Shop4Parts - UK's largest online superstore for FIAT and Alfa Romeo parts

Technical Advice on MoT Advisory (Front Suspension arm bushes)

Currently reading:
Technical Advice on MoT Advisory (Front Suspension arm bushes)

S

Stoner65

New member
Joined
Feb 15, 2019
Messages
14
Points
4
Hello all, first time post. Just looking for advice on an MoT advisory I have on my 2012 500 Twinair. The advisory is noted below and on the picture linked I’ve marked up two areas (1 and 2) where I think it is but not sure which one (that’s if it is either of these that is). I’m a fairly competent at doing my own car repairs but never tackled anything of this nature before so any tips or advice on doing the job would be much appreciated.

Advisory:
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Many thanks
 

Attachments

  • BF2FA4DE-6AA1-47E0-82AF-5F879B5E4E45.jpeg
    BF2FA4DE-6AA1-47E0-82AF-5F879B5E4E45.jpeg
    853.4 KB · Views: 13,083
The suspension arm is the V shaped piece that connects the subframe to the hub.. the guys above have identified it (visible in your photo too).

A new arm comes with new pins and bushes. It's possible to replace the bushes separately (if you wanted to fix polyurethane ones, for example) and you might (given enough determination and an industrial sized press) also be able to replace the hub pin too... but for the cost and effort, it's a whole lot easier and usual to swap the entire arm.

Check the driver's side too. If you have slightly more inner shoulder wear on the tyre then that's a good sign that the bushes are on the way out. Changing the suspension components as a pair is often the better idea.

After you have replaced the arm or arms, get the front suspension alignment checked, since fitting new arms (new bushes) will change the settings and you may need a tweak on the adjustment.

But you have an advisory, so you can keep using the beast for now, if it's not clonking or misbehaving. You can do the job yourself later on, once you have found a warm garage and bought all the parts you need.


Ralf S.
 
Ralf S. said:
It's possible to replace the bushes separately (if you wanted to fix polyurethane ones, for example) and you might (given enough determination and an industrial sized press) also be able to replace the hub pin too... but for the cost and effort, it's a whole lot easier and usual to swap the entire arm.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

I've done it at home, using a large vice and an old caliper piston as a mandrel. The procedure took ages, was seriously hard (at at times downright dangerous), involving much language not becoming of a moderator.

I'd only attempt this again if I had access to a hydraulic press and the proper press tooling.

Just pay the £££ and buy the lower arm complete. IIRC on the 500, the bumper has to come off to get the pesky thing out, so depending on funds, consider doing both sides; you'll only have to remove the bumper once. Help is very useful in getting the bumper off without collateral damage.

The only real complication on an older 500 may be seriously corroded fastenings; be careful if working off axle stands, and don't even think about doing it off a jack.

This job is much easier done off a lift with decent air tools, so no shame will attach if you decide to give it to your local garage.
 
Last edited:
Ralf S. said:
The suspension arm is the V shaped piece that connects the subframe to the hub.. the guys above have identified it (visible in your photo too).

A new arm comes with new pins and bushes. It's possible to replace the bushes separately (if you wanted to fix polyurethane ones, for example) and you might (given enough determination and an industrial sized press) also be able to replace the hub pin too... but for the cost and effort, it's a whole lot easier and usual to swap the entire arm.

Check the driver's side too. If you have slightly more inner shoulder wear on the tyre then that's a good sign that the bushes are on the way out. Changing the suspension components as a pair is often the better idea.

After you have replaced the arm or arms, get the front suspension alignment checked, since fitting new arms (new bushes) will change the settings and you may need a tweak on the adjustment.

But you have an advisory, so you can keep using the beast for now, if it's not clonking or misbehaving. You can do the job yourself later on, once you have found a warm garage and bought all the parts you need.


Ralf S.
Click to expand...

5:3:4..?

Is that a specific joint..??

I must admit.. I read it yesterday as pin: bush

It doesnt appear to state that :eek:

Either way..

yes its only an advisory..

Yes its easier to replace the complete wishbone.. or both.. ;)
 
Well got to say thanks to you all for taking the time out to help and and reply. Following advice from you all I’ve found it so you were all right it wasn’t what I thought it was in my pics. Only an advisory so reading through the replies I might take the easy option on this and get a garage to do it. The advisory was both sides too and also the front discs were getting low so I’ll do those myself.
Thanks again to you all, fantastic response
 
Done my daughters wishbones last year and the pain is that you have to remove front bumper to get the backwards facing bolts out! So after watching this vid a couple of times ( with cheesy music turned down!) I decided to do both sides while bumper was off and as wishbones can be got for less than £30 each it wasn't a bad job after all.
https://youtu.be/zdHY9tyoarQ

Note; Don't torque up wishbone fixing bolts with it in the sagging posistion but do them up with the weight of the car on them or you will have a constant strain on the rubber bushes otherwise.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Technical Noisy front suspension
2
Replies
23
Views
1K
steveras57
S
F
Technical Back again! Dreaded 500 front suspension!
Replies
1
Views
911
John202020
John202020
R
  • Poll
General Rear Suspension Fiat 500 2010
Replies
2
Views
94
Roguets50x
R
W
Technical not another bumpy front suspension post
Replies
1
Views
392
John202020
John202020
sammy19
Technical Fiat 500 1.2 Suspension Leg
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
steveras57
S
Back
Top