Alfa 156 suspension

Neo4 · 19 Dec 2007 at 09:34

Got a knocking coming from the NSF and have put it down to 1 of 2 things,either its the anti rollbar drop link or the wishbones [upper or lower]

Anyone know if this is a DIY job? Would like to have a go at it over Xmas if it is.

Are there any tools i would need other than the usual socket set etc?

Thanks and seasons greets

fonzee · 19 Dec 2007 at 09:41

droplinks are easy as pie. 20 minutes for each side tops? got a grinder? make it 10 minutes.

wishbones are more tricky, but more or less, again, an easy job if your mechanically minded.

worth saving the 100-150 charge from a garage anyway. even more with some cowboys.

Neo4 · 19 Dec 2007 at 09:42

A grinder !! What will i need a grinder for? Are you saying it is easier to cut them off than undo them?

fonzee · 19 Dec 2007 at 10:09

Is on french cars. Allen key counter nut n bolt seshions are a bitch to get off. Rust defeats the whole object of them so a grinder is best.

Hell i fitted new reinforced droplinks to mine the other week, cost me 13 quid for the pair. Hardly worth going to the effort of getting those rusted bolts off.

But then again an alfa is more than likely different if the italians have any sense, up to you.

Neo4 · 19 Dec 2007 at 10:15

I am determined to do this myself if it is possible,im sure i can borrow a grinder from work.

BigglesPiP · 19 Dec 2007 at 12:06

fonzee said:
Is on french cars.

I hope to god you don't mean the alfa.

fonzee · 19 Dec 2007 at 12:09

Obviously, hence....

But then again an alfa is more than likely different if the italians have any sense, up to you.

Matmulder · 19 Dec 2007 at 16:49

Not sure if this applies to non-GTA's, but more than likely its the ARB bushes, I had the problem on my 147 from the rear.

Bad news is, on the GTA's at least, its not an easy job. Requires dropping the subframe...

Suggest you ask on www.alfaowner.com, they're pretty good

ineed2upgrade · 19 Dec 2007 at 17:17

puts money on it being the lower wishbone bush thats closest the rear of the car.this is what went on my old 156 v6 and it used to knock like billyo.drop links are cheap and easy fix,arb bushes are a pain.i changed the whole arb which is a big job on the v6 as you have to drop the subframe,exhaust,suspension/pas,pain in the proverbial

Sparky · 19 Dec 2007 at 17:47

I thought he said Front?

ineed2upgrade · 20 Dec 2007 at 18:14

he did,the rear most bush on the front wishbone

Sparky · 20 Dec 2007 at 18:44

Gotya

ineed2upgrade · 20 Dec 2007 at 20:02

anyway its an alfa,they always break down.i went through 3 sets of wishbones in 3 years in mine,very common part to wear out.had nothign but trouble with mine so got rid of it because it was bleeding me dry.my current m3 is cheaper to run ffs

Lopéz · 20 Dec 2007 at 20:22

fonzee said:
Is on french cars. Allen key counter nut n bolt seshions are a bitch to get off. Rust defeats the whole object of them so a grinder is best.

Did the same on the Mondeo, they never undo so just cut 'em off.

ineed2upgrade · 20 Dec 2007 at 20:38

the alfa drop links are allen key and spanner jobbies too

M0T · 20 Dec 2007 at 21:56

I did my entire front suspension bar the shocks and springs a couple of weeks ago.

Anything you need to undo that has an allen key head (Track rod ends, upper wishbones, ARB droplinks) will most likely have to be replaced. The metal is too soft to take the torque as you undo it so the whole thing will just rip apart.

The upper wishbones are very easy to replace, the lower ones are quite difficult.

For the uppers you undo the bolt that connects the strut fork to the lower wishbone and then undo the bolts that secure the strut to the wing. Then undo the bolt that holds the upper wishbone to the hub upright. The stut will drop down and the upper wishbone mounting plate then lifts off the top of the strut. You then replace and refit, takes about 30 minutes each side.

The lowers are a total pain. The best way to do it is split the cv joints and disconnect the upper wishbone, remove the ARB droplinks from both sides and move the ARB out the way. Split the TR end ball joint and support the hub and then undo the lower wishbone to hub ball joint and undo the 4 subframe to wishbone bolts then remove. I found it extremely difficult to get those 4 bolts back in again, seems to take an age to get it aligned, plus they are very soft and you need to be careful not to strip the bolt threads.

I can't stress how important it is to split the cv joints, if you don't you won't be able to manouvre the hubs enough to get the ball joint back in the hub, and if the jack you use to support the hub fails then the driveshaft will pull out of the gearbox and deposit oil on the floor :mad:

To split the CV joints you need a spanner (17mm I think) and an allen key set for your socket (you can use allen keys but theres only about 5 degrees of movement so you really want a ratchet). You will also need someone to work the brakes as you do them back up.

Tools you will need:

Ball joint splitter (Screw type not hammer)
Sockets : 13mm, 15mm, 17mm, 22mm
Spanners: 17mm
Torque wrench: 45nm-83nm

ineed2upgrade · 20 Dec 2007 at 22:05

with the guide you gave for doign the uppers on mine it doesnt allow the strut fork to clear the driveshaft and you cant push the lower wishbone down low enough to get it out.i had to undo the driveshaft cehtre coupling to take the fork out,pain in the proverbial.

use brakes to retighten the cv joints???just have it in gear

i find the lowers arent too bad if you use a pry bar to line the holes up properly.same wishbones that were on my fiat coupe and i did them 3 times so have doen these about 6 or 7 times now so got the knack.

i changed the rack on my old 156 v6,now that is a pain of a job

Sparky · 20 Dec 2007 at 22:12

You need to compress the springs aparently.

M0T · 20 Dec 2007 at 22:16

ineed2upgrade said:
with the guide you gave for doign the uppers on mine it doesnt allow the strut fork to clear the driveshaft and you cant push the lower wishbone down low enough to get it out.i had to undo the driveshaft cehtre coupling to take the fork out,pain in the proverbial.

Mine dropped out that way, but it may depend on the springs you have on the strut. Also spring compressors help with this.

ineed2upgrade said:
use brakes to retighten the cv joints???just have it in gear

I tried this but the driveshaft still moved round when I tried to torque it up, so had to use the brakes to stop it moving. You could also put a screwdriver in the disc vents and hold it that way, but I'm not sure that would be too good for it.

ineed2upgrade said:
i find the lowers arent too bad if you use a pry bar to line the holes up properly.same wishbones that were on my fiat coupe and i did them 3 times so have doen these about 6 or 7 times now so got the knack.

It also seems easier to get the rear bolts (closest to engine) in before doing the fronts, putting the front bolts in first seems to make it ruddy hard to get the rears done.

ineed2upgrade said:
i changed the rack on my old 156 v6,now that is a pain of a job

Subframe out job?

ineed2upgrade · 20 Dec 2007 at 22:39

subframe out,both exhaust manifolds off,all power steering lines off,all suspension off,gearbox mountings off-typical alfa job i.e. pain in the ar5e.i changed a tie rod ont he m3 and it was easy,such an easier car too work on.italians are bad at designing cars,sure they look good but they rush them into production and think more about how things looks/sound than how easy they are to repair which is strange as alfa's need lots of repairs so you would think they would pay more attention to ease of repair