Hello, I have a 1992 honda accord that has a inner cv boot tear. I’m thinking of replacing it myself, I have read repair manuals and watched how to do it videos on youtube. My question is with the wishbone suspension. Is it critical that I dropped the car down then tighten the bolt or it doesnt really matter? Also any words of wisdom before I take on this task?
The vehicle doesn’t need to be on the ground to tighten the bolt. If you haven’t done so, liberally soak that bolt with a penetrating lubricant. That bolt can sometimes be a bear to remove.
You can have someone hold down the brake pedal while you tighten that bolt, or you can drop the car to the ground to do it, but tightening that bolt is crucial. You need a big torque wrench.
Can I tighten the mounting bolt on the lower strut mount to the control arm while on the jack or must i lower the car first?
Also right now the right has only the tear. Should I also replace the left side ?
Thank you…
Suspension bolts that go through rubber bushings should be tightened at ride hight, on the ground so that the bushing is at a neutral position. Threre is not much twist in the strut to lower control arm bushing but with the other control arm bushings tightening the fasteners while off the ground will preload the bushing and shorten the life of the bushing.
The bolt and the bushing are splined. When you raise the vehicle and the lower control arm hangs the rubber in the bushing is relaxed. Then when you reinstall the splined bolt into the splined bushing and lower the vehicle, the bushing returns back to it’s normal ride position.