Decided to have a look and see if i can sort my squeeky brakes and have a look at bottom engine mount as have a bit of a rock on over run.
brakes were fine but had a tug at the drop links and round the front suspension found the bottom wishbones/control arms are well worn plenty of play.
also bottom engine mount is worn so ordered one that will be a easy fix.
the control arms look easy to replace and found some on fleabay for £50 for the pair.
not in a rush to do them but do need doing.
has anyone any tips or done it and had problems, looks like the ball joint pinch bolt is the rusty bit would you suggest buying new ones before starting
any help appreciated

Jon

I don't think they'd give much trouble.
Spray all the bolts up a few times until you're ready to replace the wishbone.

Often with the suspension hanging (when jacked up) it can be hard to get the wishbone lower enough to pop the ball joint out of the hub.
You could remove the lower damper/strut to hub bolts, lift the hub a little and rest it on an axle stand, this should allow you to split the ball joint.

I've a few different balljoint splitters, but once the hub is up a little and the bolt out, a couple of taps with a block of resting on the wishbone work better than any of them.

Careful with the new balljoint, don't trap or split the rubber dust cover over it.

You might want to get the alignment checked after, particularly if you're fitting pattern, they aren't always perfect!

Goudrons said:

Often with the suspension hanging (when jacked up) it can be hard to get the wishbone lower enough to pop the ball joint out of the hub.

You might want to get the alignment checked after, particularly if you're fitting pattern, they aren't always perfect!

Click to expand...

Thats what i was thinking, and getting new arm in level the strut might be in the way, got both sides to do so will be in for tracking shortly after, worrying thing is was bought with 12 months mot at end of Oct . the amount of play should have been noticed as its quite excessive but the tyres are both new ( oct ) but they seem to be wearing ok over the 4000 miles i have done since then.
i have had no clunks or noises even with all the play in them
will take some pics when i change them

Goudrons said:

I don't think they'd give much trouble.
Spray all the bolts up a few times until you're ready to replace the wishbone.

Often with the suspension hanging (when jacked up) it can be hard to get the wishbone lower enough to pop the ball joint out of the hub.
You could remove the lower damper/strut to hub bolts, lift the hub a little and rest it on an axle stand, this should allow you to split the ball joint.

I've a few different balljoint splitters, but once the hub is up a little and the bolt out, a couple of taps with a block of resting on the wishbone work better than any of them.

Careful with the new balljoint, don't trap or split the rubber dust cover over it.

You might want to get the alignment checked after, particularly if you're fitting pattern, they aren't always perfect!

Click to expand...

new wishbones have arrived and look ok, was a bit worried about getting bolts out but had car on ramps today to fix exhaust leak i caused when replacing rear engine mount thought i would give them a tug with a spanner ( dont have a 18mm socket - have ordered one off fleabay )
and they moved, all 4 seem ok so going to spray them and when socket arrives if weather ok next weekend will be getting them changed, will post some pics while im doing it. have bought new pinch bolts and nuts from dealer were £8 for all of them

jon1612 said:

the control arms look easy to replace and found some on fleabay for £50 for the pair.

Click to expand...

OE arms can be had for £200 pair, the dodgy brand stuff at GSF/ECP are £100, and yours are £50? False economy IMO, but best of luck with them.

where can I purchase these said oem wishbone arms ?..

and what proof that they are OE arms ?
The 50 euro ones are OE, but OE for a Peri, they will probably be fine, as good as some italian company who reckon they make their own but actually supply the chinese ones also......
I would suspect a brit outlet selling 'italian' 'birth' or whatever they call themselves.. just as dodgy as the rest....

captainslarty said:

and what proof that they are OE arms ?
The 50 euro ones are OE, but OE for a Peri, they will probably be fine, as good as some italian company who reckon they make their own but actually supply the chinese ones also......
I would suspect a brit outlet selling 'italian' 'birth' or whatever they call themselves.. just as dodgy as the rest....

