Front Anti roll bar link rods

[ncd72]

S REG 1.9 TD 1998 - hi are these hard to change? any special tools required? just advisory on mot but i want to get them done it s only pass side but may as well do both!!
Anyone have a tutorial?

thanks chaps

[teamster1975]

They're pretty straightforward to change. The only swine is that you have to put an allan key in the end of the balljoint to stop it spinning while you undo the nut and this will probably round off. I ended up chopping away the rubber seals so that I could get some mole grips on the ball joint to stop it spinning.
While you've got the links off, check the condition of the antirollbar bushes as these like to perish & it's an easy job.

[ncd72]

hi matey when you say put an allen key in the end of the ball joint - is there a proper slot for this or is it just a general tip - as regards rounding off the nut are they really that bad?

thanks for ya help

neil

[HimBigChief]

I usually try undoing it, and if it doesn't work, out comes the angle grinder! 2 minute job to remove the old one then!

[Pob]

Drop links/Anti Roll bar links are always a pain to remove when they have been on the car a couple of years. I never undo them anymore, far too much hassle and takes ages if they are siezed up. I just angle grind them off, so much easier!

Dan

[teamster1975]

when you say put an allen key in the end of the ball joint - is there a proper slot for this

Yes there is, but as the other guys say it'll just round off when you try to get the nut off. You can go the angle grinder route or use moley's, I found the moles good enough for the job.

[HimBigChief]

You can go the angle grinder route or use moley's, I found the moles good enough for the job.

I'm less of a work-hard and more of a work-smart type of guy, hence the angle grinder. If there's an easy way to do something, I'll find it!

[steve_earwig]

*hides box of TNT*

[ncd72]

thanks lads - wheres the best place to go through with the grinder then?

thanks again

[HimBigChief]

Either along a couple of edges of the nut, or staright through the rear part where the nut bolts to. You want to get as close as possible to the edges of the strut and anti-roll bar as spossible without damaging them too much. When you have a look at how they are bolted on, you will make your own call though and cut through where you find easiest.

[ncd72]

hi all thanks for your advice - just need a little more before i change the links - i understand all the posts about removing the old ones and it seems straightforward.
I've just got the 2 new ones i ordered and they don't have any holes for inserting an allen key to hold the ball joint whilst tightening the nuts and they have a plastic dome like cover over the ball joint - i imagine you lads know what i'm on about - so how do i prevent the joint from spinning whilst tightening up the nuts without doing any damage to the rubber bushes?

thanks all

[HimBigChief]

Simple answer is you don't. I just do them up as tight as they'll go.

[ncd72]

Thanks Chief - i presume they don't spin like the old ones then?

cheers

[HimBigChief]

The ball joints should be a hell of a lot tighter and offer a lot more resistance on the new droplinks.

[ncd72]

ok matey - they do seem very tight actually - thanks for that i'll give em a go over the weekend an let ya know how i got on!

thanks again