right just been rolling around on the floor fighting to fit a new shock and lower arm on my mk2...I've still got the other side to do

it seems if you fit the strut top and ball joint /arb then you can locate the inner wishbone mount....if you locate the inner first you cant get the arb in

whats the best way to get it all together ?

When I've done it I've always used a ratchet strap around the ARB to bring it inwards to allow it to be fitted to the TCA's. So bolt the TCA's in to their mounts on the body and the strut, then strap the ARB so it'll fit.

with that method do you leave the other arb mounts attached?

cant see the wishbone going back far enough to hook over the end with the inner bolt in place?

Unbolt the ARB from the TCA's.

Fit the strut to the car.

Fit the strut to the TCA, then bolt the TCA to the TCA mounting on the body of the car.

You should now have both the strut and the TCA (or wishbone as you call it, its actually called the track control arm) bolted to the car.

Now use the ratchet strap method I described above to fit the ARB to the TCA's.

ok maybe i'll give it a bash...not sure my ratchet strap is man enough

Lower the car gently ON to the ARB so it locates with the weight of the car

I'm sure that's what I did when I swapped a strut

Edited 17 June, 200818 yr by tobyk

thats how i did that one today...got the strut nut on at the turret, hooked the tca over the arb then droped it on the floor a few times to get the inner bolt hole lined up

also had to walk 4 miles to get a garage to do the wheel bearing after my diy attempt failed lol