Click to expand...

my thoughts exactly
just cos you pay more does not mean they are any better quality, just look at some of the cctv camera that a main high street electronics shop sells for £40 - you can get exactly same ones off ebay for £10 - these places have very high overheads (rent / wages / electric etc ) - tesco sell cig filters ( swan brand ) £1.15 per box - 99p shop sells same brand / size = 3 BOXES for 99p.

there is a genuine market for aftermarket stuff - if your panda / punto etc etc gets a advisory on the MOT saying this that and the other wants replacing before next years test - price it all up, if cost of fiat parts is £400 and car is only worth £600 what you going to do ?.

I'm about to order replacement " wishbones" for my 2004 1.1 panda,

I had a pry around and the REAR bush can be slid UP + DOWN on the N/S,
but is still relatively FIRM on the O/S,

is the bush on the new arms Rigid, @Jon1612, or is it designed to "float"..??,

I DID notice I can but BIG-Brand QH / similar replacement bushes, that will then need to be swapped onto the Genuine Polish Panda steelware..,


I'm wary of buying something where the rubbers are as old as mine = @ 10 years..( perished..), hence the option of buying a "modern" copy..,

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

I'm about to order replacement " wishbones" for my 2004 1.1 panda,

I had a pry around and the REAR bush can be slid UP + DOWN on the N/S,
but is still relatively FIRM on the O/S,

is the bush on the new arms Rigid, @Jon1612, or is it designed to "float"..??,

I DID notice I can but BIG-Brand QH / similar replacement bushes, that will then need to be swapped onto the Genuine Polish Panda steelware..,


I'm wary of buying something where the rubbers are as old as mine = @ 10 years..( perished..), hence the option of buying a "modern" copy..,

Charlie

Click to expand...

Hi Charlie

if you can wait till after weekend (weather permitting ) i will do a full reveiw of them,
the reason i say that is because they are not as "RIGID" as i expected but neither was lower mount and thats works ok.
the new ones look ok but you can move the centre bush but this is probably so it flexes up and down. i wont know for sure they one thats on allows the wheel to move forward when i get new ones fitted will let you know about movement,
also i never had a reply from anyone about the vertical free play in the strut.

anyway will update when jobs done and put pics on. have given the bolts a tug and all move so shouldnt be a problem

Jon

varesecrazy said:

I'm about to order replacement " wishbones" for my 2004 1.1 panda,

I DID notice I can but BIG-Brand QH / similar replacement bushes, that will then need to be swapped onto the Genuine Polish Panda steelware..,

Charlie

Click to expand...

some of the bushes i have seen are £10 each and then you need a press to put them in.
i once bought a volvo with trashed upper and lower ball joints, as they were "press fit" i bought some and got the others out with jack and weight of car but when i fet new ones using same method they were slightly loose in holder so had to tack weld them in.
just wanted to point out could cost you £20 a side and you still have to fit bushes yourself when you can get complete for £25 a side already fitted.

also they may well not be genuine - the chinks et al are great at making boxes and lables....

And where do you think FIAT (or the reputable OEM suppliers) have their stuff made?

gr J

A3jeroen said:

And where do you think FIAT (or the reputable OEM suppliers) have their stuff made?

gr J

Click to expand...

Ah, but there is a difference in something being made for a specific purpose to a specific standard, and something being copied including hte packaging with substandard materials. - I am fairly happy with buying most pattern parts for the panda as the majority are made for the Peri, which is a pretty good car !.
I would just seriously question QH and other markings on [products from EBAY - I would rather buy unbranded at a cheaper price as it is almost certain you are getting the same. - The wishbones being a good example.. there is absolutely no difference - I am 100% convinced -between the 50 quid a pair ones and the 100 quid each ones.. exactly the same.

I have no worries about Chinese products, I do have worries about paying a premium for a cheap chinese product packed into a known makers copy packaging and sold at a premium...

On ebay you do not get better quality if you pay more on 99.9% of items. Same tat, different prices lol.

captainslarty said:

I have no worries about Chinese products, I do have worries about paying a premium for a cheap chinese product packed into a known makers copy packaging and sold at a premium...

On ebay you do not get better quality if you pay more on 99.9% of items. Same tat, different prices lol.

Click to expand...

