Think I've tracked down the clunking noise, but what's this bit called...

[UK_Sub]

Did a search on here first to see what others had experienced, as I was getting a clunking noise from the rear. I tried taking of the ARB control arms, then I took out the shocks, which was hilarious to drive, but still 'clunked'.

Took out the springs and wiggled the rear axle around to see if I could track it down... this arm on the passenger side was making a noise and you could feel the knocking when you held the arm.

this bit...

please excuse my ignorance - but what are these bushes called and are they easy to replace?

With all the suspension out - I couldn't help but have a play...

Plan to fit these too if I can track down some cheap 165/50/15's...

 

[Skinner_87]

They are your lower trailing arm bushes, not too hard to replace with a saw & a vice!

Though if the bolts rotten to the bush you might need to get a grinder onto it as well

 

[frank]

aye, the front concentric bushes slide out easy if you lube them, the the rear offset bushes have a steel shell around them, expect the bolts to put up a fight

 

[r-reg-sr]

what technique to drive them out frank? the rears steel shell ones

 

[Stani1029]

This maybe the cause of my knocking although it passed mot that way. I honestly cant find it lol

 

[frank]

what technique to drive them out frank? the rears steel shell ones

if they are shot i would drive a spike down the side zed, to kink the shell inwards (near the air gap) but i need to re-use them, and i slit the arm, then re-welded the slit

 

[r-reg-sr]

its this type of attitude that got you somewhere in hill valley today
well and truly stuk then,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[r-reg-sr]

their not cheap,,,,,,, the arms
you could quick make adjustable ones,,,,,,,,,,

 

[frank]

they are quite weak too mate, so yes some rosejoints and threaded tube eh

 

[r-reg-sr]

they are quite weak too mate, so yes some rosejoints and threaded tube eh

wheres noddie

 

[Skinner_87]

they are quite weak too mate, so yes some rosejoints and threaded tube eh

In the words of Tommy Cooper..... Just like that...

 

[pollyp]

their not cheap,,,,,,, the arms
you could quick make adjustable ones,,,,,,,,,,

yea last time costed me 90 friggin quid for a pair off a facelift

 

[UK_Sub]

Thanks for the replies - any ideas where I can get the bushes from?

 

[UK_Sub]

I've had a look on ebay etc. but can't find anything that looks like the bushes in Frank's post.

Are they available from Nissan!?

 

[Skinner_87]

I've had a look on ebay etc. but can't find anything that looks like the bushes in Frank's post.

Are they available from Nissan!?

You could get them from Nissan but i wouldnt like to guess the price!

Matt humpris stocks them @ £22.40 + vat (competition ones)

http://www.humphrisoxford.co.uk/motorsport/rallyparts.pdf

He's also a Nissan parts agent so could get you prices on OE parts as well

 

[UK_Sub]

That's superb - thank you!

 

[reflexuk]

Scrapyard every time. Just replace the link including bushes. If the bolt spins in the bush you're good to go.

 

[UK_Sub]

My car is a '97 - which year cars should I look out for?

Cheers

 

[frank]

My car is a '97 - which year cars should I look out for?

Cheers

any k11 i guess

 

[UK_Sub]

Sorry, I knew it was probably a stupid question

`just need to find a scrap yard near me - near Watford - anyone know of any?

 

[UK_Sub]

Found a local scrappy with 2 Micra's, tried to get the lower arms of both of them, but the bolts were well and truelly stuck - I ended up destroying the bushes on both. However, I did manage to get the upper ones off without too much trouble.

I set about taking the upper n/s arm off, the rear bolt undid like a dream, but the front one had rusted solid, I ended burning/twisting the arm off and then used a vice to clamp the sleeve and it eventually gave way! I'm hoping this was the fault, but I haven't tried 'spinning' the other trailing arm bolts to see if they've seized too...

Any tips for removing the other bolts (if they're stuck), especially as I had to pry apart the mounting bracket to get the arm off the bolt!?

 

[frank]

1 of mine put up a fight, and only when i ground a bit of the sleeve away and sprayed releasing oil into the gap a few times did it let go

 

[UK_Sub]

Cheers Frank, that should work - I didn't have an angle grinder at the time, but I could get all 'medieval' with a file I guess!?

I noticed the bolts are slightly different - the rear one seems to the same diameter all the way through, but the fronts are stepped (wider at the bolt head end) - any reason for this? And last question, any idea where I could get replacement bolts?


Thanks again.

 

[pollyp]

could also try this

here's the bush layout

remove the nut and then grind both ends of the bolt shaft off till its flush with the chassis flange

pry the chassis flange apart slightly so the bushing assembly can be slipped off

wirebrush clean the exposed bolt shaft,
secure a socket on a vice that fits over the bolt shaft against the bush metal insert,
hammer the bolt shaft through the insert

 

[r-reg-sr]

yes that works, but couple of mine wernt budging after that so had to pillar drill through them

and im sure the bolts are the same as the suspestion to hub (2) bolts

 

[UK_Sub]

This is what old one looked like...

Seems to have done the trick, so might get away with not changing the lower arms.

Thanks again for all your help - very much appreciated - I can now fit those Clio wheels now...