Technical ABR Replacement How To.

[Snoo]

Thought I'd do a quick write up as I've just done it. Bought some 19mm bushes from a guy on ebay.

1. Jack the car up securely and remove both front wheels.
2. Remove the drop-links from either side (Handy time to replace these).
3. Unbolt the arb bush brackets from underneath using a 13mm socket on an extension bar. No need to secure the top nuts as they are welded to the plate.
4. You now need to split the brackets using a hammer and chisel. They are not welded together, it's just a kind of rivet utilising the bolt holes.
5. Once these are split you can remove the old bushes. Grease the new ones up and pop them back on the bar.
6. Put the brackets back on and bolt back up. If you line the plate halves up nicely the will pull back together as they were before.
7. Attach the drop-links.
8. Put wheels back on, lower it back down and test drive

 

[Snoo]

Can a mod edit the title so it says 'ARB' and not 'ABR'. :stupid:

 

[BikeDoc]

ARB Replacement How To.

9. Marvel at the lack of clunking from the front.
10. Grin lots.

I went a bit OTT with mine, made replacement clamps, oversized bushes, and sleeved the bar itself...
https://www.fiatforum.com/multipla/216009-multipla-poly-anti-roll-bar-bush-upgrade-4.html?p=2794021

Did the bushes you got go straight in without modification?
Link, for others needing them?

 

[Snoo]

Re: ARB Replacement How To.

Indeed. My girlfriend who mostly drives it was gobsmacked. It's always clunked since we bought it. I knew it was the arbs but only just got around to doing the work.

 

[widemouthfrog]

Re: ARB Replacement How To.

Which direction did you have play in the roll bar before you replaced the bushes? I'm still trying to track down the knocking from the front end on mine. The bushes seem to hold the roll bar tight around their circumference, but if I pull on the bar side-to-side (i.e. across the car), I can get some small amount of movement (perhaps 2-4mm). As there's no metal-to-metal contact brought on by doing this, I don't see how I could get a knock from it though. Drop links have already been replaced.

 

[Snoo]

Re: ARB Replacement How To.

but if I pull on the bar side-to-side (i.e. across the car), I can get some small amount of movement .

Yep, that's where it knocks. Exactly the same as mine. There is a shoulder on the roll bar on the inside edge of each bush. This is where the bush wears and allows the lateral movement that causes the knocks.

Here is a link to the ones I bought for a tenner. Money well spent!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-MULT...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3376a8e463


I've also realised those are 18mm bushes. I stated 19mm in my original post which is wrong.

 

[widemouthfrog]

Re: ARB Replacement How To.

Thanks for the info. Good link to the Portuguese seller too. Unfortunately, I'd bought a pair for £20 sometime ago . I couldn't figure out how I could be getting metal to metal contact but if there's a shoulder as you say, it all makes sense.

I'm still gathering bits for a big session on the Multi. So far got a new clutch, DMF, crank oil seal, front springs, strut tops, rear swing arm bearing kits. Still to come - new struts (hoping to go the Koni route, but that's not quite as simple as it first seems - still talking direct to Koni about that!) and rear dampers, recon turbo, a new air con compressor and maybe the 5th gear conversion. The signature line of another forumer about the definition of a wallet (a place where a Fiat owner used to keep their money) is starting to ring true!

Still, it's all good fun.

 

[Snoo]

Re: ARB Replacement How To.

That sounds more like a full restoration! My Dad's MGB needs less than that and it's been in the garage for 30 years