Rear ARB links

[steveoz32]

*Mods can you please change title to bushes, just realised I put links*

Most people probably know how to do this, but again here are some pics I took a while back when I changed the bushes and before I replaced the ARB. Whenever I change rollbar bushes I always put the car on axle stands then jack the hub to take pressure off of the bolts and keep the bar in the correct position. It makes it a real quick job. I also put some silicone on the bar so the new bush slides on nicely when replacing and clean the threads / grease all old bolts (as I do if reusing any bolt on the car).

 

[chriscoates81]

Forgive me if this sounds like a stupid question, but where do you put the stands? Im guessing you use either the supplied jack or a trollley jack under the correct points but i cant think of where you have located axle stands.

 

[berrytastic]

These pictures and instructions are just what I need. Thanks.

Any recommendation on whether to replace the clamp and bolts? Should they always be replaced with the bush or replaced on need?

 

[steveoz32]

No probs Chris. I jacked up one corner at a time. So jacked it up from jacking point, then popped an axel stand near the jacking point and under the chasis rail where the wishbone joins. I always put an axel stand close to where I am working incase something fails (rather the axel stand stop the car somewhere than be decapitated ) In the old days I just put the wheel under the car, but I've thankfully got out of that habbit. In this case the axel stand in the pic has been raised to the chasis rail. I used a second jack on the bottom of the wishbone where the hub joins to keep it in position (I wouldn't do this long term, but it's only there for a couple of mins while changing).

Cheers,

 

[steveoz32]

You can see the bolts were pretty good, and they came out fine, so were not chewed up or anything. I just cleaned the threads greased them up and re-used them. The OPC didn't mention to me about replacing the clamps when I ordered the parts (he's normally pretty good and tells me if there are other parts that should be replaced in the process).


Cheers,

 

[berrytastic]

Is the process the same for replacing the from stabilizer bar bushes?

Plus are the front ARB drop links easy to replace too?

Thanks

 

[steveoz32]

I'd imagine ARB links are easy enough, I've changed a fair few on other cars using a similar method (a jack to support the bar / hub to take the pressure off of the links). If you try to undo them without taking the pressure off you will have a more difficult time as the bolts will be taking the weight and forcing them against the threads.

Just soak the nuts over night before going for it, as they tend to get a bit jammed being right near the wheel with all the water and crud getting on them.

Most links require a ring spanner or open ended spanner on the nut, with an allen key or hex bit in the middle end of the bolt to stop it from spinning, just turn both the opposite way to break it and off you go. I've had one set round off on me before, then it was angle grinder time, which was a bitch as it was a fwd and the gear box was close to the passenger side meaning the CV boots were close and easy to chop!

On a good day your looking at probably 20 mins a corner for links to be changed including getting the car up. On a bad day if they need some patience trying to get the nut off and or cutting your looking at perhaps an hour a side.

As for the front bushes I've not looked yet sorry. But I do have a pair ready to fit ( I bought all four when I needed to replace the rears ), the fronts don't need doing yet according to the inspection but I'll switch them over soon and post up when I do.

Cheers,