Do Tuscans have rear anti roll bars?

[Cockey]

Really hope this isn't a dumb question, but I cannot seem to find an answer to this. So far found out from the search function and google that the the original and racing Tuscans did (Chims do too!), but no luck with a mk1 tuscan.

If they do, does anyone have a pic if the rear suspension assembly which shows the bar?

Cheers

[drivingfroggy]

Yes they do. i recently replaced my drop links with "back to factory" items I bought from Power. If you look in through the back wheel you can see the ARB and the drop link.

[Cockey]

Excellent, thanks.

Do you know if it's possible for something to be obviously loose? I've been led to believe that the clinking I get when the car is quite hot (apparently heat from the rear brakes can heat this area up) could be to do with the anti roll bar.

Also, is it a very specialist job or will a local garage be able to sort this out?

[m4tti]

Lift her up and get under it with a pry bar and soft faced mallet till you find the source of the noise. Nothing specialist about that.

If you were closer you could have chucked it up on my ramp.

[Cockey]

Cheers Matt, shame indeed as that's a really kind offer.

Spent past 2 weekends underneath and it's taken this long to get to where I have. This will be my last attempt before giving up and going to a professional!

[natben]

Check the drop links haven't snapped or come loose. You will find them behind the rear wheel towards the back of the car running vertical from the rear ant-roll bar to the bottom swing arms.

[m4tti]

Are you sure it's not something in the exhaust. I can't see how you'd get suspension rattle when it's warm and not from cold unless its resonating at a certain frequency once you've warmed up.

Is it definitely underneath the car.

[Cockey]

It happens when hot and 99% of the time when the right rear wheel goes over a bump (even at 1mph). The only other time it happens is when the car first moves after being left to cool down after making noise before parking up. This can even be as little movement as opening the door! But the noise is just that one time up until the car is very hot again.

Location of the sound is coming from under the centre of the rear of the car. The noise is quite a high pitched ting, and my initial thoughts were the exhaust. both are very solid though. Sounds almost like a metal plate flexing or there is something loose. I was told the anti roll bar could heat up from rear brakes so this is my next port of call.

Most recent work done was replacement of the diff bushes a few months ago. All diff bolts are still very tight though.

So what is connected to the suspension arms (well the drivers side one) which will make a noise in the centre of the car, and can be affected by heat?

Edited by Cockey on Saturday 8th June 18:25

[drivingfroggy]

if it's got standard drop links, could the rubber mount be perished? One of my aftermarket drop links sheared, so there is definitely a possibility for these things to fail.

[Cockey]

Was just checking out what drop links look like and there's mention of an anti roll bar fitting plate.

http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...

Wonder if this could have anything to do with it?

[m4tti]

You may know this already but just in case, you'll need something decent to lever suspension components. There under massive tension/pressure so they won't necessarily move about with hand pressure alone.

[Cockey]

Thanks Matt. Got a big crow bar which after setting the dampers to their softest setting allowed me to get a decent amount of movement. Back felt it the next day though! Anyway, going to give it another go tomorrow.

[drivingfroggy]

Cockey said:

Was just checking out what drop links look like and there's mention of an anti roll bar fitting plate.

http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...

Wonder if this could have anything to do with it?

That's the front ARB. The rears are different. They have a rubber pad and a rose joint. You do the top nut up until it's snug then wind it in 8 turns. This is meant to give you decent feel for general road driving.

[Cockey]

Found it! It appears the weld around where one of the bolts which holds that big aluminium plate in place (is it for rigidity?) had broken!

3rd weekend under the car poking around and as soon as I got a mallet out (well, within 15 mins) I found the problem. Thanks to Matt for the suggestion.

Here is the culprit:



As soon as it clicked into its hole, it made the noise. Hopefully a simple fix!

Thanks for all the replies

[m4tti]

Awesome, nice work Cockey. Really surprised that's ripped out of the chassis rail like that. Theoretically should weld back in easily if the metals sound. Make sure that captive nut doesn't undo and drop off while your driving does look like its slightly corroded on though.