ARB Q
Author
Discussion

leorest

Original Poster:

2,346 posts

268 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
OK I've got a clonking on the front suspension and my first suspicion is play on the drop link bushes. They are powerflex (only about a few thousand miles old). Before you say it YES I WILL upgrade to the SH dangly earrings but for now I want to prove this is where the problem is.
How disastrous for the handling would it be if I were to disconnect the droplinks and ty-wrap/wire the ARB out of the way for a test drive. I'm guessing that it won't be too bad as I have driven with a broken ARB mounting bracket, which must amount to about the same thing! If this is deemed a wise test it will tell me within 1 minutes driving. Roger heard it twice and we only went from the White Horse car park to Ettington chase car park!

There is one washer either side of the bush but there is room to fit more before the split pin goes in. Could this be the cause of the clonk?

adam quantrill

11,679 posts

271 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
Yeah, you can drive it like this, but go round corners at half the speed you are used to, because the front wheels will be all over the place. Apparently, driving in a straight line is much nicer, less tramlining etc...

shpub

8,507 posts

301 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
Just disconnect/remove one side is all you need to do. The remaining side will hold the ARB in place.

I take it you didn't win the set in the BBWF raffle

jchase

572 posts

288 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
Not dangerous!, I had the bracket on my ARB loose for ages (it pinged off on one of my kerb excursions), and the car was actually more stable on a straight run, but you get a bit more understeer on roundabouts - so no 60mph stuff on roundabouts. I wouldn't say dangerous, just not so fast on corners. Hey, that might even be less dangerous!

-Jim

leorest

Original Poster:

2,346 posts

268 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
shpub said:
Just disconnect/remove one side is all you need to do. The remaining side will hold the ARB in place.

I take it you didn't win the set in the BBWF raffle
Top tip. Thanks for that.
Ah yes the raffle. No unfortunately I wasn't that lucky but I did win a PH T-shirt I think the size is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXL I may convert it into a breatable car cover LOL. Also a big thank you to whomever won the TVR rocker cover badges but gave them back because they were no good for a 280. If you are of the correct stature you can have my T-shirt at next years fest!

Assuming the bushes are reasonable do you think it is a good interim measure to pack with washers either side to take up some of the play? We are talking about where the droplink mates with the ARB.

Also is silicone the correct lubrication for poly bushes? I used Graphite (DAG) because it's dry and wont pick up crap. But I wonder if it is doing the job.

leorest

Original Poster:

2,346 posts

268 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
BTW forgot to say thank you ALL for such a quick response. Three useful replies in 30 minutes. Well done chaps.
Edit to improve my maths should have said 13 minutes!

Edited by leorest on Tuesday 18th July 11:29

wedgtable

317 posts

255 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
I completely rebuilt my front suspension and have a similar problem. I have the uprated droplinks and polybushes everywhere.
It only happens intermitantly but generally is linked to cornering and bumps.
I have rechecked everything and the only thing I can think of is that the ARB is of centre slightly or the ARB brackets are too worn and move under heavy load. It hasn't effected my handling. And I can't see that there is nything dangeruos about it.
let me know ur findings.
mike

leorest

Original Poster:

2,346 posts

268 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
I don't think my symptoms are identical. Mine is not intermittent it is very predictable. As soon as there is any weight transfer to the front left it clonks but is fine afterwards. Bumps don't seem to affect it.
I'll compare the free play on the droplink bushes side to side then disconnect one and see what happens.

GreenV8S

31,017 posts

313 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
If you only disconnect one side then you only stand a 50:50 chance of curing the clonking, so if the clonking continues you would need to disconnect the other side too. But Steve's right that you only need to disconnect one side to stop the anti-roll bar from affecting the handling.

leorest

Original Poster:

2,346 posts

268 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
If you only disconnect one side then you only stand a 50:50 chance of curing the clonking, so if the clonking continues you would need to disconnect the other side too. But Steve's right that you only need to disconnect one side to stop the anti-roll bar from affecting the handling.
Yes, I was starting to think along those lines myself. I'll disconnect the side which clonks when the weight goes to it first then if no joy it's off to the other end!

Only problem is it's two chuffing hot to type at the keyboard let alone go out and start hitting the car with spanners!

In a few minutes I've had numerous exelent replies. RESPECT!

At a similar time I asked a question on the FORD forum and at the last check not a dickybird! number of Fords vs TVRs. Respect to the TVR massive!

adam quantrill

11,679 posts

271 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
Are you sure it's not the tie rod bushes? These can cause clonking too.

leorest

Original Poster:

2,346 posts

268 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
adam quantrill said:
Are you sure it's not the tie rod bushes? These can cause clonking too.
Very good point! But they are new (approx 1000miles ago) along with the giant washers which locate them.
Just been sweating my gonads off trying to disconnect the ARB but temperature and the 1:5 slope of the drive are making it difficult.

dixiebabes

3,111 posts

253 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
leorest said:
I don't think my symptoms are identical. Mine is not intermittent it is very predictable. As soon as there is any weight transfer to the front left it clonks but is fine afterwards. Bumps don't seem to affect it.
I'll compare the free play on the droplink bushes side to side then disconnect one and see what happens.


I had a weak antiroll bar bracket on the left. It didnt clonk but kept bending and popping out changed it with a new one and it seems fine now poly bushes replaced the old rubber ones

leorest

Original Poster:

2,346 posts

268 months

Tuesday 18th July 2006
quotequote all
dixiebabes said:
leorest said:
I don't think my symptoms are identical. Mine is not intermittent it is very predictable. As soon as there is any weight transfer to the front left it clonks but is fine afterwards. Bumps don't seem to affect it.
I'll compare the free play on the droplink bushes side to side then disconnect one and see what happens.


I had a weak antiroll bar bracket on the left. It didnt clonk but kept bending and popping out changed it with a new one and it seems fine now poly bushes replaced the old rubber ones
Ta. but they are newish as well and I made sure they were done up nice and tight and were located properly before BBWF. MOT in a few weeks will uncover the cause! Till then I'll have a tinker with the ARB links and see what that uncovers.