Technical ARB Bushes question

[multieddie]

Finally getting around to sorting out my clonking ARB. I'm going to split the brackets with the ARB in situ and shim the bar and see if this makes a difference. If it does I might get some new bushes from ebay. Question is, can I do it one side at a time (i.e. jack up one side, remove wheel, do job, replace wheel, lower and repeat on the other side) and do I need to undo the drop links? (They're a swine to get off without drilling out or sawing them off!) Any help would be appreciated.

 

[widemouthfrog]

You won't be able to do it one side at a time (if you mean by this that the car will be tipped to one side). This will put preload on the ARB. The moment you split the retaining brackets, the whole lot will ping apart.

Can't you just jack up each side in turn and put blocks or props under the jacking points, so that you end up with the whole front end off the ground and level left-to-right?

 

[multieddie]

You won't be able to do it one side at a time (if you mean by this that the car will be tipped to one side). This will put preload on the ARB. The moment you split the retaining brackets, the whole lot will ping apart.

Can't you just jack up each side in turn and put blocks or props under the jacking points, so that you end up with the whole front end off the ground and level left-to-right?

Thanks widemouthfrog. I thought that would be the case. I think I'll do as you've suggested - lift one side at a time and support with axle stands. Not an expert at jacking cars up. Just thinking out loud here.... Is it safe to jack the whole front end up from a central position with a trolley jack? Is there a decent jacking point in the centre? Once the front is raised, is it necessary to disconnect the drop links? I suppose it would help in order to assess the bar/bushes for wear. Sorry, lots of questions!!!

 

[momoe]

I wouldn't jack-up centrally unless you're going to use axle stands or blocks under the subframe.
Choose your support area carefully with regard to access to the ARB clamps, they do split fairly easily but leave the bolts in by a few turns so as to retain the ARB just in case!
If you're going to all this trouble, you may as well buy new bushes for the sake of £20 as you'll have done all the hard work?