Hi everyone
I could do with some advice please. I have a 57 plate fiesta 1.25.  I want to change the ARB/sway bar bushes.  It's very hard to get any tools on the bolts especially the on at the back bolt.  Manuals say to drop the crossmember for access.  My issue for this is realigning it afterwards. I know you are supposed to use the correct alignment pins but they are expensive.  I wouldn't normally mind buying them but I'm not likely to ever use them again.

Is there an easier way to replace the bushes or is there a way that I can align the crossmember without the pins.  I would have thought I could mark it in someway or make a homemade tool to do the job.

I would very much value your advice.  Thank you

I haven't done this yet, and this probably won't help much, but I've wondered many times in the past how it might be done.  I will just share my thoughts, bearing in mind that I have a 2003 Zetec (which will be different, but which I can't believe is any easier).

I have wondered if it would be possible to do it by just unbolting one side, and opening a gap.  I don't know if the floor pan will flex enough, though.

If it had to come off completely, or to be sure it goes back straight after unbolting just one side, then beforehand, I would glue (not sure what with yet) some pieces of wood under the floor of the car around the subframe before dropping it.  Or maybe spray some paint upward to leave a 'shadow'.

Some people, rather than replacing the bushes, just push some nails into the bottom 'corners' of the bracket to squash the bushes a bit.

Other people suggest that it is possible to undo just the front nut, bend the bracket up a bit, and then that should give enough room.

I'd love to hear from other people who've actually done it.  Personally, it just seems to difficult to even try.

I just looked on eBay, and someone is selling a Fiesta subframe alignment tool for about £30 + PP.  Still too big a job for me, though.