Advise about DIY maintenance for wishbone/ARB bushes and CAM belt

[Tyke1966]

Hi,

I've just been quoted nearly a grand + VAT by local garage to replace the front Wishbone and ARB bushes + replace CAM-belt and Rib-belt on my wifes 2003 Mk4 SEAT Ibiza (35K miles). I've done a bit of reading here and it seems the bushes are a common problem, and the CAM belt is due a change .

I want to do the work myself but it seems there isn't a Haynes manual for this SEAT model. I've got plenty of DIY experience with different motors, although I've never touched the SEATs before. Before I start work I thought I'd ask the folks in this forum for some advise.

My questions are:

- Is it possible for a competent DIY-er to replace the parts I've mentioned?
- Has anyone here replaced these parts themselves?
- Is it possible using a trolley jack and a pair of axel stands?
- Is it all possible with one pair of hands?
- Are any special/exotic tools needed?
- Are there any pitfalls to watch out for?

Any help much appreciated!

Cheers,
Dave

I'm planning to take photos of the procedure and then publish a write-up on this forum as a guide to others who want to tackle these common maintenance tasks for this model.

 

[Aimez]

Just had the cambelt done and now need the bushes doing, from what I have read on here the only prob you may have is a special tool makes doing the bushes alot easier other wise its a nightmare of a job event he garage said so. Think you have to be quite rough with t he bushes so maybe axle stand might be a bit dodgy? I'm sure you will get alot of responses on this anyway

 

[Bondiblu]

This should help doing the bushes http://briskoda.net/technical-guides/fabia-wishbone-bush-replacement-diy-guide/101781/

 

[Aimez]

oooh I could never do that myself too much for me be worried my car would fall apart afterwards! Gotta have 4 wheel alinement done after damn that's gonna make this cost a bomb!

 

[PLuKE]

Me and my mate are doing are bushs, And replacing them with Cupra bushs for £4 or so each. We got the two plates made up, And they cost about £20. We did one side in about 1.5hrs or so, But we had to keep stopping as it was raining/snowing. Just a few of the bolts are really tight so maybe an impact gun would be good.

Luke

 

[Tyke1966]

Thanks!

Thanks for the hints and advise so far. The wishbone bush replacement look manageable from the Skoda pics (nice one!). I can't imagine the anti-roll-bar bushes are anywhere near as tricky, but any advise on this would also be much appreciated.

If the cam belt replacement is a fairly standard procedure then I've just got to remember to mark the position of both the cam pully and the crank shaft pully (e.g. using a permanent marker pen) before removing the old cam belt, and then make sure that both pulleys are in the same position when the new belt is fitted.

 

[cheshire cat]

Thanks for the hints and advise so far. The wishbone bush replacement look manageable from the Skoda pics (nice one!). I can't imagine the anti-roll-bar bushes are anywhere near as tricky, but any advise on this would also be much appreciated.

If the cam belt replacement is a fairly standard procedure then I've just got to remember to mark the position of both the cam pully and the crank shaft pully (e.g. using a permanent marker pen) before removing the old cam belt, and then make sure that both pulleys are in the same position when the new belt is fitted.

if it's a PD you really need the tools marker pen is not (in my opinion) good enough also you need to slack the cam bolt tension and then re-tighten the bolt also as space is short the engine needs jacking up and down to remove the mounting if it's 1900 cc. and new bolts fitted and torqued. As for the cupra bushes they are approx£17 the pair, I've seen someone else also claim 1'1/2 hours they should do it for a living at that rate! my easy one took longer than that, the hard one was much worse I stripped 10mm theaded rod and bent 6mm steel plate and resorted to 12 HT bolt and 10MM rolled plate also if you disconnect the outer ball joint you need an small remover as there is not much room, the good side is if you don't slacken the "consol" you don't need re-allingement best of luck

 

[Altech]

The ARB bushes are fairly straight forward to replace. However a car that age may have to have it's ARB replaced. If the plastic bush retainers have perished and fallen off the ARB will knock against the aluminium wishbone consoles.

Here's the guide from Briskoda http://briskoda.net/technical-guides/guide-how-change-fabia-front-arb/71614/

I have personally done this myself and also replaced the wishbones bushes. They are fairly straight forward jobs if you're handy with a spanner!

