Technical Front ARB - Time for a new one?

[widemouthfrog]

Am I right in thinking that the collars on the rollbar just inboard of the ARB bush here:

should also be present here?:

If so, that explains the front end knocking I've have for a while. The rubber bushes are a bit tired, but still seem to be doing their job. It's a b*gger if I do need a new rollbar, as they're not cheap (and I've already got replacement bushes, not the whole f$£*ing rollbar).

More money......

 

[boilermansab]

How the hell did that come off!!
Anyway I wouldn't worry about it...I packed out my old bushes with thin rubber gasket strips and tightened it all up and now the car drives absolutely knock free..don't think the roll bar does a lot anyway..

 

[urchin]

ours is same the knocking is driving me mad!was the anti roll bar easy to get off did you have to drop the subframe?

 

[widemouthfrog]

It's pretty easy if the drop link nuts undo without spinning the whole ball joint. I was lucky because the drop links were replaced recently, so they haven't had time to seize up.

Once the drop links are off, there are four bolts to undo that hold the ARB bush clamps. They are accessed through holes in the bottom of the main subframe. Make sure these bolts are fully undone before you pull the socket away or you could run the risk of the bolt falling into the subframe internal void. Then it's just a case of manoeuvring the ARB past the expansion pipe coil for the steering rack - a bit tedious but not a big deal. I found it easier to pull the rollbar out from the drivers' side wheel arch.

I hadn't expected the collars to be missing. For most folks here, the knocking is down to the bush rubbers being shot. Even though the collars are missing from mine, I still can't work out what was hitting what. There's no obvious chafed paint or bent metal.

I think I'll have to get a complete new rollbar for mine. I could run around and get a pair of collars turned and welded on to the old one, but could do without the hassle.

 

[cooky257]

wRe: Front ARB - Time for a new one?

Same thing happened to me,i had just fitted brand new droplinks, but still had a knocking/scrapping noise. It turned out the anti roll ball had migrated across a couple of cm and the lower drop link thread was fouling on the wishbone. As a tempery fix i put a small u clamp on the centered arb to act as a collar,i suppose a jubilee clamp would do it. New arb fitted, no difference in the handling,but absolutely no noise at all. Cost was about £115 four years ago from dealers.

 

[JamesAtthews]

Hi WMF

Firstly, from looking at your photos on another thread, nice car, best colour too, we've got one!

Secondly, I was packing out my uprated poly bushes on the ARB last night, and mine only has one collar on it, but it also doesn't look to have ever had one either? I haven't seen a new ARB in the flesh, but wonder if they do have one, as mine has a collar on the same side that yours appears to. I don't think that I've helped too much, but you're not alone!

Cheers

James

 

[widemouthfrog]

I bit the bullet and ordered a new one from Shop4Parts. Should be here in the next day or two. I'll check to see how well the collars are welded on!

 

[urchin]

I ordered a new one too from fiat, im fitting it tomorrow so will take some pics

 

[widemouthfrog]

I'll race ya! Doing mine tomorrow too.