Rear wishbones

[Simonpfhc]

Hi all,

Just building up the components on the IRS. i have the diff mounted and brackets aligned. Calipers, discs and driveshafts are on. I am about to mount the wishbones. The manual just states to make sure that the mounts for the trailing arms are pointing forwards. However, depending on which side you fit a wishbone, the grease nipples (on the inside bearings) may be pointing upwards or downwards. Now, my photos at disassembly clearly show the grease nipples pointing upwards, but in all the pictures online that I have found, the grease nipples point downwards. If they point downwards, it seems more logical for access, but they are slightly obscured by the tie plate that bolts across the cage. Upwards they are not obscured by anything, but are more awkward for access.

Is there a correct orientation?

Cheers.

[PeterCrespin]

Down of course. They weren't obscured for the Tecalemit toolkit grease gun.

[mgcjag]

Hi Simon....The nippies should be pointing down..You can .use.straight nippies or adjust the angled ones to a position where access is easier.....check with the bottom plate which looks best....maybe they were fitted the wrong way around before... Steve

[Simonpfhc]

Thanks guys - down it is then.

Looks like they were fitted incorrectly at some point then (shick, horror!!)

Cheers.

[BRM]

You're not alone there. My car has just spent several weeks with Angus for other work during which time we discovered with similar horror that my wishbones had been fitted at some time previously on the wrong sides ie. upside down with the grease nipples on the top. More expense !

Due to the offset on the inner ends of the wishbones, fitting them upside down means that the wishbone sits at a greater angle to the horizontal than it should which must marginally raise the ride height and also means the brackets for the trailing arms are at the wrong angle and distort the rubber bushes.

Brian

[Simonpfhc]

Glad I asked and averted a disaster! Good that you are getting yours sorted ;-)

Interesting that it affects the ride height. It must also affect the camber then?? When dismantled, there were 4 spacers on the driveshafts each side, so I may just fit a couple and see how it measures up.

Cheers.

[JagWaugh]

Simon,

Camber will only be affected by the C-C distance of the shaft bores, these are the same either way. It affects ride height because there is a slight crank to the ends, and this moves the lower shock/spring mounting.

Andrew

[Simonpfhc]

Hi Andrew,

Good to know, thanks.

Cheers.