fitting anti-roll bar drop link bushes

[bob_rich]

Hi

Am starting to reassemble suspension and have the Polyurethene bush kit for the (front) anti roll bar. Got the upper bushes in the the drop link eye OK by warming bush in boiling water then used a jubilee clip in the fashion of a piston ring compressor and a vice to force it in. That was the easy bit! the lower bush has to be slid around the anti roll bar then the the drop link fitted over the bush.

Question is:- Is it preferable to get the bush on the anti roll bar then try and get the link lower eye over the bush when bush is in the desired position? OR should I get the bush in the link and then try and get the bushed up link over the anti roll bar and force it into postion bearing in mind it had to go over the end and around the corner of the anti roll bar?

thought I would ask first as this one looks a bit awkward

cheers

Bob

[types26/36]

I don't know with the Polyurethane bushes as I have never used them but with standard bushes I've found it impossible to fit bushes to the roll bar first, I have always fitted the bush into the drop link then fitted the link to the bar. It is a bit of a mission to get the flat end of the roll bar through the bush but it does go helped by washing up liquid to lubricate it and a few swear words
Just make sure you fit the drop link the correct way round as it is angled

[Lotus fan]

Just fitted polyurethane bushes to mine
Fit the bush into the link first and then plenty of lubricant onto the ARB then push like ****
Pretty easy really

[Flatcap]

Just done this on my Sprint (using standard bushes) it`s really easy - as follows >>>

1st) Put links onto roll bar - so they just hang in the middle.
2nd) Push bushes onto rollbar using lubricant on roll bar & inside the bushes until the bushes are in the correct position.
3rd) Put lubricant onto outside of bush & inside of link.
4th) Put roll bar in vice - with link now sandwiched between bush & the end of the vice jaws.
5th) Put a pair of self locking grips behind the bush to stop it being pushed back.
6th) Insert large flat bladed screwdriver between the vice jaws & link & lever the link on.

[CBUEB1771]

Fit the bush into the link first and then plenty of lubricant onto the ARB then push like ****

I agree that is the way to go, but first measure the width of the flattened section that attaches to the stud on the bottom of the damper. One is generally a bit more narrow than the other on it helps to push both of the drop links over the more narrow end.

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Fit the bush into the link first and then plenty of lubricant onto the ARB then push like ****

I agree that is the way to go, but first measure the width of the flattened section that attaches to the stud on the bottom of the damper. One is generally a bit more narrow than the other on it helps to push both of the drop links over the more narrow end.

It also helps very much if some nice big Radii are filed on the Corners of those forged Flats.
Mentioned on a previous Thread but worth another mention:-
Immerse the Bushed end of the Drop Links into a Pan of boiling Water, the heat makes them more flexible.
"Every little helps"

[bob_rich]

Hi Folks

Thanks for all the useful advise. On balance I chose to fit the (polyurethane) bush into the link and then push the link over the flattened eye and around into position. I put the bush in the link using a wide jubilee clip sort of piston ring compressor fashion with the lubrication with the provided grease on the inner of the link only and then a vice to force it home. Put washing up liquid liberally on the ARB and dropped the bushed up link into boiling water. Out of the boiling water and it was a very easy fit over the eye and then slide into position. My ARB had been shot blasted and powder coated but did not need any other fettling of the eye on the ARB.

thanks to all posters who offered advise

Bob