Heavy duty front anti roll bar any good?

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by martinvention, Jul 30, 2020.

  1. Mine was the Empi sway bar from Just Kampers

    Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk
     
    scrooge95 likes this.
  2. Following the good advice here, I fitted an EMPI front HD bar also from JK and am pleased with the more steady ride especially on corners. The HD bar is a lot heavier and stiffer than the 40 year old one it replaced and I do wonder whether the clamps that secure the bar to the front of the lower trailing arms are man enough to deal with the ARB forces on the outboard side of a turn when the clamp tension. I reused my old clamps and will monitor for any sign of movement in the locking plate and may make some new clamps from heavier steel. To my mind if the clamp is not dealing with the tension there is the possibility of a levering/bending force on the high tensile securing bolts at the end of the arms with a possible failure. I wonder if anyone out there has any tales of snapping bolts??
     
    S1mon likes this.
  3. Ozziedog

    Ozziedog Supporter

    I’m thinking you might be over thinking this. I’ve reused my clamps a couple of times for various reasons and have not seen any evidence of a weakness there. If I ever get them off again I should think I’d do as you’ve done and fit a heavier duty style one. Plus it’s not supposed to be absolutely rigid or we would use a steel bolting clamp to hold it. :) If it plays on your mind, you could maybe carry a spare clamp and rubber just in case but I don’t think you’d ever need it:)

    Ozziedog,,,,,,,,, peace of mind for less than a tenner! :);):)
     
    nobayinhell likes this.
  4. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    When my standard bar snapped after stressing it with speed bumps and road camber impacts, it was at one end of the bar not the bolts. I think the clamps take a lot of the force and the bolts are needed to make sure it doesnt slip out, as well as taking some of the force.

    And a bus is still quite driveable with a snapped ARB, I took it 35 miles after it broke as the flappy end only hit big bits of metal and came nowhere near brake hoses.
     
    Ozziedog likes this.

Share This Page