I've had problems with a knocking noise from the rear end of my Sei, driver's side. I've done my research and 2 possible causes seem to be common: shock absorbers or rear suspension arm bushes. As the shocks seemed the most straight forward I decided to try that first but the knocking is still there.

Does anyone have any tips or advice for replacing the rear arm bushes?:bang:

If you use replacement rubber ones (only available, AFAIK, from Fluffy or Shop4Parts) get someone (generally an engineering shop) to press them in/out with a hydraulic press. If fitting the (better, but much more expensive) polybush ones, you can burn the old ones out and then knock the metal sleeve out with a whacking great drift. The polybushes just press in.

Both are off the car jobs.

Do both sides.

Plan on >3 hours each side

So it's a case of completely removing the arm? If so it strikes me that for the average Joe (without a power press) it would have been easier to buy a complete new arm with the new bearings already attached. I could throttle the guy on ebay who said it was simply a case of "pop the old ones out and put the new ones in"!

Ok

You need a large vice, socket set, butane torch and good quality hacksaw blades, and you might need > 3 hours.

Fiat dealer price about 200 GBP ([edit each]), and you will still need to soak the brake unions in plus gas A the previous day.

Noel

Indeed. FIAT sell complete trailing arms with bushes. At one hell of a price. But it's much the same with such bushes on all cars.

If you get a new arm you then need to transfer the hub assembly as part of the swap, best loosening the hub nut with the car on four wheels.

The bushes are not ment to be push out items so are well difficult to deal with...

If the old arm is damaged you will need to replace it anyway.

The expensive plastic bushes locate the wheels better...

Noel

It is a lot simpler than it looks, but also a fair bit of work. I like to have a spare set ready to go on as and when needed.I'd advise penetrating oil on the bolts which hold the brake backing disk to the arms as well as all the main bolts.

Probably best to do it over the weekend and sort the brakes out while you're in there -- the handbrake "elbows", at least, will benefit from some coppaslip.

confession I only did one side I would replace the handbrake cable if I was to do both...