Tips for fitting ARB bushes.

20th September 2014, 14:16

One thing after another with this car!
I had my mot a few weeks back and after the pass I have been dealing with the advisory of the suspension arms, they have been replaced but whilst I did them I noticed the passenger side ARB bush bolted to the arm had split so I decided to replace both sides.

New bushes arrived, got today off work so I've made a start at changing them over, old ones came off easily but on refitting the drivers side this happened....

I've given up on refitting them now as I know I've got to get new brackets, ordering 2 incase the same happens on the passenger side so while I'm waiting the few days for them to arrive, can anyone advise me of any tips for refitting?

My original plan was basically putting new bushes into the clamp then push back in place, all was going well til it snapped so now the cars staying on axle stands while I order and wait for the new clamps.

20th September 2014, 14:24

make sure you have the correct bushes, if you do you wont have any issues.

20th September 2014, 14:29

They should be the correct ones, I brought them from euro car parts and matched to the cars registration. They look the same as what has come off the car just abit more hard wearing if anything. Obviously the brackets have more than likely been on the car since day one so easily broke but wasn't sure if there's any tips to fitting as I'm surprised they snapped by being pushed by hand

20th September 2014, 14:46

Bit of lubricant will help

20th September 2014, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclewinnet

Bit of lubricant will help

Vaseline any good? Ex tattooist so I've got plenty ***expecting the comedy comments to start now***

20th September 2014, 15:16

Any will do wd40

20th September 2014, 15:22

Definitely got a can of that lying about aswell. I did have to pierce the end of the bush aswell so air came out while pushing it on the bar so I could probably fill the bush with wd40 and have it empty through the hole as it gets pushed in place.

20th September 2014, 15:40

Washing up liquid.

20th September 2014, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevo67

Washing up liquid.

I've definitely got total mind block today! Should of thought about these suggestions earlier instead of just using a bit of engine oil off the side of the block on the bar, possibly would have the car off the stands and drivable still now

20th September 2014, 18:10

if the bushes are too thick you will bust the clamps when you do them all the way up, though looks like that one was corroded and would have failed anyway.

you have a base model by the look of the clamp?

20th September 2014, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshpug

if the bushes are too thick you will bust the clamps when you do them all the way up, though looks like that one was corroded and would have failed anyway.

you have a base model by the look of the clamp?

The car is the bare basic 1.1, was a donation car to get me back on the road again after 6 years of no car so it's been ideal to get back into the swing of driving etc also having a family now means being abit more sensible but the car is being run into the ground now as it's had so many problems and so much spent on it before and after the mot, surprising the ARB wasn't picked on during the mot it was only emissions that failed it and advisory on rear bushes on the front arms so had the exhaust replaced to get the pass then replaced the arms but decided to do the ARB bushes after noticing one side split. Not even attempted to put the passenger side back on yet, instead I've ordered 2 new clamps and will be replacing both sides on Tuesday or Wednesday now.

In the meantime while I run this car down I am looking at either dumping a 1.4 engine in it (staying sensible) or got my eye on a vtr on ebay as had one when I was 19, loved it but lost it on wet diesel

seeing as I've always got my son in the car with me, I know I won't drive how I did in the past even though my old saxo did spin at 40mph so even then I wasn't pushing too much.

20th September 2014, 18:59

If it's a 1.1 just ditch the ARB, if it's a commuting / family car it'll do fuck all anyway. Early base spec models didn't even have them.

20th September 2014, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by D4MJT

If it's a 1.1 just ditch the ARB, if it's a commuting / family car it'll do fuck all anyway. Early base spec models didn't even have them.

The car is basically only used to take the kids out places, odd 90 mile round trip to visit family in southampton or if my partner wants to go shopping at the bigger supermarkets (anyone that knows chichester in West Sussex will know the shops are a dive). I hadn't even considered to pull it out as wasn't sure how it will effect things. Also after a recent compression test coming back low with signs of rings needing replacing is the whole reason it's being run into the ground as now point spending any more on the car.

20th September 2014, 21:08

Just remove the ARB then?

It isn't a car that's pushed to the limit.

If it helps for piece of mind I have an S1 106 with a 1.6 16v lump in, the idea is its a fast road / track toy, and I removed the front ARB through choice to aid turn in.

So far I haven't died

I don't think.

20th September 2014, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by D4MJT

Just remove the ARB then?

It isn't a car that's pushed to the limit.

If it helps for piece of mind I have an S1 106 with a 1.6 16v lump in, the idea is its a fast road / track toy, and I removed the front ARB through choice to aid turn in.

So far I haven't died

I don't think.

Looks like it could be a job done over the next few days then. The fastest I've driven the car is 70mph, won't push it harder as it sounds ready to blow and my son has a go at me for driving too fast especially on corners or roundabouts (makes him headbut his head supports in his car seat) so try keeping within the limits but the engines too small in my eyes to even try pushing. Would love my old vtr, crx or bmw back, I knew they could be pushed without thinking the engine was going to blow but I have started looking locally on ebay tonight for a vtr just waiting to see what wages clear to see what's affordable this week.

22nd September 2014, 03:09

Those clamps are pretty fragile,made of some aluminium alloy; new ones are cheap enough. When fitting them try putting a jack under the lower arm, with a bit of wood between, and raising the lower arm up to the ARB, this reduces the tension the ARB exerts on the clamps and makes them easier to fit.

22nd September 2014, 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by konark

Those clamps are pretty fragile,made of some aluminium alloy; new ones are cheap enough. When fitting them try putting a jack under the lower arm, with a bit of wood between, and raising the lower arm up to the ARB, this reduces the tension the ARB exerts on the clamps and makes them easier to fit.

Good advice, also reduces the risk of cross-threading the bolts when putting back on

22nd September 2014, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by konark

Those clamps are pretty fragile,made of some aluminium alloy; new ones are cheap enough. When fitting them try putting a jack under the lower arm, with a bit of wood between, and raising the lower arm up to the ARB, this reduces the tension the ARB exerts on the clamps and makes them easier to fit.

Will be giving that a try when the clamps arrive, I remember having a fun time trying to bolt them to the new arms last time haha.

I did start removing the whole bar over the weekend but my partner got abit stressed about it seeing the kids are always in the car, in her eyes it serves a purpose otherwise it wouldn't be there, I gave up trying to tell her the cars not powerful enough to roll easily so now the bars got to stay put (until I go visiting family without her)

22nd September 2014, 09:21

Id rather drive with one fitted than without

22nd September 2014, 09:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghaz

Id rather drive with one fitted than without

The removal was more to take it off the axle stands sooner and that the car isn't really pushed, the small engine screams for help if I start getting close to 70 so very low chance of too much body roll but can't argue with my partner over it as she makes valid points concerning the kids also my son hates it when we get into discussions so couldn't stress him aswell just means it stays on the stands til I finish work tomorrow providing the clamps turn up as expected. Only consolation is she knows I'm looking at getting another vtr soon or possibly a vts, that's when she'll find out these cars can handle the road if treated right