Front lower arm advice

[Stempy]

The lower arms on my Xant are really due for replacement, I'm not sure whether they will survive the next MOT. I know you can buy the bushes separately but from what I've read they are a real pain to replace. I haven't got a decent ball joint separator either and only a small vice. So I'm kind of wondering whether to take the job on myself.

If I just bought the whole arm assembly, is there anything else I'd need to do the job other than a ball joint separator? I don't want to start the job and not be able to finish it as it appears to be quite a major task.

[CitroJim]

With the right tools Stempy, replacing the bushes is not too bad a job. I'd say getting the old ones out is the more difficult side of the job and a good hacksaw is needed. When using a hacksaw you have to be dead careful not to nick the surfaces of the arm with the blade as this may result in a stress riser and later on, a fracture. Not good in a lower arm.

A press is very useful to do the job but failing that a humumgous vice can suffice. You may break a small vice doing the job. You also need a seriously good heavy-duty balljoint splitter to release the lower swivel joint tapers.

The "P" bushes need to be installed properly aligned or they won't kast five minutes. Trouble is, you only have one shot at getting it right. OE bushes often have alignment marks but a lot of after market ones don't so it is important to make a creful note of the alignment of the old ones before you butcher them off.

On balance, new arms complete are much easier although a tad more expensive.

[AndersDK]

The genuine part P bush is only some £6 from your dealer. Easy to remove using the hacksaw approach.
Easy to install using a 12mm nut & bolt some 200mm lenght and 2 good thick washers.

[john alexander]

Hi I,ve done these a few times, I,ve 2 xantia's . I use an angle grinder to get them off and a socket or bit of pipe to hammer them on , but does anyone have a picture of the lower arm showing the orientation of the P bush . This would help the folks whose old ones have disintegrated. PS if it's a lower arm why dont we call it a leg ?? regards john.

[DickieG]

PS if it's a lower arm why dont we call it a leg ?? regards john.

Err, legs normally point downwards whereas arms,,,,,,,,,,,,

[AndersDK]

PS if it's a lower arm why dont we call it a leg ?? regards john.

Err, legs normally point downwards whereas arms,,,,,,,,,,,,

Besides they are called "lower arm", "triangle arm", "suspension arm" or "control arm" all over in professionel & commercial documentation