Ford Escort 93 Hatchback Lower Suspension Arm Replacement

[cheesyhoward]

I have a Ford Escort Zetec 1.6 93/L car (93000 miles). It has just failed the MOT because the off side front lower suspension arm rear inner bush has perished and come out. I plan to change the arm myself. Are there any potential problems I need to look out for? Do the new arms come with the bushes already fitted? I think I will change the ball joint to spindle clamp bolt also. Are any other parts required? The arm from Ford is £48+vat. From Camberly Autofactors the price is £23+vat. Is it worth paying the extra to get the Ford part?

Any advice/help is much appreciated.

[cheesyhoward]

I got the old one off. The bolts/nuts were not a problem. Getting the ball joint out of the spindle was more work.

I am having trouble getting the new one is place. I cannot line the holes up very well. Is there a particular method I should take eg line up and put the bolt in the rear section first? Or should I do the front or put the ball joint in first?

I can’t get the ball joint in anyway because it the angle is wrong. I have just realised the new ball joint is seized. Cannot budge it. The new left arm ball joint moves. When I first got them from the shop the seized one had the rubber up over the grooved section while the left one was just below it. Going back tomorrow to get a replacement.

It would be a lot easier if the shock absorber could be compressed a bit. So then the ball joint will go in more easily instead of at an angle. But there isn’t a way of doing it easily apart from jacking the brake disk, which will be asking for trouble. Any tips?

[cheesyhoward]

Managed to the right hand side. Wiggling the shock certainly helps. Had problems lining up the holes and getting the bolt through the upper sub frame mount. Eventually resorted to the rubber mallet. A few taps and bingo job almost done. Car ramps were useful for doing the final torque and yield of the bolts. Spent about 6 hours on it in total.