Snapped clamps

[Paul G]

Hi All, On Saturday I was having some great fun on the hill, But, When driving through a ditch which caused full axle articulation, I heard a clunk, had a look underneath but could see nothing out of order.
On the way home i heard another clunk, on further inspection i found my front Anti roll bar has broke both central clamps and arb is hanging down.
Can I buy new clamps from the likes of milners or do i have to go to toyota?,
cheers Paul

[Sancho]

You can get them from Roughtrax. If you want to ride with the tough boys, you can just take the bar off too.

http://www.roughtrax4x4.com/?doc=11&cid=999

[KERRSURF]

Take em off, not safety critical, they are there for passenger comfort.

Get more articulation off road, if you repair them the same thing might well happen again when you go in the rough stuff.

[Paul G]

Hi Sancho, I did think about that but when I mentioned it to my brother in-law he said I would need it back on for MOT, is he right or wrong?

[KERRSURF]

He's wrong. My truck has no ARB's passes no problem.

[Paul G]

Cheers Kerrsurf, I will double check with my mot guy as he was a bit hard on my truck when he mot'd it, then it's out with the spanners and off it comes.

Do you notice a bit more leaning on bends, I did when i was driving back from the hill but i dont think it'll bother me that much,

[Sancho]

The ARB discussion comes up from time to time and, much as I ought to ignore it, I have bitten again.

You should pass an MOT if you remove the bar and brackets. If, however, you crash and kill someone (heaven forbid), you may well get strung up like that poor bloke who dicked around with his Land Rover before managing to put it in a river and kill his kids.

Totally your choice and not illegal or even dangerous to remove them, but just thought I should point out the worst case.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Leave it on, fit new clamps and buy/fit a quick disconnect kit from 4Crawler for when you venture onto grass.

[Paul G]

Sancho, Good point mate that poor guy, My Kids are allways in the truck they preffer it to Mams Astra sxi, allthough Karen wont let me take them off roading or even on some of the ucr's around here as they are a bit on the edge.

Bushwhacker, Think i'll fit some new ones and see how they go, there only £9each pluss postage from roughtrax, and should be a doddle to fit, they probly wont break as easy as the old ones as the old ones are quite thin with rust's help haha

[BUSHWHACKER]

Give the bolts/threads a good spraying of WD40 the day before removing, as they can sometimes snap, then it's fun and games time trying to get the broken part out!

[Paul G]

Will do mate, Wire brushing, good oiling, coffee then give it a go.
Dont fancy having to drill and tap in this weather as i dont have a garage yet.
Should have the bolts out by the time the parts are delivered as i wont be ordering till the morn, then they will take a couple o days to get here, oh no i'm gonna have to use the wifes Astra for a few days

[Diezel Weazel]

He's wrong. My truck has no ARB's passes no problem.

As Alan says "if there invisible" MOT'er can fail it !!
n as Sancho / Vince says personal choice .. peace of mind !!
Just remember it's no sports car anyhow !!
In 3 years of driving me ol Truck (No ARB's, Front or rear) 3 Cornish, 1 Drumclog + Highlands Trips, no problems reported ..
Good Luck


"Cos short cut never work in the long Term"

[stormforce]

My tester actually told me that the arbs are meant to be on the truck as there are VISIBLE mounting points.Due to my truck being lifted then i can't fit the arbs as they won't fit.He has never stated i got to have them fitted but was just saying as i have known him for a lot of years and he is a strict tester aswell.
I suppose if the mounting points were filled in and hidden then there would be no problem

[POPEYE]

Just removed my front ARB and no real difference in the ride, slight lean but i aint no boy racer, rear ones been off over a year but i have cruiser springs so it's stiff as ar$eholes anyway, no prob with MOT, not even mentioned, as far as i understand it there a comfort thing, fine for light suspensioned car but not essential on these bricks, anyway 4 bolts & 2 nuts and its on or off!!

[Paul G]

Took the front ARB off today so i can use the truck, new clamps wont be here till Monday then i'll need to get new bushes for them, i'm going to clean the ARB with a flap disc and paint it then get two new tie links.
The Truck does drive ok without the ARB fitted but the wife wont let the kids in the Truck till she thinks its safe