Suspension Arms - Where can I buy them. 1988 Mk3.

[rik007]

Hi I need two lower front suspension arms for my 1988 Mk3 SWB Transit.

Can anyone help with a supplier?

Part number are apparently 6178028 and 6156754.

Many thanks, Rich.

[Chug]

http://www.transitcenter.uk/?cPath=1_89 ... 915838d815

Scroll down halfway ish on this page for Left hand side New, or used if on a tight budget, see page three for right hand side.

[rik007]

Thanks for the above link ... sadly they are all out of stock and need them now for the MOT.

Apparently the garage say they cannot be welded, which is very annoying.

[bobbari123]

https://m.autodoc.co.uk/vaico/7285957

[rik007]

Thanks again ... but 'out of stock'. May the old girl is a write off these days seems hard tracking down this part.

[rik007]

Would this part which is advertised as being for a 1991-2000 Transit do the same job?

It looks identical to the part for the earlier 1985-1991 vehicle. I assume this is the difference between the straight grille and smiley grill update vans? But essentially the same van.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-TRANSIT ... 1438.l2649


Cheers, Rich

[bobbari123]

Hi.
check this one: https://www.euspares.co.uk/parts/abs/7801999

[vanfox]

You could look for a scrap van with good arms or have the arms properly rebuilt and painted by a machine shop, then use a different MOT station. Certainly not a scrapping situation.
Post a pic of the bad arms so we can see what the garage is on about.

[gotgcoalman]

You could look for a scrap van with good arms or have the arms properly rebuilt and painted by a machine shop, then use a different MOT station. Certainly not a scrapping situation.
Post a pic of the bad arms so we can see what the garage is on about.

This is an option (although not the best)
I ran with a welded wishbone and got it mot ed for several years. (legit mot, they didn't suss it had been welded)

Grind back/support the van to close the crack .
Grind a V in the crack.
Fill with weld and grind back flush then paint BOTH wishbones.
Test drive over rough terrain (see if they split at the weld under abnormal use)

IT WILL BE FLAGGED ON PREVIOUS MOT FAIL though

[oldskooler]

[quote="rik007"]Would this part which is advertised as being for a 1991-2000 Transit do the same job?

It looks identical to the part for the earlier 1985-1991 vehicle. I assume this is the difference between the straight grille and smiley grill update vans? But essentially the same van.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-TRANSIT ... 1438.l2649


the difference is that the balljoint is fatter where it slides into the arm (where the 3 m10 bolts go through to hold the balljoint) by about 10 mm....but the hole positions are identical, so you could get away with making up a shim to go along with your balljoints to take it up to the thickness of the later one....would be absolutely fine as long as you had the 3 bolts going through the shim plate. i think the later balljoint also has a larger shank so wont fit your hubs,...so no easy option!!

you would also need to get sleeves made up to take up the slack between the pivot bushes on the new arms and your smaller early bolts.

i did the opposite to this recently when i converted my mk3 single wheel to twin wheel mk5 running gear .....had to mod the early arm to take the mk5 balljoint and leave it factory looking so the tester wont notice!!

[rik007]

That is very helpful! Thank you.

It looks like I will have to do this, as I cannot find 86-91 arms anywhere OR get them off and welded professionally enough to make it pass the MOT.

So..

1. Shim up the ball joint where it enters the arm
2. Sleeve the pivot bolts to accept the smaller bolts

Are the three ball joint bolts the same diameter for both the older and newer arms?

Many thanks Rich

PS that's some project in the photos .... I did an engine build once and thought that was quite enough, but the photos look like a compete recon job!

[rik007]

Found a new righthand side £86 so have that fitted. Just need a left one. So annoying they cannot be weld repaired.

Halfway there!

Rich.

[gasbo]

ive got the same problem but found some new ones on a polish ebay site and also a bulgarian website...hoping i get a reply from the seller...not cheap though £130 each