Technical Anti Roll bar bush

[chesh]

I've bought a set of bushes from Strongflex, have done the outer ones and the wishbone ones.

When I got to do the inner ones, I found out on the left side, that one of the bracket's bolt is welded to the chassis:

What would you suggest me to do? is there anyway to fix and fit a bolt to it?
Maybe go to exhaust shop that can do welding or it's not the same metal?

 

[flisko]

is it supposed to be welded on chassis or you cracked it and thats how it got repaired?

 

[chesh]

I guess the bolt was cranked, I bought the car like that so I don't know who fixed it.

One way of the bracket:

Other side:

Don't think I can replace the bush like that

 

[flisko]

yea bolt head snapped and they welded over it

 

[fingers99]

Need new bracket and re-instate the captive nut.

Engineering at its best (not).

 

[MadMan0]

You don't actually need the anti-roll bar...

With the Punto being a front wheel drive vehicle and front heavy anyway, you would gain a handling advantage by removing the front anti-roll bar which may result in less understeer (Unless the chassis differs between the different spec models significantly, which I don't think it does).
The down side is that the car body will roll more so your comfort may be reduced.

Alternatively; as all ready suggested, you could cut it off and bolt it back on or even re-weld it in a different location. I.e. cut the bracket elsewhere.



Before you ask; I am an Automotive & Motorsport Engineer and I am not making this up

 

[fingers99]

He's not making it up. But it's a crude solution (certainly people have run Centos without front ARBs in an attempt to reduce understeer). Most folk doing more high speed motorsport put an ARB (or a fatter ARB) on the back to acheive a more graduated/graduatable response.

But the inner ARB bushes don't seem to wear that much -- although they don't exactly like MIG welders in close proximity either -- you can probably get away with it as is for the foreseeable future.

 

[chesh]

One more question

On my 75SX I fitted 19mm inner bushes.
When I ordered for my 1.6 cabrio I got 18mm bushes.

Both seem to fit.
I know the ARB is actually 19mm. Would that be critical?

 

[fingers99]

Only if it's sloppy. I was supplied with -- and fitted -- 1mm oversize ARB bushes to my MR2. The MOT man had a hissy fit! You could literally grab the bar and move it an inch either way.

Not one of my prouder moments.

 

[blu73]

pft, its only a arb - what was he so worried about

 

[chesh]

Well although it doesn't look too nice, finally got to change that bush.

I got it re-weld. so all the front now wears Strongflex bushes

 

[flisko]

why they added anti roll bar to mk2? did mk1 flip on the roof to many times

 

[fingers99]

why they added anti roll bar to mk2? did mk1 flip on the roof to many times

That is a Mk1, surely?

 

[blu73]

yep chesh has a 1.6 cabrio iirc. And anti-roll bars are pretty standard equipment or nearly all cars really.