307 - wishbone bush gone! (on 2001 model)

Hi All

My wife's car just went for a full service and the Peugeot dealer said that
the N/S/F wishbone bush is split.

She's a careful driver and so it seems unusual for a car that's just over 4
years old, for bush to split.

Should I take it further and maybe complain?

I was thinking if changing it myself if need be, but I believe it's quite a
difficult job and best left to the dealer, is this true?

Thanks for any comments.

Matt

 

NO DO THE JOB YOUR SELF IT IS VERY EASY JOB TO DO.
ARE YOU NEAR ADDLESTONE IN SURREY???
GOOD LUCK FROM CHRIS IN ADDLESTONE SURREY.

 

Hi Chris

Thanks for your message, you're giving me the confidence to do it myself!

Unfortuntely I live near Manchester so am far off Surrey.

I've ordered a Haynes manual to see the procedure, but can I replace the
bush or is it integral into the wishbone?

Thanks

Matt

 

Our 306 has gone through 2 sets of front wishbone bushes in 2 years
(failed 1 MOT, okay on next, failed again on the next one). Seems to be
a common problem for 306's. No idea about 307's. Do you regularly go
over speed bumps? I think that's what caused it for us - 2 years of
many speed bumps (we've since moved, so hopefully they'll last longer -
but I'm going to a new garage now anyway as I'm not sure whether they
really were cracked!).

Job should be quite easy - easier to replace the whole wishbone than
just the bushes (which they did the 2nd time). If I remember, the (non
Peugeot) garage charged around £60 per wishbone (same as Peugeot charge)
plus about 1.5 hours labour. This was for both sides - so 45 mins per side.

As far as I know, for the 306, it is a straightforward job, but I
chickened out in the end and got it done.

Bush was about £20 - but apparently can be a pain to remove the bush
from the arm (for a 306) - and therefore replacing the whole arm is
easier, especially as the arm is probably removed anyway - just fit the
new one instead.

All that is for the 306 - 307 may be quite different suspension design.

D

 

Oh, and if after you get them done (by you or elsewhere) and then hear a
knocking/clunk on breaking/pulling away - recheck the bush bolts. Both
times the garage did the work, I had this. Second time I just bought a
torque wrench myself and tightened them - easier than taking it into the
garage for day to get it done!

And, with the 306 - the last time a day or two later I got a pool of
gearbox oil on the driveway. Oil seal had gone on one of the
driveshafts. Chances are, the garage let the hub drop, pulling the
driveshaft out the gearbox - so the just shoved it back in - damaging
the seal. Got it fixed elsewhere for about £60. So, just make sure the
driveshafts don't pull out whilst doing the work.

D

 

Thanks Dave

I'm not sure about speed bumps but my wife does like hitting kerbs.

The car has a strong squeak whilst pulling away.

It isn't possible to replace/repair the bush as it's integral but I might
look at the possibility of a non-peugeot garage doing the work as Peugeot
want £250+ for their efforts.

I'd like to do it myself but will see what the Haynes book says.

 

The Haynes book has 3 spanners against it. It says to remove the driveshaft
which in turn will involve draining the gearbox. I don't know if this is
strictly required, but you would risk puling the driveshaft out of the
gearbox, and this in turn would dump the oil all over the place.
The Haynes book also says that the bushes are replaceable, but a press would
be needed to put the new one in. Apart from that, the removal and
replacement of the track control arm is very simple, only three bolts, and
pull it out.
www.GSFcarparts.com list the arm at £45 plus VAT. This will probably have
the bushes already fitted, but you would need to check.
Neat autos www.parts4peugeot.com list the track control arm at £38 + VAT =
£44.65. They do mail order. Again you would need to check if the bushes are
fitted.
The bush design on the 307 is totally different from the 405 and 306.
Are you sure that the squeek when pulling away is not a loose auxiliary
drive belt?
Brian.

 

HI Brian

Thanks for the info.

3 spanners is my limit on DIY car jobs.

I've got access to a press through customers, but I'd think the bushes would
be included in the arm.

Sqeak - it seems to be linked with jerky movement, e.g. when a car pulls
away or goes over soft bumps. I asked Peurgoet at the previous service to
see what they though it was but they said they couldn't see a problem.

I'm off to GSF anyway to get brake pads, I presume Haynes give brake pads
change it a 2 spanners job?

Thanks

Matt

 

Yes, 2 spanners. GSF also sell the Haynes books.
The squeek could be one of the anti-roll bar bushes, I have had this myself.
You can try squirting a bit of WD40 at the rubber bush on each side, see if
the noise goes away. If you really want to be picky you can pull the bush
off and lubricate it with rubber grease, then put it all back, but I would
try the WD40 first, much easier.

By the way, if you are thinking of doing the wishbone yourself, you probably
don't need to remove the drive shaft complete, just undo the nut at the
outer end, and allow it to slide (or push it) out of the hub. But first tie
it up so that it can't slide out of the gearbox. That nut is very tight and
about 32mm, I can't remember exactly.
Brian.

 

Hi there, has anyone a 307 CC???