Front wishbone replacement?

[Bossworld]

I'm treating the car to four new Avon ZV7s when spring rolls around.

The current tyres are some no brand on the front and some old Bridgestones on the rears. I've had the lot balanced and still get a little bit of shake at 70mph on some roads.

I'm aware that one of the tyres is slightly out of round, but when I had the alignment done at DD 2017, Demon Tweeks said one of the front bushes was worn to the point they couldn't quite get it in spec.

For the sake of the price of the third party wishbones, considering doing it while the car is SORNed.

Had a look through the Toyota guide but can anyone suggest if this is a suitable task for an enthusiastic amateur? I've got a full socket set, angle grinder and an impact driver (though not an impact wrench). Do I need things like spring compressors or any other specialist tools?

Thanks

[jonbill]

I changed one a couple of months ago and it was pretty straightforward. I don't think you need anything special in terms of tools but there's definitely a sequence to reassembly (front bolt first) and I remember having to jack the hub to get everything to line up and get all the bolts in (which probably would be safer and easier if you did have spring compressors)
Also if it's got standard bushes you want to do the tightening up of the bushed joints when the wheel and arm are in their normal weight bearing position.

[Bossworld]

Thanks Jon

I may be about to do a u turn on my post but having just watched a couple of Yaris videos on YouTube, I'm wondering if I got the wrong end of the stick.

Is it the track rod end bushes that Demon Tweeks were referring to/would have been adjusting for alignment?

Or do I need to just get some new tyres first and worry about all this shenanigans later?  No MOT advisories re suspension ever

[jonbill]

There's a ball joint in the track rod end and wear there is going to make toe in hard to set reliably and I think might give your symptoms, and that's the one probably most noticeable to someone setting the tracking. But there's also a ball joint between the wishbone and the hub and bushes in the hub that could I imagine make it impossible to set things accurately if they're worn.

So yeah, start with track rod ends. Should be easy enough to do. You might need to add a ball joint splitter to your tool kit if you haven't got one.
You can mark where the old tie rod end was screwed on to to get the new one in roughly the right place but you will need to get the alignment done after.

Some might say you might as well change the wishbones and the track rod ends, so you only have to do the alignment once.

[Bossworld]

There's a ball joint in the track rod end and wear there is going to make toe in hard to set reliably and I think might give your symptoms, and that's the one probably most noticeable to someone setting the tracking. But there's also a ball joint between the wishbone and the hub and bushes in the hub that could I imagine make it impossible to set things accurately if they're worn.

So yeah, start with track rod ends. Should be easy enough to do. You might need to add a ball joint splitter to your tool kit if you haven't got one.
You can mark where the old tie rod end was screwed on to to get the new one in roughly the right place but you will need to get the alignment done after.

Some might say you might as well change the wishbones and the track rod ends, so you only have to do the alignment once.

Cheers Jon I think it's either all or nothing as you say, given the alignment cost.  I watched a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCVnfDAZrGo

Which left me scratching my head a bit as to why Toyota's repair manual involves removing the hub (unless it's to do with access) given they're meant to be the same wishbones.  I'm a bit hesitant to plough into this one but it seems the parts are going to run me less than £60 all in (pair of wishbones, tie rod ends and ARB links).  Unless there's some nightmare scenario where the inner track rod would also need replacing?

Sorry to sound like a newb, but most of this suspension stuff is new to me (I've changed brake calipers, hard brake lines, radiators, condensors, cleaned the T/B etc.). 

[Carolyn]

There's a ball joint in the track rod end and wear there is going to make toe in hard to set reliably and I think might give your symptoms, and that's the one probably most noticeable to someone setting the tracking. But there's also a ball joint between the wishbone and the hub and bushes in the hub that could I imagine make it impossible to set things accurately if they're worn.

So yeah, start with track rod ends. Should be easy enough to do. You might need to add a ball joint splitter to your tool kit if you haven't got one.
You can mark where the old tie rod end was screwed on to to get the new one in roughly the right place but you will need to get the alignment done after.

