Club 80-90 Forums

Replacing a snapped ARB drop link and thinking to change the ARB because the ends seem quite corroded (will upload pic when I have it off the van.

So, what I'd like to know is

1- is there a difference between early and late ARB? I know there's a difference in drop link design.

2- Is it important to get a similar diameter ARB to the one already fitted? Yet to measure mine but I'm guessing the thicker ones make for a stiffer ride?

Thanks in advance for any answers!!

I don't know on the difference between late / early, but on your second question:

Thicker bars are stiffer than thinner ones
Mounting position also affects leverage from an ARB, which affects stiffness, so effective bar strength cannot be determined by thickness alone.

If you don't want to change handling replace like for like.

Someone with specific T25 knowledge will be along shortly

https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/catalogsea ... t3&x=0&y=0

3 sizes at Brickwerks 19mm, 21mm and 23mm.

Mohamster wrote: 1- is there a difference between early and late ARB? I know there's a difference in drop link design.

2- Is it important to get a similar diameter ARB to the one already fitted? Yet to measure mine but I'm guessing the thicker ones make for a stiffer ride?

Early and late are the same, just different diameters where fitted depending on van type.
ARB only really starts to work when the body starts to lean in cornering, normally has no effect on the ride unless only one wheel hits a bump.

Out of interest:
The relationship between anti roll bar stiffness and chassis/body stiffness was brought home to me when my home converted albeit engineer approved Bedford CF when the elevating roof sprung out of the guide rails when driving over Hardknott Pass in the Lake District National Park.
Whether both front and rear axle deflections so to speak exceeded the bump stops or the aperture in the roof excessively degraded the integrity of the body/chassis combination is open to question. but the mechanism needed dismantling and reassembling when we returned to the campsite. I guess if you are getting a hard ride over asymmetric surfaces or bumps then so is your chassis. Having said that I do like a stiff ride.
CS

Citizen Smith wrote: Having said that I do like a stiff ride.

Yes after I re-read it I nearly reported myself in the take it out of context topic