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        General >> Problems >> Anti Roll bar link arms
        
(Message started by: SteveO on May 20^th, 2011, 6:28pm)

Title: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by SteveO on May 20^th, 2011, 6:28pm

Trying in vain to remove the link arms.

I've got the bottom nut undone but the top just spins with the bolt. I can't find any way to stop the bolt turning too.

I used a 17mm spanner on the 'inside' of the bottom joint to cure the problem there but there doesn't seem to be any way to get access to the underside of the top one.

Is there some trick or special tool that I need?
SteveO

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by Highlander on May 20^th, 2011, 7:04pm

a thin 17mm spanner for the top one

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by gozz on May 20^th, 2011, 7:46pm

on 05/20/11 at 19:04:42, Highlander wrote:

a thin 17mm spanner for the top one

WHAT,have you gone soft Stuart ? where is the angle grinder and 4lb Birmingham screwdriver ? :o
It's the 'hot spanner' that I favour most !
GOZZ.

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by Mike H on May 20^th, 2011, 8:47pm

I saw Lee doing this Tuesday. Needs a spanner to be sacrificed and bent at right angles.

Except, flats may be 17mm or 13mm, depending on which rods you got ;D

It's a larf innit?

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by exaktaman on May 20^th, 2011, 8:47pm

My mechanic pal has, just this evening, done mine. He used a 5mm Allen Key for the top and 17mm spanner for the bottom.

Exaktaman

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by Simmo on May 20^th, 2011, 8:59pm

Steve. Here (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=admin;action=display;num=1286373633) is an article from 'How to do things'. Check out the link in my first post. Unfortunately the photos in a later one have gone. In the very top of the rod is a hexagon socket but usually it is full of debris or, in my case, not there!!. The secret is to bend a cheap open ended spanner to enable you to get inside the suspension shroud and hold the nut. That's what the photo's showed. You could try the Jonnycab method of overtightening or try and 'jam' the nut with a large scewdriver to stop it spinning. If you have new link arms you should be able to see the hexagon socket in the end of the rod....if it has one!!. :)

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by SteveO on May 20^th, 2011, 9:29pm

Thanks fellas. I tried the large screwdriver(combined with persuasive words) but I couldn't jam the nut... it's coming off my old Scorpio as I dismantle it so I may just take the shock absorber out to make things a little easier.

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by lleewar on May 20^th, 2011, 9:34pm

I bent a 15mm open ended spanner to fit in the shroud on my old car and it worked properly. When trying to remove the rods from my new car, the spanner didn't fit, the nut was a different size ::). Rather than risk another spanner, I jammed a screwdriver into the shroud and removed the top nut that way. You could of course cut the top nut off, which by the way, is quite soft. HTH Lee

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by PJDavis on May 20^th, 2011, 9:51pm

What a nuisance, when 'Photobucket' had a wee problem weeks ago they must have ditched the two photos of the converted spanner by mistake, luckily I still have them. Feel free to place them where they should be Simmo.

http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx357/PJJDavis123/DSCF1937.jpg

http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx357/PJJDavis123/DSCF1938.jpg

Peter

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by Simmo on May 21^st, 2011, 8:02am

Steve these are the photos I was referring to. Now back in their correct place in the article. Thanks Pete and for your PM's. Mike :)

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by Mike H on May 21^st, 2011, 1:27pm

I was suddenly inspired this morning after thinking about this ~ rather than bend spanners I'd think more in terms of making a special tool :

http://livinginthepast-audioweb.co.uk/images/misc/special-tool-linkrod.gif

The only question that remains being, how long ;D

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by SteveO on May 21^st, 2011, 3:10pm

If you are making a tool you'd better make it adjustable.

I found the best way was to disconnect the steering rack ball joint so that you can spin the shock absorber to get better access with a standard spanner. Easy really, just wish I'd thought of that a few hours ago.

For information, there is an allen key on the top bolt but it rounds very easily...

That method discarded I used a 19mm spanner to stop the rotation on the driver's side. Using the same method on the passenger was no good as I could not locate the spanner on the flats of the bolt........ it took me another 20 minutes to discover that I needed a 15mm spanner :D

All done now, anit-roll bar off too and ready to fit to the other Scorpio.

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Steve

Title: Re: Anti Roll bar link arms
Post by Tompion on May 21^st, 2011, 6:04pm

I didn’t have any problem getting a standard open ended spanner onto both of mine - just had to put the steering on full lock.