Broken anti roll bar link :(

[Tel87]

Look what I found when replacing some break pads. A lovely looking and Brocken anti roll bar

[Oldiebut goodie]

Drop link even.

[BOXY]

Mine was broken at both ends when I got the van. I drove it around for months before getting them fixed at the next MOT. I can't say the van handled any differently afterwards. All it did was silenced the random clunk on corners.

[CovKid]

Have to differ. When they're broken, the antirollbar is not doing its job at all and it will nose down on the corners - not good if you have to brake too. I know this because I fixed mine this morning and before I had to virtually slam on the anchors to negate a turning.

You may be able to sort this by unbolting antirollbar, detaching other drop link, then cutting off what's left of the the broken stud, drill and tap for a threaded insert and screw in a new one. A few have done this. On mine the washers had gone so found some others that fitted and replaced corroded metal sleeve beneath bushes with an improvised nylon one as a temporary measure.

Hey presto - handling restored!

[BOXY]

the antirollbar is not doing its job at all and it will nose down on the corners

I obviously don't drive fast enough.

[R0B]

Just for future reference. https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=78599" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Tel87]

I agree with ya covkid it must effect handling coz when I took the wheel of it was worn like it had a negi camber and also if u look at the pic closely u can see that it has also ruptured the break hose probably where it had been bouncing around and pitched it

[BOXY]

ruptured the break hose

It's hard to tell from the picture but isn't that the speedo cable?

[Tel87]

Sorry Rob thanks for the reminder I have now changed subject.

[Tel87]

You may be right there Boxy I'll check tomorrow

[CovKid]

The drop links provide anchorage points for the ARB (albeit flexible ones). They help provide stiffness to the suspension and to some extent also affect the feel of the front even in a straight line. When taking a left hand turn for instance, the offside will wallow down alarmingly like an old mans armchair although I agree, a sedate camper driver may not notice it I suppose.

This reduced stiffness if one is broken or any of the upper bush washers come adrift is made worse by old shocks and the front end can easily bottom out if you hit a road hump or pothole at speed. More to the point it can be positively dangerous if you have to make some sharp nifty steering (ie to avoid another vehicle in an emergency) although you could drive home ok. They're not too difficult to get at once ARB is unbolted. On mine, the metal sleeve hidden by the bushes had worn away and the washers more or less rusted out. I had to carefully grind into the remains of the steel sleeve and use stilsons to wriggle it off. I had the bushes, hunted for some suitable washers but had no sleeves to hand so improvised with thick nylon tubing cut to length. Did the job anyway. I even Vactan'ed the rusty surface of the ARB while I was at it.

As I said earlier, if the threaded part is broken you can cut this off where it meets the wider part of the drop link and drill/tap to take a threaded insert. Certainly cheaper than the £50 per drop link but you'd need to weigh up the overall state of them before embarking on that one.

[Tel87]

Thanks for all your advise Covkid your like a T25 Jedi master lol. Metalmike has sorted me a spare I'll let you no how I get on

[CovKid]

Not a problem, most of us are here to help. I just tend to write rather overly-detailed explanations so that those unfamiliar with certain aspects, gain a bit more confidence in tackling these jobs.

Yours doesn't look too big a deal. You might as well replace the rubber bushes (x4) as these are only £2 a piece even from VW commercial. The tricky bit might be pulling the defective drop link off the ARB. Plenty of vaseline may help. You want to remove ARB and drop links as one unit - much easier. 17mm and 13mm sockets are needed to remove it all. Use plenty of plusgas on nuts.bolts (not WD40).

Once off (20 mins max) it can be drilled out. If you don't fancy that, you could buy a second hand or new drop link. If it were me, I'd certainly have a go at drilling it out (bench drill a must) or find someone thats happy to have a go on your behalf.

Drop link bushes from VW commercial. Top bushes where arm fits on ARB no longer available from VW commercial but always on ebay. Brickwerks is another option.

[Tel87]

All sorted that was hard wark trying to get it back on thanks fellas

[CovKid]

Looks like you replaced both link and bushes. So, transformation or what? You should notice difference on the first hard corner and stiffness to front end restored once more.