Some might say you might as well change the wishbones and the track rod ends, so you only have to do the alignment once.

Cheers Jon I think it's either all or nothing as you say, given the alignment cost.  I watched a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCVnfDAZrGo

Which left me scratching my head a bit as to why Toyota's repair manual involves removing the hub (unless it's to do with access) given they're meant to be the same wishbones.  I'm a bit hesitant to plough into this one but it seems the parts are going to run me less than £60 all in (pair of wishbones, tie rod ends and ARB links).  Unless there's some nightmare scenario where the inner track rod would also need replacing?

Sorry to sound like a newb, but most of this suspension stuff is new to me (I've changed brake calipers, hard brake lines, radiators, condensors, cleaned the T/B etc.).

How do you arrive at £60?

[Bossworld]

There's a ball joint in the track rod end and wear there is going to make toe in hard to set reliably and I think might give your symptoms, and that's the one probably most noticeable to someone setting the tracking. But there's also a ball joint between the wishbone and the hub and bushes in the hub that could I imagine make it impossible to set things accurately if they're worn.

So yeah, start with track rod ends. Should be easy enough to do. You might need to add a ball joint splitter to your tool kit if you haven't got one.
You can mark where the old tie rod end was screwed on to to get the new one in roughly the right place but you will need to get the alignment done after.

Some might say you might as well change the wishbones and the track rod ends, so you only have to do the alignment once.

Cheers Jon I think it's either all or nothing as you say, given the alignment cost.  I watched a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCVnfDAZrGo

Which left me scratching my head a bit as to why Toyota's repair manual involves removing the hub (unless it's to do with access) given they're meant to be the same wishbones.  I'm a bit hesitant to plough into this one but it seems the parts are going to run me less than £60 all in (pair of wishbones, tie rod ends and ARB links).  Unless there's some nightmare scenario where the inner track rod would also need replacing?

Sorry to sound like a newb, but most of this suspension stuff is new to me (I've changed brake calipers, hard brake lines, radiators, condensors, cleaned the T/B etc.).

How do you arrive at £60?

Wishbones are £17 each, tie rod ends can be had for less than a fiver a side on Amazon (see prev. thread I started for cheap parts), and I assumed drop links wouldn't run much more than £20?

https://ultimatestyling.co.uk/toyota-yaris-yaris-verso-suspension-arm-front-lower-rh-ult9035-ssa


EDIT:

Track rod ends part numbers ABS 230474 / MAPCO 59273 procured for £7.76 the pair   (part no.s verified against eBay 232590766172)
Stabilisers Japko 106266 / ABS 260602 procured for £8.83 the pair (ebay 332309668963 for part nos)

Spurious single Febi Bilstein 33447 inner track rod end for £5.18 to get me to the free delivery threshold.  Hope to god it's not needed but if it is, it'll be £15 for a second one.

[Carolyn]

I think you'll find that those Yaris A-arms fit the Mk 2.

The Mk 3 will accept Scion ones.  More like £100 a pair all-in from the States.

I stand to be corrected, but I went through this a year ago and ended up buying from the States.

[Bossworld]

I think you'll find that those Yaris A-arms fit the Mk 2.

The Mk 3 will accept Scion ones.  More like £100 a pair all-in from the States.

I stand to be corrected, but I went through this a year ago and ended up buying from the States.

I have queried it several times due it turning apocryphal online, but there have been several posts in the last few weeks on the Facebook group, two of which from people who've stated they've fitted, then also linked to, Yaris wishbones of the same year as their MR2 Roadster.

[Bossworld]

eBay code 'PINCHME' is giving 10% off.  Picked up the wishbones for £39.55.

Will need a large dollop of encouragement in the next month or so but looking forward to the challenge.  Only other concern is the length of the tie rod ends vs. OEM but will only find out when they get here/I start taking things off.  If the ones I've ordered are different lengths will send back and re-order.

[jonbill]

All good to know.