multieddie
New member
Just changed a very worn offside anti roll bar link rod on my 03 JTD115ELX.
Ahhhhhh.....
Prior to the change, it sounded that a very angry dwarf was trying to hammer his way out from under the wheelarch. I used to grit my teeth so much over rough roads that I swear I've worn down the enamel.
So on Sunday morning I decided to take the law into my own hands and get it sorted. Removing the top of the link was easy (though it still required a large amount of persuasion and a lake of WD40 to get it moving), but at least the bushing stayed put when I undid the nut. However, the bottom link proved more tricky. Any attempts to keep the bushing from rotating using the 5mm allen key fitting was as laughable as, well, designing a component that goes under the wheelarch of a car and putting a 5mm allen key on it!! Eventually I decided that I had to get medieval on the bugger, so out came the hacksaw - after about ten minutes of sawing, and some more WD40 to lube the blade, I'd sawn through the bolt right next to the ARB end and the old link rod was off!! And examining it, it was truly knackered. NB: If anyone else tries the hacksaw method, you need to remove the blade, jiggle the saw frame around the other gubbins down there and saw with very short strokes. Also, be careful you don't saw into your ARB, brake lines or your lower wishbone! All are in close proximity!!
Fitting the new one was easy. I used a jack under the hub assembly to lift the arm into the right position for refitting, and just spannered the new link rod on, nice and tight.
The result is buttery smooth suspension, no knocks, rattles or horrible 'driving on marbles' vibrations coming through the steering wheel. I'm almost seeking out speed bumps now, and I'm leaving the radio off so I can listen to how quiet my car is.
Next job is to replace a worn offside track rod end (found one for £9 on ebay - result!!!), then get the tracking set to zero, then she'll be tight as a drum.
Ahhhhhh.....
Prior to the change, it sounded that a very angry dwarf was trying to hammer his way out from under the wheelarch. I used to grit my teeth so much over rough roads that I swear I've worn down the enamel.
So on Sunday morning I decided to take the law into my own hands and get it sorted. Removing the top of the link was easy (though it still required a large amount of persuasion and a lake of WD40 to get it moving), but at least the bushing stayed put when I undid the nut. However, the bottom link proved more tricky. Any attempts to keep the bushing from rotating using the 5mm allen key fitting was as laughable as, well, designing a component that goes under the wheelarch of a car and putting a 5mm allen key on it!! Eventually I decided that I had to get medieval on the bugger, so out came the hacksaw - after about ten minutes of sawing, and some more WD40 to lube the blade, I'd sawn through the bolt right next to the ARB end and the old link rod was off!! And examining it, it was truly knackered. NB: If anyone else tries the hacksaw method, you need to remove the blade, jiggle the saw frame around the other gubbins down there and saw with very short strokes. Also, be careful you don't saw into your ARB, brake lines or your lower wishbone! All are in close proximity!!
Fitting the new one was easy. I used a jack under the hub assembly to lift the arm into the right position for refitting, and just spannered the new link rod on, nice and tight.
The result is buttery smooth suspension, no knocks, rattles or horrible 'driving on marbles' vibrations coming through the steering wheel. I'm almost seeking out speed bumps now, and I'm leaving the radio off so I can listen to how quiet my car is.
Next job is to replace a worn offside track rod end (found one for £9 on ebay - result!!!), then get the tracking set to zero, then she'll be tight as a drum.
