Anti Roll bar bush removal

[halfbakedpixels]

Been taking the old anti roll bar link out and replacing the bushes, but I've got stuck trying to get it off the roll bar.
Whats the best way as its rusted onto the roll bar. Should I drill it out?






The metal discs on the top and bottom were rotted through.



Hoping anyone can help.

Now off online to VW Heritage to buy the replacement bits.

[gypo]

Im pretty sure its all down to brut force, spray it wish wd40 and elbow grease, the drop link should pull off leaving the bush on the anti roll bar then you can cut it off. I know its a lot harder to get the new one on, just dont give up as it will go on.
G

[pirate-pete]

When I needed to do this a couple of years back I took the roll bar off and down to a local garage with the new bushes for them to do in their own time. Cost me a pint of beer as I had asked the mechanic directly rather than going through his reception. I've done a lot of the normal bushes you can pull through with studding and tubes but could not see how to easily get this bush on myself working in the street.

[halfbakedpixels]

When I needed to do this a couple of years back I took the roll bar off and down to a local garage with the new bushes for them to do in their own time. Cost me a pint of beer as I had asked the mechanic directly rather than going through his reception. I've done a lot of the normal bushes you can pull through with studding and tubes but could not see how to easily get this bush on myself working in the street.

Thanks Gypo

And that's an awesome idea Pirate Pete, I can take the whole lot off including the roll bar and take it to work. The benefit of working as a design engineer for a large engineering workshop. I'm sure the machinists will get them out and the new ones in.

[gypo]

When I needed to do this a couple of years back I took the roll bar off and down to a local garage with the new bushes for them to do in their own time. Cost me a pint of beer as I had asked the mechanic directly rather than going through his reception. I've done a lot of the normal bushes you can pull through with studding and tubes but could not see how to easily get this bush on myself working in the street.

Thanks Gypo

And that's an awesome idea Pirate Pete, I can take the whole lot off including the roll bar and take it to work. The benefit of working as a design engineer for a large engineering workshop. I'm sure the machinists will get them out and the new ones in.

No problem, seems a lot of work though taking the roll bar off etc, I know its a bit of an awkward job doing it in-situ but i would have thought its easier than taking the bar off
Cheers
G

[Oldiebut goodie]

Two bolts is hard?
It has got to come off to replace its bushes anyway (Presumably you are replacing them all and not just some)

[halfbakedpixels]

Two bolts is hard?
It has got to come off to replace its bushes anyway (Presumably you are replacing them all and not just some)

Might as well do the roll bar bushes while its off, as you said its only two bolts per side. Going to give that area a clean as well while its all stripped down.

[halfbakedpixels]

Just ordered all the bushes off VW heritage. Went for everything, bushes on drop link, spacers, cups and upper roll bar bushes as well.
Might as well do the whole job while i've got it all off.
Will post photos as i'm progressing through and then refitting.

[halfbakedpixels]

Took the other side off tonight and also removed the whole anti roll bar complete with bushes, ready to be replaced with a brand new set this week.


As you can see this side was not healthy and the upper cap had corroded so badly the bush had slid up the link




The spacer tube had also rotted through.

Managed to get one anti roll bar link off but the other one is refusing to budge, so its off to work and see if the machinists can get it off.

I'll clean everything up and paint before i refit, might as well refurb everything properly while its off.

[kevtherev]

have you ordered original rubber or the newer polyflex type?

[max and caddy]

You don't need a machinist...or anything other than some silicone spray and some grunting..

[halfbakedpixels]

have you ordered original rubber or the newer polyflex type?

Couldn't afford to go with Poly bushes as i'm working to a tight budget, got some house renovation work going on as well so got to keep an eye on the pennies.
Plus i never got on with Poly bushes to be honest when i was rebuilding Land Rovers. Loads of people really rated them but they don't seem to last as long and are prone to permanent deformation when they get older as they're much harder. Which means they can get sloppy quicker, plus they can be a pig to fit.

Max and Caddy on of the bushes has partially welded itself in the link arm with rust so i'm going to get a puller on it today. Might have to make a new link arm in the machine shop if its to badly rusted, and i'm not paying £70 for a new one as they are on the net. eeeek.
They are really simple to make as well, al they are is a machined stem threaded at the end and a machined ring welded to the top. I could probably make it for less than a tenner.

[halfbakedpixels]

My bits i ordered turned up today from VW Heritage, had a furtle in the bag and i'm two lower rubber donut rings missing. grrrr
Phone them up straight away and they said 'oh yeah sorry they're on back order, we'll have some maybe next week' I only need two of them (grumble grumble). They could have let me know when ordering or on the invoice sheet.

[tandemsandy]

While you're at it consider doing the radius rod bushes - I can't believe the improvement in steering since doing ours.

Rob & Sandy

[halfbakedpixels]

While you're at it consider doing the radius rod bushes - I can't believe the improvement in steering since doing ours.

Rob & Sandy

They the big donut ones up front. On the bar that adjusts camber?