 a pair for some meyle hd drop links £25 for pair and they are definitely heavy duty side by side.

yeah, they aren't cheap, though I think the ones I have bought are very cheap unless I misunderstood the salesman. Pretty sure he said im getting both arms and wishbones for £85, but we will see when I go pick them up today!!


I'm not too bothered about heavy duty and expensive wishbones, I don't drive very far or aggressively so ill be happy if these get me through a year! I did see plenty on ebay for £130 the pair so maybe £85 is about right as this motor factors I sue are always good on price and ive never had any issues with their car parts, fingers crossed eh?!

yes let us know either way.(ill add it to other thread on cheap wishbones)
im thinking if I ever get through another set I might see if its possible to use a 12mm bushed arm and see if its possible to drill or machine the bush12mm hole out to 14mm ?
might have a play with my old arms.

sussexa said:

yes let us know either way.(ill add it to other thread on cheap wishbones)
im thinking if I ever get through another set I might see if its possible to use a 12mm bushed arm and see if its possible to drill or machine the bush12mm hole out to 14mm ?
might have a play with my old arms.

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ok will do - I will make some photos then of the 14mm just in case it helps in anyway..

Try Shop4Parts:

http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/

Much less than that for genuine FIAT items. Beware eBay parts. There have been many posts on this forum over the years from people who've been shocked at how short a time eBay bushes last...

cheers YellowPeril, looking at that site, im paying the right price!


I am going to inspect the bushes prior to fitting, If I feel the rubber is naff, I might see how simple it is to replace with some poly bush instead...

sussexa said:

yes let us know either way.(ill add it to other thread on cheap wishbones)
im thinking if I ever get through another set I might see if its possible to use a 12mm bushed arm and see if its possible to drill or machine the bush12mm hole out to 14mm ?
might have a play with my old arms.

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hey chaps, got a problem.


The new wishbones seem identical to my old set except for the bigger bolt going through the cylindrical bush part. Looks to be a few mm out. The "washer" is the exact same diameter, but the bolt hole is not...


has anyone had this issue? Is it worth me trying to drill out the hole a bit bigger?

help!!!

Seems you may have bought 12mm bushed wishbones but needed 14mm ones.

Not a good idead to drill the bush centre tube, could cause damage to the rubber if the drill snaggs.
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Davren said:

Seems you may have bought 12mm bushed wishbones but needed 14mm ones.

Not a good idead to drill the bush centre tube, could cause damage to the rubber if the drill snaggs.
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yup, well, to be honest I gave them the part number I got from Fiat. I was quite specific. The chap at the shop told me these were the more expensive ones (14mm) in fact he said there were three sizes. What he has done is order me the 12mm. So now I have to hope they will either refund, or swap me for the correct parts. The part numbers on the receipt aren't the part numbers I gave them lets put it that way..


Im a little annoyed because I made excellent progress getting the first wishbone off tonight, id have had one side done easy. Also, to be fair as a customer I shouldn't be expected to know if its 12mm or 14 mm, that's what the part numbers are for etc, so I am hoping that will go in my favour and they will do a swap no fuss...?!?!?!?

can I not just replace the bushes?


I can see bushes on ebay (haven't found 14mm ones yet) so it seems they are replaceable??

Clivvy said:

yup, well, to be honest I gave them the part number I got from Fiat. I was quite specific. The chap at the shop told me these were the more expensive ones (14mm) in fact he said there were three sizes. What he has done is order me the 12mm. So now I have to hope they will either refund, or swap me for the correct parts. The part numbers on the receipt aren't the part numbers I gave them lets put it that way..


Im a little annoyed because I made excellent progress getting the first wishbone off tonight, id have had one side done easy. Also, to be fair as a customer I shouldn't be expected to know if its 12mm or 14 mm, that's what the part numbers are for etc, so I am hoping that will go in my favour and they will do a swap no fuss...?!?!?!?

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Providing you gave him your VIN and he looked up the part number, it's his fault if he got the wrong ones. If you gave him the part number and that's what he's supplied, it's down to you.

Are they from Fiat? or aftermarket?

Clivvy said:

can I not just replace the bushes?

I can see bushes on ebay (haven't found 14mm ones yet) so it seems they are replaceable??

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I've never seen 14mm ones on eBay. I wouldn't fancy pressing them in anyway. The front ones look OK, but the rear bushes appear to be curved around the outer edge. Looks as though they would need to twisted in somehow.
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no VIN number involved, just rang Perrys Fiat, gave them the car details and they gave me the part number, then the car parts shop used those numbers to choose the "correct" wishbone.


What confuses me is that the guy said the correct ones were a fair bit more expensive, but came back with £85 for the pair (rather than £69 for the 12mm ones) so I think they have ordered the wrong parts. I hope they will see it my way or I am going to lose out.


I have seen the bushes on ebay, and the job seems simple enough but obviously id rather not. But if the new bushes are going to cost me a fortune, then id seriously consider replacing the bushes for the correct ones. Seems to me that the actual wishbones are exactly the same except for the 14mm pivot arm bush...

Clivvy said:

no VIN number involved, just rang Perrys Fiat, gave them the car details and they gave me the part number, then the car parts shop used those numbers to choose the "correct" wishbone.

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As has been posted before, there are at least 3 different types of wishbone for the Stilo. There's no way Perrys would know the correct ones for your car without the VIN.
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