anti roll bar

[les]

I'm wondering if an front anti-roll bar is worth fitting, I'm also interested in how they are secured. Has anyone got information regarding this please?

[bmcecosse]

If you want more understeer - yes!

[les]

Then I'll save my money---I hope you're being serious!

[brucek]

Many say the front anti-roll bar is the single best mod you can make on the Minor - even more so than improved shock absorbers etc. I have one, yet to be fitted to my convertible which is mounted via attachments that bolt through the two front chassis legs and also links to each wheel via the tie bar.

[ASL642]

I've got one - very positive steering/cornering - agree with above money well spent!

[les]

Don't like the sound of bolting through the chassis legs, are all these bars fitted in the same way? Any pictures?

[tomas.geoghegan]

Hi I Had an anti roll bar on my last moggy and must say it was fab on roundabouts. And cornering.
I would fit one to this mog i have now but as it is so standard i decided to keep it that way Your call.
Best Regards Tomas

[charlie_morris_minor]

I fitted one to my saloon along with telescopic shocks, uprated anti roll bars and I lowered the car, so whilst I can not comment on fitting just an anti roll bar, I can comment as part of an overall package it certainly improved the handling of the car and I am in the process of doing the same mods to my traveller.

[WPR678B]

Its the only modification that I have fitted to the suspension and the single most effective improvement I think you can fit!
There are several versions out there, but the type I prefer is the one offered by a couple of the main suppliers.
Fitting is easy and i decided to drill the chassis leg out to a 20mm hole where the bolt goes and welded in some 20mm diameter CDS tubing with an 8mm bore.
I did this as the first time I fitted one of them to a Minor the holes became oversized and then the bar "knocked" when driving.
Mountings are like this on the chassis leg :[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

And like this on the wheel :[frame][/frame]

Basically the wheel end bush mounting replaces the bolt for the tie bar so no extra brackets are required. You could always weld the front brackets on for further strength, but I find the tubed holes perfect
I hope this helps?

[les]

Thanks for all the replies and clear photos! Good idea to add some tubing, my chassis is full of waxoyl so welding is a bit of a problem now.

[MarkyB]

Try putting thicker oil in the shock absorbers first, it has a significant effect on body roll without the expense and fitting issues of an ARB.

[les]

Yes I might try that, plus maybe look into replacing the rear telescopic units. Probably best to make sure all is at it's best before adding stuff. I sometimes get the feeling it might end up on it's roof when cornering!

[WPR678B]

Thanks for all the replies and clear photos! Good idea to add some tubing, my chassis is full of waxoyl so welding is a bit of a problem now.

Your welcome! The vehicle pictured with it fitted is my Pick up and the brackets fit perfectly behind the towing eyes that the LCV's have which gives it added support.
The previous one that enlarged the holes was a saloon without the towing eyes.

[les]

I first thought of this idea for the Minor whilst replacing the ARB bushes on my 'modern' (23yr old!) coupe. Incidentally this bar was located by 4 rubber bushes, I notice the one in the picture only has bushes on the outer locations, which must be acceptable but wondered it the 2 fixings on the chassis legs would benefit from the insertion of rubber pads?

[chrisryder]

Another vote here for the antiroll bar.

Unlike BMCecosse who is very anti-antiroll bars... Perhaps having never tried one...

Certainly good with a stiff rear end. I've never tried an ARB with 5 leaf springs on the rear. In that instance, perhaps the extra stiffness on the front could make it more understeery.

But with 7 leafers on the back of my saloon, the ARB was a welcome addition curing the tendency for it to understeer.

Interesting to note the knocking experienced. I've got a knocking from my suspension at the moment. May have to investigate the brackets and tube them if required.

[bmcecosse]

Best mod you can do (after the SAE 40 in the dampers) is a spot of negative camber on the front wheels. ARB should only be fitted if you also fit one on the rear - as a balanced pair. There is an argument that fitting 7 leaf Trav springs on a saloon give the necessary rear stiffness to match a front ARB - and I believe this is what some have done. The 7 leaf springs are handy for cutting out axle tramp too! I guess 9 leaf P-up springs will balance an ARB too ...........although if heavy loads are not contemplated, I would remove two leafs to get down to 7 leaves.

[chrisryder]

I thought LCV's had 8 leafers...

[WPR678B]

Interesting to note the knocking experienced. I've got a knocking from my suspension at the moment. May have to investigate the brackets and tube them if required.

If you have knocking then the first thing to do is change the green plastic blocks as these do wear and give the knocking too!
I am on my 3rd set on my pick up now, but that is about 60K miles of wear so not too bad!

[bmcecosse]

The green blocks are after all just hydraulic pipe clamps - and never intended for any use on a car suspension!!

[WPR678B]

The green blocks are after all just hydraulic pipe clamps - and never intended for any use on a car suspension!!

Indeed they are and you are right that they were never designed for this application, but they work and are cheap and very easy to replace so an ideal consumable part in the set up
A small price to pay for such an improvement in the handling