Pre cat rear anti roll bar

[grifftim]

Hi everyone, I have a '92 pre cat Griff and I want to fit a rear anti roll bar. I am having trouble getting hold of the bar itself, does anyone have a old one lying around or know of anyone with any in stock? Standard 19mm bar.

Also, I am hoping to fit this myself, is this a reasonably easy job for someone with ok mechanical 'skills'?
Thanks

[Loubaruch]

I wouldn't bother.

Unless you use your car for competition I very much doubt if you will tell any difference when fitted.

I removed mine a while back to strengthen the brackets on the wishbones but have never bother to replace it as to me it appears to drive just the same without it.

[grifftim]

Loubaruch said:

I wouldn't bother.

Unless you use your car for competition I very much doubt if you will tell any difference when fitted.

I removed mine a while back to strengthen the brackets on the wishbones but have never bother to replace it as to me it appears to drive just the same without it.

Hi, Loubaruch, I must admit I have heard similar reports but I am planning on doing a few sprints/hill climbs. I was hoping that I can soften up the rear shocks a bit (Gaz gold pro adjustable) so the ride isn't so hard.

[BIG DUNC]

I was surprised when I read your post, as I know several people who have removed them and not refitted them.
I can see your logic though, so see how you get on.

I cannot help with the "how to fit" questions as mine is also a 92 precat which never had a rear ARB from the factory.

[bluezeeland]

OP, sorry I thought on FB you meant a front, a rear one will not help in hillclimbs, you will 'tighten' up the back of the car too much, better without.....

[Loubaruch]

I am not sure of the situation with the early cars but later ones had brackets welded onto the wishbones to secure the anti-roll bar linkage.

If your car does not have these than it probably means dismantling the rear suspension. Not a quick job!

[Aussie John]

I have a feeling that the factory put out an upgrade kit to fit a rear arb without welding- maybe bolt- on brackets

[phazed]

All the later cars had bolt on brackets to fit the anti-rollbars.

I do the odd sprint plus track days. I removed the anti-rollbar and the car performed worse and you could really feel the difference.

I rebolted the rear anti- rollbar at the trackside and immediately noticed an improvement to the handling with it fitted.

[grifftim]

phazed said:

All the later cars had bolt on brackets to fit the anti-rollbars.

I do the odd sprint plus track days. I removed the anti-rollbar and the car performed worse and you could really feel the difference.

I rebolted the rear anti- rollbar at the trackside and immediately noticed an improvement to the handling with it fitted.

Thanks, very interesting. It seems my decision to fit one may be worth it after all.
I have had a look under the car and I have some bolt on brackets fitted to the chassis, these have 2 studs so I presume these are for the saddle clips for the arb. They are near the centre of the car. I can't see anything on the wishbones for the droplinks.
I had the chassis refurbished by RTR and asked them to put the arb brackets on so it looks like they only did the location brackets.
Will have to look to see if I can find bolt on drop link brackets. Cheers.

[Wildfire]

The Pre-Cat Rear ARB was a retro-fit from the factory, unless you fit later wishbones. Mine has a clamp on each lower wishbone. I believe (and I am happy to be corrected) that the Koni's were a fair bit harder than the Bilsteins, which is why it didn't come with one, (and because development was done by early owners).

[Wildfire]

grifftim said:

Thanks, very interesting. It seems my decision to fit one may be worth it after all.
I have had a look under the car and I have some bolt on brackets fitted to the chassis, these have 2 studs so I presume these are for the saddle clips for the arb. They are near the centre of the car. I can't see anything on the wishbones for the droplinks.
I had the chassis refurbished by RTR and asked them to put the arb brackets on so it looks like they only did the location brackets.
Will have to look to see if I can find bolt on drop link brackets. Cheers.

If I decide to get the car out this weekend, I'll try and take a pic of my brackets. But seeing as the car only really goes once a year (to the MOT) it may be slim.

[jesfirth]

grifftim said:

Hi, Loubaruch, I must admit I have heard similar reports but I am planning on doing a few sprints/hill climbs. I was hoping that I can soften up the rear shocks a bit (Gaz gold pro adjustable) so the ride isn't so hard.

For sprints you probably don't want a rear arb, Many of the sprinters myself included have removed them. Some people leave them on then disconnect them to improve rear grip if it's damp or wet. I can't be bothered with that so mine is hanging on the garage wall. Oh yes --- That is of course assuming you have stiffer springs on your gaz golds.

[phazed]

I am running 450/400 springs.

With the anti-rollbar removed you had the distinct sensation that you could control the amount of understeer/oversteer on the throttle.

With the anti-rollbar in place the car corner flat and accurately.

Or a dry track I usually click my Gaz monos up to full damping on the front and about half clicks on the rear.

This was confirmed by the lap times at the club sprint around Curborough where the car is always in the top 10% at least quickest times.

Of course all cars are different and is up to the owners/drivers to get a feel for their own car and make adjustments when necessary.

IHTH.

[grifftim]

Thanks for the replies Jes and fphazed.
Very interesting. I am hopefully at Curborough in April so will try that set up.
Not sure what Spring rates are on my Gaz golds, left that to RTR, I suspect they are quite a high rate as I can't seem to ever get a set up for the road that is comfortable.
It is either too soft and roly if I wind the shocks down to a softer setting or too stiff and bouncy if I go the other way. My theory with the arb was that I could have a softer setting on the shocks but keep it more flat round the bendy bits.

[phazed]

Are you doing the club sprint organised by Dan and his pals at Curborough?

[QBee]

I had Gaz Golds for a while. There was a very narrow band of clicks between rock hard and marshmallow soft, at around 8 clicks up from soft on mine. 6 was soggy, 10 granite. That may be your issue, lack of precision when setting them.

[grifftim]

phazed said:

Are you doing the club sprint organised by Dan and his pals at Curborough?

I have entered for the 8th April, an MGCC organised event I think. Hopefully the weather will be better by then!

[grifftim]

QBee said:

I had Gaz Golds for a while. There was a very narrow band of clicks between rock hard and marshmallow soft, at around 8 clicks up from soft on mine. 6 was soggy, 10 granite. That may be your issue, lack of precision when setting them.

Hi QBee, yes I think you are right there. I have lost track a bit where mine are (on the clicks) so will start again and set at 8 for the road and see how it goes.

As a matter of interest, what shocks do you have fitted now?

[QBee]

grifftim said:

QBee said:

I had Gaz Golds for a while. There was a very narrow band of clicks between rock hard and marshmallow soft, at around 8 clicks up from soft on mine. 6 was soggy, 10 granite. That may be your issue, lack of precision when setting them.

Hi QBee, yes I think you are right there. I have lost track a bit where mine are (on the clicks) so will start again and set at 8 for the road and see how it goes.

As a matter of interest, what shocks do you have fitted now?

Racing Reds now - not made any more. Sort of the poor man's Nitrons, made by them prior to their present range.
Better range of adjustability, and, to my uneducated arse, feels like a better response to sudden bumps etc