Tech help - ARB drop link

[gdunc]

Undertook what i presumed to be an easy task (relatively hand with a spanner) and now had to go backwards.

Mk1 GT3 front ARB drop link replacement looks easy as there are but two nuts on either end at the strut and the ARB. Thing is, I cant get the drop link itself free from the housing at the back of the strut. Am I completely handless and have missed something really easy as i've tried to manipulate it through all available angles to no avail?!

Cheers

Dunc

[slippydiff]

gdunc said:

Undertook what i presumed to be an easy task (relatively hand with a spanner) and now had to go backwards.

Mk1 GT3 front ARB drop link replacement looks easy as there are but two nuts on either end at the strut and the ARB. Thing is, I cant get the drop link itself free from the housing at the back of the strut. Am I completely handless and have missed something really easy as i've tried to manipulate it through all available angles to no avail?!

Cheers

Dunc

Have you got the one end free from the ARB yet ? If not I take it you're attempting this on the floor using a jack and axle stand under one side ?
If this is the case, you are (by jacking the car up only on one side) putting loads of tension in the rollbar, ie it's trying to do its job !!
To release the tension (ooooh er missus........) either jack both sides up and get the car level, or better still do it on a ramp.

Hope this helps.
Slippy

[gdunc]

slippydiff said:

gdunc said:

Undertook what i presumed to be an easy task (relatively hand with a spanner) and now had to go backwards.

Mk1 GT3 front ARB drop link replacement looks easy as there are but two nuts on either end at the strut and the ARB. Thing is, I cant get the drop link itself free from the housing at the back of the strut. Am I completely handless and have missed something really easy as i've tried to manipulate it through all available angles to no avail?!

Cheers

Dunc

Have you got the one end free from the ARB yet ? If not I take it you're attempting this on the floor using a jack and axle stand under one side ?
If this is the case, you are (by jacking the car up only on one side) putting loads of tension in the rollbar, ie it's trying to do its job !!
To release the tension (ooooh er missus........) either jack both sides up and get the car level, or better still do it on a ramp.

Hope this helps.
Slippy

Ah, should've mentioned that I got the ARB end off with no problems at all. It's just the 'top' bolt which is cunningly squeezed within a bracket attached to the strut. It's this one which has proven impossible for me to get out.

I'm just wondering if the technique is to twist the link around within this bracket until it achieves an angle at which it just comes out? That's what I tried without success but can't think of any other way without major dismantling (undesireable!)