Removal of radius arms

[david muir]

Floks,
what's the received wisdom on best way to remove a radius arm? i.e which way of jacking will reduce the tensions in the bushes and allow a controlled release (not expecting any corrosion sticking since I fitted them with coppaslip 10 years ago).
[ Removing one at a time to allow correct rivetting of 'cups' to floor and reinforcing plates ( after reading here and JagLovers as to the correct fixing!)]

Thanks, David

[D COUPE]

My understanding is that sat on the floor the radius arms are under no tension, Undo the bolt and it should if not be stuck, just tap loose.

If the car is on a ramp the tension is then more of a twist on the large bush. No real tension.

The job of the rear arms is to stop the axle from twisting or tramping under load.

DC

[ChrisC]

It may sound strange but I usually jack up the front of the car so the wheels clear (having put blocks bhind the rear wheels) and then lever the radius arms off. I have found this to usually work with little effort. I guess it applies a slight forward pressure on the arms

It works for me anyway.

[vee12eman]

Hi David,

My radius arms, also copiously treated with Copaslip, just pop off after being undone, no real force behind them when they go. I think I have normally jacked up and supported the car in the normal way. There is sometimes a little delay, but I don't do any jacking or application of force to the radius arms, just undo the bolta. If you are worried, loosen the bolts, but leave the nut on the end of the thread and the radius arm bush can only pop off as far as the nut on the end of the loose bolt.

Incidently, if the bushes do stick and your car is a LWB (2+2 or any Seris 3) there is a trick to getting them off without levers, grinders etc. If you need to know, ask, although it has been posted on other postings before.

Regards,

Simon

[andrewh]

just fitting my radius arms and with the car in the air and the suspension hanging they don't quite line up with the mount on the floor. Is this likely to change if I drop the car down to the floor?

As I was tightening the IRS mounts at various times the Radius arms appeared to line up perfectly but now the mounts are tight they are just away from slipping up into the correct position. I imagine, that if I were to jack under them they would slide in but not too keen to do that until I had some feedback from you guys. thanks a lot in advance.

[vee12eman]

Hi Andrew,

I always reconnect with the car on the floor. Even then you normally need to use a jack to get the mounts up high enough to put the bolts in place, as the mounts do not sit absolutely square when fitted, in other words they have to distort from their original shape when finally fitted and this requires some force. Also it is much easier to jack with the arms closer to the floor.

Regards,

Simon

[andrewh]

Thanks Simon. I was hoping this would be the case. Many thanks. Andrew

[1954Etype]

try jacking the front of the cage (piece of wood between jack and cage) this normally works for me.

[andrewh]

thanks again. But what about my lovely paintwork!

[1954Etype]

its never damaged my beautiful powder coating

[andrewh]

try jacking the front of the cage (piece of wood between jack and cage) this normally works for me.

Just to let you know that I did jack the front of the cage and the radius arms slotted onto the cups quite easily. Happy now! Thanks for the tip

[1954Etype]

Good news and thanks for the update.