ZX Bottom Arm Bushes...

[RussellF97]

Hi All,

I've just had my 1995 ZX 1.9D fail its CT (the French MOT) with worn bottom arm bushes. Haynes just says “…renew components as necessary.” OK. How easy is it to get the old bushes off and the new ones on? I was a mechanic until I retired, have a reasonable kit of tools, but don’t have a 10-ton press lurking about the place!
From reading other posts on Xantias etc, it seems the alignment of the P bush is critical if it’s to last more than a few miles, is it the same with the ZX?

I suppose a quick poll might be in order: (a): would you bother fitting new bushes;
or (b):fit a complete arm already loaded with bushes and bottom ball joint?

The problem with (b) is getting them sent over. I’ve contacted an ebay seller who says they will ship worldwide, and GSF. So far, the answer to my request for a postage quote has been a stunned silence. Ho hum… Still, in France you get two months rather than two weeks to put right any problems.

Phil

[RichardW]

I did one, removed the arm and bushes, but then decided it was not much more for a new arm complete so fitted that instead. Getting the old bush off was not that hard - I cut away the rubber (well it mostly fell off!) then carefully cut a slot in the sleeve and belted it off. Alignment of the P bush is critical....

[jgra1]

I would just fit a new arm (s) .other bushes / joints may be getting worn anyway..

if you are really stuck, I can probably post an arm or two out there Phil..if you buy and send them to me here.

hopefully wont cost an arm an a leg

John

[citronut]

the swivel on the ZX bolts/rivets to the arm, so its different to the likes of the XANT,

the arm you buy if you go that way will not usually come with the swivels already fitted

[jgra1]

ahh good thinking Malcolm. forgot that,,,,

[RussellF97]

Many thanks for the replies fellas.

RichardW:
that was sort of my thinking as well. The arm has to come off anyway, so I might as well fit a new one with the bushes already fitted and save myself some work – and time - it’s the wrong time of year to be working outside.

jgra1:
thank you very much for your kind offer. My Plan A is to get the arms sent to my son’s place of work and he can slap an address label on it and I’ll sort something out with Parcel2Go to get it picked up and shipped out here; but I’ll bear your offer in mind if Plan A goes belly up.

citronut:
the ones I’ve been looking at on fleabay have the swivels already bolted on. The swivels on the car are bolted on (it was on 98,000 when I bought it so they’re probably replacements anyway).

Stop Press: I’ve just found a company on ebay in Germany who can supply a pair of arms for £86.20 inc shipping, which is probably as good as it’s going to get...

[jgra1]

sounds good Phil.. both arms with 3 fittings each.. delivered for 86 is fine
John

[RichardW]

Note that getting the ball joint pins out of the hub carriers can be a bit difficult - as they come out the angle changes and they hang up. to get over this, you can either use a long lever and brute force, or just push the hub in (hard!) from the outside whilst you lever the joint pin out. If you are limited as to time off the road, I would get new clamp bolts, as they suffer from corrosion, and can be a bit mashed by the time you get them out!

[RussellF97]

RichardW:
Yeh, I remember what a fiddle it was releasing the n/s swivel when I changed the driveshaft a couple of years ago! It's like a lot of things on most cars though; when you've done it once, subsequently it only takes half the time.
Thankfully, I'm not time limited; I have friends who can always run me in to the local supermarket (10 km away) if necessary. When I did the head gasket in early 2012, it was off the road for six weeks while some of the bits I was waiting for went via Australia (yes, really!).

[addo]

http://www.oscaro.com/kit-de-reparation ... 04-2125-gt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Something like the above would be my choice. You will find the arms are either 306 or Berlingo overall.

[spider]

Interestingly they never offered 306 bush's, only Citroen did. Pretty sure in some cases the ZX ones would fit perfectly well in a 306 arm, not relevant to your case though.

It does remind me of the rear bush's on Saxo's / 106's etc, given the labour time it was not much more to change the whole arm.

[RussellF97]

The bullet has been bitten and there are a couple of arms en route from the UK. I did check with the company that they were the correct arms, so if they don't fit it won't be my fault!

[addo]

Hi Andy, I can say the ZX eye bushes fit 306 etc perfectly. Been there, done that.

I also put poly P-bushes for a 306 on the "lingus" as I was having a J Arthur moment in my parts buying. So they would also fit a ZX. The actual pressed arms are same right to left, orientation is chosen by P-bush as the balljoint can be flipped.