Agree with that, other thing is as well someone posted about saying gsf pair £100 and mine £50 get what you pay for, I agree with that but like i said could well be exactly same part.
the thing is, and i suspect that the ones i have got are reconditioned units as they are painted black and the new ball joint and bushes fitted after painting, its just a thought i have as have bought new ones before for a punto and were not painted but did cost twice as much.
to be honest if they last 18 months i will be happy, i suspect they will last a lot longer i know the original ones have lasted a lot longer (10 years but car had only done 32k when i got it - now 36k in 5 months )
I have seen on here people who bought genuine fiat shock absorbers and they only lasted 18 months so you just dont know.
I bought some premium decosol de-icer ( £1.99) a couple of years ago at premium price, had paper over wrap label on can. didnt use so put in garage forgot about it, another winter went by and so did the leak in my garage roof the result being the over wrap started to peel off revealing underneath the printed label of famous super market "value" (99p) de-icer .... erm think i been had
I digress but many years ago there was a scare and a recall about TUNA being contaminated with mercury - very embarrasing for some - brand listed in the recall
Netto, Aldi, Tesco value, John West, M&S select Tuna, Co-Op premium Tuna..
Netto = 20p per tin - John west = 99p per tin - M&S = £1.40 per tin ?
not saying is same cut of fish but makes you think.........

Cant see that they are recon Jon, the logistics would be impossible, there are 10's of thousands of them for sale. Where would they get them from to re-con ?

btw, check this link - some would pay more just for the name.
But also, check out the list of supplier cross reference. ! there are obviously LOADS of suppliers making them... you can imagine the scenario - Fiat use supplier for a long time, then drop them in favour of another (cheaper) supplier - supplier has all machines set up to produce the parts.. along comes mr 'spares' man and says 'I will take 2000 pairs at XYZ a pair' - deal...

What you have is totally cosha - I would be perfectly happy to buy / use them (well - I would buy the ones I linked to as the postage is cheaper lol.

http://www.italiaricambi.it/index.php/1-braccio-oscillante-febi-32444.html

captainslarty said:

Cant see that they are recon Jon, the logistics would be impossible, there are 10's of thousands of them for sale. Where would they get them from to re-con ?

btw, check this link - some would pay more just for the name.
But also, check out the list of supplier cross reference. ! there are obviously LOADS of suppliers making them... you can imagine the scenario - Fiat use supplier for a long time, then drop them in favour of another (cheaper) supplier - supplier has all machines set up to produce the parts.. along comes mr 'spares' man and says 'I will take 2000 pairs at XYZ a pair' - deal...

What you have is totally cosha - I would be perfectly happy to buy / use them (well - I would buy the ones I linked to as the postage is cheaper lol.

http://www.italiaricambi.it/index.php/1-braccio-oscillante-febi-32444.html

Click to expand...

yeah your probably right would make more sence. was going to fit today but been full of flu for last 3 days so unless sun comes out and it warms up i wont be sitting outside pulling bolts out lol.
will take some pics of new ones so you can see them close up.

jon1612 said:

yeah your probably right would make more sence. was going to fit today but been full of flu for last 3 days so unless sun comes out and it warms up i wont be sitting outside pulling bolts out lol.
will take some pics of new ones so you can see them close up.

Click to expand...

pics of new wishbone.

jon1612 said:

pics of new wishbone.

Click to expand...

definately reconditioned arent they
thing is for what you paid i dont get it
unles they made a batch and couldnt sell them so sold them at less than cost?
i got a punto arm off ebay last year brand new delivered £15 all in ,i thought it was a blip but it turned out they needed some wonga so had a fire sale

s and b said:

definately reconditioned arent they
thing is for what you paid i dont get it
unles they made a batch and couldnt sell them so sold them at less than cost?
i got a punto arm off ebay last year brand new delivered £15 all in ,i thought it was a blip but it turned out they needed some wonga so had a fire sale

Click to expand...

I cant see that they can be reconditioned due to the sheer quantity of them for sale - not just UK - I agree, they look to be recon, but that could just be that they have had bare arms laying around for years (hence rusty - hence paint), then fitted bushings - unsure about the balljoint though... dindt think that was replaceable - obviously it is ? - I presume it is pressed in,
It is probably as said, a huge batch of NEW bare arms, with the 2 bushes and ball joint added.
They look recon, I agree, but, there are just too many to be an actual recon (ie taking a used arm and refitting parts) ...