Topic: Advice needed (antiroll bar mount) - Fixed now (Read 3848 times)

jnoshea · « **on:** February 11, 2007, 10:25:01 »

Hi guys,

So the disco failed the MOT due to the trackrod fouling the antiroll bar on full lock. Track rod was bent so I fitted a new one yesterday but it's still fouling because the antiroll bar mount is actually bent up and back so the bar is sitting way too close to the trackrod. Anyone know how to bend the bracket back into shape. I've tried hitting it with a block of wood and lump-hammer but it's just too strong. I really need to get this done today really. If anyone in Nottingam has some kit that could straighten this out and could help me this afternoon that would be fantastic [-o<

jnoshea · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:04:28 »

I'm going to try heating the bracket up to bend it. I'll let you know how that goes.

simdeb · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:11:32 »

just take it off can not fail for not having one , dont think you will bend it back

simon

jnoshea · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:28:43 »

You're right Simon, thanks for the advice. It seems that if you heat up a 3mm steel bracket with a blow torch, all you end up with is a hot 3mm steel bracket...still won't bend :(

If I don't need it fitted for the MOT then I'll take it off this afternoon. If I want to put it back on then I guess the bracket is going to have to be cut off and a new one welded in place? You are sure now aren't you that I don't need it, even though the vehicle was fitted with one as standard?

birdy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:36:54 »

was told by my mot man if anti roll bars are factory fitted
they need to be on for a mot

jnoshea · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:44:57 »

Quote from: "birdy"

was told by my mot man if anti roll bars are factory fitted
they need to be on for a mot

Yes, this seems to be the general opinion now. That means I have to fix the bracket, especially as the MOT tester knows that the disco had ARBs because he failed it. I might be able to make a metal spacer plate to compensate for the distance the bracket has been pushed up. I've exhausted trying to bend it back into shape.

jnoshea · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:46:52 »

Quote from: "birdy"

was told by my mot man if anti roll bars are factory fitted
they need to be on for a mot

Yes, this seems to be the general opinion now. That means I have to fix the bracket, especially as the MOT tester knows that the disco had ARBs because he failed it. I might be able to make a metal spacer plate to compensate for the distance the bracket has been pushed up. I've exhausted trying to bend it back into shape.

birdy · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:49:54 »

you could use a thin tow bar spacer!

thermidorthelobster · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:54:36 »

I can't visualise what you mean, so I might be way out on this one, but it's not the antiroll bar becoming inverted is it?

jnoshea · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2007, 12:03:02 »

Wish I had a photo but I haven't. Basically, the bracket welded to the chasis that the ARB mounts to has been hit from underneath by a rock probably. This has bent it upwards by about 1 cm and because it starts out life as a parallellogram the mounting plate has moved backwards as it was squashed. It hasn't become inverted.

Birdy, I like your idea for the spacer.

thermidorthelobster · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2007, 12:11:43 »

Ah, I'm with you now. Can't get a bottle jack in there to force it out the way?

jnoshea · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2007, 12:14:11 »

Tried the bottle jack. Not enough room to get in there with it.

I'm going to try drilling two new holes forward of the old ones on the bracket to compensate, I'll let you know if it works.

gtomo2 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2007, 12:24:10 »

bent my front ones back into shape with a bottle jack.just face the car to a kerb chock the rear wheels and wedge the bottle jack between the kerb and the mount at a nice angle then just pump the jack up and away you go.

J.D. · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2007, 12:44:34 »

Either that or I know someone did theres with a Hi-Lift Jack in the same wya.

jnoshea · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2007, 14:40:09 »

Tried the jack thing, couldn't get an angle that wouldn't just make it worse. I opted for drilling new holes forward a couple of cm from the old ones. Brought the ARB back into alignment quite nicely...couldn't get the old bolt out though, sent the wife to get more hacksaw blades :)

Guardian. · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2007, 19:58:40 »

can i suggest you weld a plate in the mount so to stop you crushing it again.
it doesnt need to be thick 3mm would be ample to make the square 'frame' rigid, it would never bend then, as it will now be a weak point.

simdeb · « **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2007, 21:09:49 »

my 200 tdi has got the mounts but has never had the antiroll bars fitted and has passed several mots, would have thought he will still fail it as the mount is damaged and needs cutting of and a new one fitting just a thought

simon

solihull-mick · « **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2007, 21:21:56 »

As a current mot tester i can tell you for a fact if theanti roll bars are removed, your vehicle cannot fail on them, If you guy starts moaning ask him for the reason for rejection, and get him to show you the testers book, he can`t fail your motor!!!! 8)

Range Rover Blues · « **Reply #18 on:** February 11, 2007, 21:29:53 »

Quote from: "solihull-mick"

As a current mot tester i can tell you for a fact if theanti roll bars are removed, your vehicle cannot fail on them, If you guy starts moaning ask him for the reason for rejection, and get him to show you the testers book, he can`t fail your motor!!!! 8)

I agree, my mate is the quality controller for a local test station and works with the Ministry closely, he says the same, if it's not there it can't be tested. There is not even a catagory for ARB not fitted, that's because it's not a failure D'OH.

Anyhow, I'd suggest a strong towrope around the ARB and give it a sharp tug from something heavy, it's not uncommon to find them bent like this and I think they were designed to give rather than hang up or cause damage to something else, but they are a bit flimsy.

freeagent · « **Reply #19 on:** February 11, 2007, 22:13:22 »

i straightened one worse than that last month,

you need a nice long crow bar, or bit of heavy walled tube to use as a lever, then put the end into the mount and start to bend it down, just a little bit at a time.

You also need a heavy sledge hammer, because as you lever the mount down, you need to hit it to push it either backwards or forwards.

if you use a really heavy hammer, the weight of the hammer will move it. gauranteed.

the longer your lever/ crow bar the better, we used a piece of stainless tube about 4 foot long.

we did this on the driveway, in the rain and it only took about 15 mins, you wont get anywhere tying ropes to it, or any other monkey business, as you've got no momentry force, and no control.

do it with a lever, and it'll straighten up, i gaurantee it.

Range Rover Blues · « **Reply #20 on:** February 11, 2007, 22:30:20 »

I straightened mine with a rope.

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AuthorTopic: Advice needed (antiroll bar mount) - Fixed now (Read 3848 times)

birdy

birdy

Guardian.