making a new race car anti roll bar

[andygo]

I want to make a new anti roll bar for my formula ford 1600. I have the original to copy, but I would like to experiment with different lengths and thicknesses. As a matter of interest, which part is responsible for the torsion - the arms or the part that the arms attach to?

I can get the machining and tig welding done, bu has anyone any idea on what material to use. The existing one uses 12.5mm arms and a 13.5 horizontal bar between the two thicker parts. Best to see picture.

The standard ones do not appear to be heat treated and seem to bend fairly easily, leaving them out of true. If they get heat treated though, how does that affect the stiffness?

Any help gratefully recieved!

Thanks,

Andy

[anonymous-user]

If they are able to bend out of true, and are not springing back to the original position, then thats a piece of junk and needs replacing with one that does.

I've had new ARB's made in the past by people who thought they knew what they were doing, and they resulted in the same issue.

I would take the pattern to a decent motorsport fabricator who can give you some options on making a working bar, you have to use the correct materials and heat treatment process or the thing is just a liability.

[andygo]

Its finding a decent fabricator though. We've gone through several rear roll bars and they seem to acquire a memory and once bent, as you say, are junk.

Any comments on a decent place in the N/west John?

[heightswitch]

andygo said:

Its finding a decent fabricator though. We've gone through several rear roll bars and they seem to acquire a memory and once bent, as you say, are junk.

Any comments on a decent place in the N/west John?

Take your pattern here and I am pretty sure John will be able to get one made for you. Good quality tempered spring steel won't be cheap though.


http://www.readmanracing.co.uk/contact.php

Wait until the new year before contacting him.

N.

[Scuffers]

typically with the one in the picture, the arms should not deform, the 'spring' is in the torsion bar.

ideally, these are made from spring steel, but depending on the loads, a lot are made from seamless tube (CDS etc), although to be fair these are when the ARB is *much* longer thus the actual twist/mm is very low compare to the example in the picture.

lot of this type have 'blade' ends, where they are adjusted by turning the blade angle, in these setup's, the blade's actually flex as well as the 'bar' part.

[spyder dryver]

Anti roll bars are often made from EN45 steel. Try your local steel stockholder. Curiously the same material is often used for making swords.
Geoff.

[jo3_C]

Hi,I Might be able to help you out.
I work for Elmdon metals, specialist suppliers of Metals and plastics for motorsport
call me on 01604 670992

Regards, Joe