Struggling with wishbone

[Steve]

Hi i have a brava sx 1.2 (2001)
im trying to take the wishbone off to replace it but first off none of my sockets/spanners fit the 4 big bolts holding the back end of the wishbone on.
Ive measured them the best i can an they seem to be 15mm can someone confirm this for me before i go buy a set and is it easiest to use a socket or a spanner to get them off because they seems well rusted in place ive sprayed them with wd40 so when i get a set they should be ok.
Are there any tips for me though if the 4 nuts are stuck on solid because i have already snapped a bolt trying to take the drop link bolt off and i dont want to do that again
cheers
steve

 

[Shaun Cook]

im pretty sure it is a 15. just take it easy, u dont wanna snap it.

might aswell do ur drop links

Its a 1.4 Chassis, 1.6 Engine and 2.0ltr Brakes and half a Marea

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Updated: 27/08/2008

 

[Joske]

Heat up the bolt with blow torch, this will loosen the bolt and burn any rust off the thread.

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[Steve]

Cheers
i'm off to b&q tomorrow for the socket set.
Just looked on there site an they sell blow torchs so i think i'll get one of them at same time
cheers

 

[Joske]

Just dont set your car on fire!

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ePER V4.0 2008 DVD, Fiat Bravo/a Passenger Airbag Covers to suit MK1, Fiat Bravo/a Headlamp Washer Jets, Bravo & Marea Workshop Manuals, Fiat Bravo Haynes Manual &, Fiat Bravo Owners Manual on CD etc...

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[Anonymous]

a good idea to loosen the nut is to give the ratchet a hit with a hammer, Gives it a shock to break the seal

 

[Steve]

Hi
Thanks for the advise i have had a couple of probs though.
1 of the bolts on the wishbone snapped,and the bolt on the bottom of the drop link bar snapped when i was unduing it.
So anyway i carried on doing the wishbone and got the other bolts off ok( after using blow torch)
Then i got the new wishbone on an fastened the 3 ok bolts in place,so i just need to buy a new bolt to put in.
But my problem is a bought a new drop link and i just can't get it to slot into the hole if i put it on the ARB then the nut is lower than the wishbone,and if i put it into the wishbone first i cant get the ARB down low enough to fit onto it.
I have trid jacking up the ARB and also tried jacking up the brake disc i just cant get it in
I really dont want to undu the balljoint again because when i was putting it in the bush got a slight cut in in about 3mm and i dont want to risk makinh it worse as i have to take the car for the MOT retest after im done
Is it safe to jack the ARB up or could i bend it going too high
Any advise would be great
Thanks
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I'm sorry to put a damper on things but if you have split the rubber on the ball joint then the car will fail the mot

 

[Steve]

Hi
its only the slightest little nick i wouldnt call it as big as a slit would that still fail

 

[Anonymous]

If it is not too bad and you have not lost any grease You could clean it and stick it with superglue. Split cv gaitors use this method so should be ok