Anti roll bar link replacement.....

[fcat]

drivers side link broke yesterday, Kwik Fit have quoted me £70 for fitting a replacement (inc the part).
I see the part for £30 on ebay and wondered if it was worth getting my hands dirty for fourty quid ?

Just wondered how easy a job it was ?

 

[kevin p]

They are pretty easy to replace.
I've made my own replacements out of 20mm steel bar with new plastic bushes made on my lathe.
They have been on my Ex for 4 months now and have cured the banging and knocking.
I was thinking of producing some more to see if the members wanted any replacements. They are really heavy duty but would like to test them for a while longer.
I also plan on making stainless steel replacement bolts for the rear hinged window to stop the staining on the rear glass.
Kev.

 

[techieman33]

it's a very easy job, shouldn't take more than a few minutes at most to replace.

 

[fcat]

Cheers for the replies, could anyone give me a few pointers of how to carry it out ?

cheers

 

[kevin p]

Quite simple mate. Just push the new link up into the antiroll bar and slot the other end into the lower suspension arm. You might have to jack the suspension a bit to get a bit of clearance. Then its just a nut top and bottom after you put the other half of the bush on.
Kev.

 

[fcat]

Excellent cheers, just gonna order one from my local ford, 20 quid plus VAT

 

[kevin p]

Thats a good price mate. Make sure it comes with new bushes as well.

 

[fcat]

Just got back from Ford garage, £19.58 INC vat for the whole thing inc bushes!!

Might seem like a funny question but when i replace it is it a take the wheel off and do it through the wheel well job or leave wheel on and crawl under car ?

cheers

 

[kevin p]

First off, thats a fantastic price.
It does help to take the wheel off for the upper one, just grovel under the front for the lower one. Hope you got a dry spot to do it!!

 

[Velocity4x4]

im gonna do mine seeing as there knocking a little now plus as ford only want £20 for the links... is that for the pair?

 

[spacemonkeypg]

i did mine last week as they as one snapped.

£23 from quickco "ford parts supplier to the garages" for bolt and top bottom bushes.

Took 30mins to do as i had saw saw one off which had snapped its a easy job trust me

 

[BIGHVM]

They are pretty easy to replace.
I've made my own replacements out of 20mm steel bar with new plastic bushes made on my lathe.
They have been on my Ex for 4 months now and have cured the banging and knocking.
I was thinking of producing some more to see if the members wanted any replacements. They are really heavy duty but would like to test them for a while longer.
I also plan on making stainless steel replacement bolts for the rear hinged window to stop the staining on the rear glass.
Kev.

Mate have you thought about making some shackles- I saw a proper drawn up plan here some time ago- I would have a set if it were possible for sure?

 

[BIGHVM]

I spose you are all talking about the front links- Mine had to be cut off as the outer sleeve was rusted solid to the inner shaft- took me around 3 hours in total as I tried to take the old ones off before deciding to cut them......Oh well..IT is an easy job if you dont have such problems.

 

[swampyrbs]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196883&highlight=warrior+length if you do make some ill buy a set off you!

 

[kevin p]

Hi H, can you post me the link as to what you want making.
My mate has just opened his own engineering business. Combined, we can make any fabricated parts you want. He has a CNC lathe, milling machine, welding facilities, huge normal lathe etc etc.....
Any body who wants anything making at all, give us ago.
p.s. he specialises in one off bolts, shafts etc in any material.
Kev.

 

[fcat]

Just changed the link, took me 30 mins due to the bolt siezing in the tube so had to cut it with a hacksaw.
I doubed lots of copperslip on the new one so hopefully if(when!) it has to be replaced again it should be a bit easier!
Thanks again for all the help

Si

 

[BIGHVM]

Hi H, can you post me the link as to what you want making.
My mate has just opened his own engineering business. Combined, we can make any fabricated parts you want. He has a CNC lathe, milling machine, welding facilities, huge normal lathe etc etc.....
Any body who wants anything making at all, give us ago.
p.s. he specialises in one off bolts, shafts etc in any material.
Kev.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196883&highlight=warrior+length

Here it is again mate- was kindly posted a few above this one-----let us know ok?

 

[kevin p]

H, I've printed out the drawing. Are they to be made to those exact measurements? Plus it doesn't say how big the bolt holes are. I will paint them in a colour of your choice. Presumably you want two.
Regards Kev.

 

[Velocity4x4]

am i right in saying the shackles lift the rear if so what can i do to lift the fronts.......please correct me if im wrong im normaly trying to make cars lower so this whole lift thing is new to me ..........(im gonna regret saying this) I could do with a few more inchs without to much cost

 

[kevin p]

You can raise the front a small amount by adjusting the Torsion Bar bolts. I know my ex had only a half inch difference from side to side, and I levelled it out adjusting the bolts.
I don't know how high you could alter it though, because I'm not sure if it would alter all the steering geometry.
I had to crank one of the bolts about four turns to level the car. It isn't that big of a job to do, so you could try doing both of them, say 4 turns, and note if there are any side effects, i,e. tyres squealing on corners, tyre wear etc.
Kev.