Dropping subframe out to chance ARB, easy to do?

[brett1223]

I have a spare day so wondering weather to give it a go on my own or wait for a mate to give me a hand...Easy to do or not? Mk1 Leon fr tdi...

 

[cuprastoffs]

I though it was going to be a pain, but turned out no too bad.
Easiest option is to drop the subframe. I managed to lower the front enough to do the job.

 

[BigJase88]

I thought it was going to be hard but was simple as anything!

Disconnect ball joints either side (13mm socket)
Disconnect anti roll bar (18mm socket)
Disconnect dogbone mount at gearbox (16mm socket)
Remove 4x bolts for steering rack (13mm socket)
Remove 2x bolts for exhaust hanger (10mm socket)
Remove 4x bolts for subfame whilst supporting subframe on jack (21mm socket)


Drop subframe
Anti roll bar bolts are 13mm socket


And refit is opposite removal

 

[285cupra-matty]

+ 1 quite any easy job i did have a hand

 

[BigJase88]

I did it on my jack with 2 axle stands and a trolley jack

 

[brett1223]

Was going to do it today but il hold out until Monday when ive got a helping hand. Sounds quite straight forward but a spare hand is always nice.

 

[BigJase88]

The hardest part is psyching yourself up for doing it! It took me 6 months to get that far! Then about 3 hours to do it

 

[joshy514]

I thought it was going to be hard but was simple as anything!

Disconnect ball joints either side (13mm socket)
Disconnect anti roll bar (18mm socket)
Disconnect dogbone mount at gearbox (16mm socket)
Remove 4x bolts for steering rack (13mm socket)
Remove 2x bolts for exhaust hanger (10mm socket)
Remove 4x bolts for subfame whilst supporting subframe on jack (21mm socket)


Drop subframe
Anti roll bar bolts are 13mm socket


And refit is opposite removal

My car is different lol, arb drop links are both 16mm and 4x subframe bolts, the big ones were 22mm.... oh my zorst hanger (although it supports not hangs lol) were 13mm

 

[joshy514]

Try not to move the rack too much as lining it up on your own can be a bitch, and where mine hung for 2 days I've got to replace a tie rod....

 

[BigJase88]

The same id say some of my sizes were off the top of my head!

My new droplinks were 18mm thats where i got confused!


But the subframe bolts are deffo 21mm!

I tried a 22mm on it and its loose

 

[joshy514]

The same id say some of my sizes were off the top of my head!

My new droplinks were 18mm thats where i got confused!


But the subframe bolts are deffo 21mm!

I tried a 22mm on it and its loose

I don't doubt you, I'm doubting myself now lol. Mine is up on the ramp on Saturday, so I'm going to check. I'm sure I put 21mm on and it was too small.... I did all that properly too, had a 6 sided impact socket on it. It's annoying me now I need to check

 

[joshy514]

The same id say some of my sizes were off the top of my head!

My new droplinks were 18mm thats where i got confused!


But the subframe bolts are deffo 21mm!

I tried a 22mm on it and its loose

I don't doubt you, I'm doubting myself now lol. Mine is up on the ramp on Saturday, so I'm going to check. I'm sure I put 21mm on and it was too small.... I did all that properly too, had a 6 sided impact socket on it. It's annoying me now I need to check.
Any way, you need a 21mm or 22mm haha

 

[BigJase88]

Well i have a 22mm 1/2 socket so tried it and it was slack. I thought about trying it but thought id round the head of the bolt

So i frantacly hunted for something in 21mm! And luckily i had a spark plug socket in 21mm so used that on it! And it was as snug as a bug

 

[joshy514]

Well i have a 22mm 1/2 socket so tried it and it was slack. I thought about trying it but thought id round the head of the bolt

So i frantacly hunted for something in 21mm! And luckily i had a spark plug socket in 21mm so used that on it! And it was as snug as a bug

Haha I've been in the same situation with the strut top nut and Allen key bit! Spark plug life saver!!