 

[Aimez]

as space is short the engine needs jacking up and down to remove the mounting

I had my cam belt done last Monday got it back and the car was squeaking so much every time I went over a bump or came on or off the throttle. They had a look and said my bushes were worn and need replacing. ( I already have the bits at home) They put lots of grease on them and it has stopped. I thought it squeaked cos of what you said about jacking the car up as it didn't do it before. What you think?

 

[Tyke1966]

Thanks for all the responses and help. Very good advise.

 

[the_fbi]

I had my cam belt done last Monday

Can I ask how much it was? Been quoted between £400 and £460 from a Seat dealer
That did include a re-con water pump though, but thats not an expensive part.

 

[Tyke1966]

Hiya,

Haven't done the cam belt yet, but planning to do it next weekend! Will let you know how it goes.

Quote I had from local garage is comparable to yours.
373 quid (ex VAT) including new water pump, coolant change, and rib belt.

Dave

 

[RUM4MO]

Can I ask how much it was? Been quoted between £400 and £460 from a Seat dealer
That did include a re-con water pump though, but thats not an expensive part.

Don't let the term "re-con pump" worry you as they tend to be new ones mainly and you save maybe £10>20. Why not try one of your local indies - for example www.unit18.co.uk as that should be cheaper and maybe better job. Good idea to change the ribbed belt also as mentioned above! (he might still live on here as "techie" and on www.briskoda.net .

 

[the_fbi]

Sorry for taking this OT.

Thanks for the tip RUM4MO, I'll look him up.

I don't mind a non Seat garage, both last oil changes were done by me and the cars done 141k so not really any point going dealer any more, I emailed JamSport but didn't get a response

Ribbed belt is the aux belt?

 

[RUM4MO]

Yes ribbed or micro grooved belt is the auxiliary belt, I just wish that I had got mine changed along with the timing belt on my Passat (space is a bit tight).

 

[RossIBIZATDI]

Well people, booked today off work to do the bushes in the wish bone with powerflex ones and the console ones with the solid cupra ones. Just got in from the drive and my car is still up on the axle stands coz I can't get the wish bone's into the bush in the console. Tried using the ratchet method but no luck. Any suggestions? Looking back I could of got to where I am now in half the time knowing what I now know. It's just a lot of faffing around gettin the old ones out, cutting off the rubber on the wish bone ones etc. Any way, can any one help with my question about getting the arms into the console bush? Cheers. Ross

 

[the_fbi]

Sorry, not done this job on an Ibiza, but....

In what way won't they go back in?
You can't get it lined up?
They partially engage but don't fully go home?

Any pictures which help explain?

If the bushes are the 2 piece ones which you can easily remove, does the bush on its own fit into the mount OK, perhaps there is a width issue?

 

[RossIBIZATDI]

The bushes won't move anywhere, had to be pressed in with a press. Just can't the wish bone end in the bush. The wish bone has a hexagon end on it that fits in the hexagon hole in the bush but it's a solid cupra bush so hardly any movement in it to wiggle the end it. I'll try in the morn, suppose it's like anything with mechanics, you just need persistence! Actually, will have to do it after work as I'm not booking another day off for this! Least it's light for longer now.

 

[RUM4MO]

Have not done this, but I'd have thought that if you lubricated the bush and TCA hex pin then lining up and in the correct orientation as you wind in the ratchet strap should get it in okay - the solid bush will always try to avoid getting deflected down a bit as its tougher than the voided bush. Remember one thing before you go BALLISTIC, the ratchet strap method was suggested so that you did not end up forcing the car off its stands on top of you when things get nasty! You can't jam something in the opposite end of the bush to force the hex pin end down as you wind the strap in?

 

[JR_130]

I carried out this operation at the weekend, with the assistance of my brother, and found it quite difficult.
the Hex end of the wishbone does not slide in quite as easily as described in the guide.

the wishbone can't be aligned properly until the hex end is through the Bush far enough to get the front bush into the final fitting position.
we persevered and with plenty of lubrication, the strap and assistance of a mallet and some , the wishbones eventually made it to the correct position.