Section : Suspension

Front anti-roll bar 

Posted By : Tony Walker, 26-Jul-2005, 12:39pm

Hi

My spitfire MK3 is lower at the front on the drivers side than it is on the passenger side

I have looked at past messages and threads and many useful suggetsions have been posted. One of these was to check the front anti-roll bar since it may be bent (drivers side up). I removed the anti-roll bar from the car and placed it on a flat surface. Sure enough the drivers side was about 1.5 cm higher than the passenger side, so off I went to Spitbits......all of their S/H anti-roll bars were also bent in the same direction. I then enquired about a new replacement only to be told that the anti-roll bar should be higher on the drivers side to accomodate camber in the road!!! Is this true; if so is there a limit to how bent it should be?

Please help.......

Cheers
Tony

• Front anti-roll bar 

  Posted By : Van Hamlin, 26-Jul-2005, 05:04pm

  You haven't said if your car is still lower on the drivers side now that you have taken the anti roll bar off? I would check this before blaming the anti roll bar.
  
  Van
  

  • Front anti-roll bar 

    Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 26-Jul-2005, 11:22pm

    Anyone know the name of the person with the autojumble, first stall on the right as you entered the outdoors autojumble area at the end of Bingley Hall? Tall skinny tanned guy with blue toe-nails? (Honest!) As well as alloy engine bits he had a supply of brand new and very thick anti-roll bars which were completely flat at both ends. These are the same as I have fitted to my MK1 GT6 and twice as thick as any other I've ever seen on any other GT6. He told me what they were off but I can't remember now, so anyone knows the original application (plus the price) let me know.
    Colin

    • Front anti-roll bar 

      Posted By : Van Hamlin, 26-Jul-2005, 11:30pm

      Another thought - if the anti roll bar should be higher on one side than the other how come the parts book doesn't list different ones for LH and RH drive?
      If you want a thicker anti roll bar then use one off a swing spring spitfire (you will need to use the U-clamps off it too and slot the holes in the chassis to make the clamps fit)
      
      Van
      

      • Front anti-roll bar 

        Posted By : James Carruthers, 27-Jul-2005, 00:05am

        >Another thought - if the anti roll bar should be higher on one side than the other how come the parts book doesn't list different ones for LH and RH drive?
        
        
        Because, presumably, you'd just flip it over so that the higher side was on whatever sided vehicle you were putting it on?
        
        

        • Front anti-roll bar 

          Posted By : William Davies, 27-Jul-2005, 00:18am

          James,
          That won't work - think about it,
          Cheers,
          Bill.

          • Front anti-roll bar 

            Posted By : James Carruthers, 27-Jul-2005, 00:24am

            Oh yeah - of course - this is the second time my brain has failed... my 3D imagination skills are going all wrong...
            

    • Front anti-roll bar 

      Posted By : James Carruthers, 27-Jul-2005, 00:02am

      James Shackford... works for one of the TR places up north (Nottingham way?)
      
      
      
      James
      

• Front anti-roll bar 

  Posted By : Tony Walker, 27-Jul-2005, 11:54am

  Thanks for the interesting thoughts; while I have put the old roll bar back on the car, I shall take it off later this week to see if the car sits correctly without it. It does seem odd to me that it should be bent since workshop manuals do not state which way around to fit the bar; surely this implies that it should not be higher on one side!
  
  

  • Front anti-roll bar 

    Posted By : William Davies, 27-Jul-2005, 01:01pm

    Hi Tony,
    There's no need to specify which way around the anti-roll bar should be fitted as it makes no difference, turning it over won't affect the direction of the twist.
    Cheers,
    Bill.

    • Front anti-roll bar 

      Posted By : Tony Walker, 27-Jul-2005, 04:14pm

      Many thanks Bill
      
      You are absolutely right of course.........
      
      Do you know if it should be bent and if so by how much?
      
      Cheers
      Tony