Sprint engine stabiliser bar - assy and wear and tear?

[olr159w]

I see how the stabiliser bar fits to the bodywork and interesting to see it uses shock top bushes since I have a couple spare.

How does the balljoint worked at the engine end? Is there a bush in it? Is it possible for it to wear?

thks

[Flyfisherman]

Yes there is a small bush

Paul

[Carledo]

The ball joint at the engine end can and does wear, though not often or much since movement is taken up by the bushes at the body end. Not convinced there is a bush at the engine end, if there is, it's not serviced separately according to my parts book.

Steve

[mahony]

The ball joint on the engine steady bar barely moves if I remember correctly and has no bush at the engine end, I replaced my bushes last year with the poly ones from Rimmers as mine looked like the originals from 1977 !! and looked shot .

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-517985POLY

[olr159w]

Thanks. I expect it barely moves also. Given a single "bulk" trans-continental shipment I want to order the right bits. I was thinking about whether to just replace the whole assembly or whether to simply trust that the engine end is OK and swap out the two bushes at the body end. Sounds like I need to remove it to see whether the engine end is still a solid fit

thks

[Flyfisherman]

I'm sorry to dissapoint everybody - but there is a bush in there as mine has some of the rubber bush hanging out and it needs replacing - I will take some picture tomorrow and post them.

All have a look at this: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-158986ASSY

Paul

[mahony]

I'm sorry to dissapoint everybody - but there is a bush in there as mine has some of the rubber bush hanging out and it needs replacing - I will take some picture tomorrow and post them.

All have a look at this: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-158986ASSY

Paul

Ok i was not aware of any other bush on the engine steady bar, where is it located as the pic of the Rimmers one does not really show a external bush ? is it inside where the ball joint is ?

[olr159w]

It was that assembled item that I was considering purchasing. On the other hand having a couple of spare top shock bushes means I can revitalize the body end of the bar very easily.

The questions is - what is this bushing inside the ball joint at the engine end?

Is it this http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-158986C ?

It looks like it must be. I just have no idea what is keeping the right angled joint together. Unless there is a threaded union within the socket part of the ball joint or something?

[Flyfisherman]

I'm sorry to dissapoint everybody - but there is a bush in there as mine has some of the rubber bush hanging out and it needs replacing - I will take some picture tomorrow and post them.

All have a look at this: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-158986ASSY

Paul

Ok i was not aware of any other bush on the engine steady bar, where is it located as the pic of the Rimmers one does not really show a external bush ? is it inside where the ball joint is ?

yes actually in the ball itself

Paul

[Jod Clark]

Same ball design as found on MG Midget anti roll bar links.

[olr159w]

I loosened the interesting end of the stabiliser bar earlier and took a look at it.

It seems the shorter arm that locates onto the engine bracket is fitted into a bush that appears to be wedged into the circular ball end of the longer main arm.

I assume that bush is indeed this part http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-158986C. It still isn't clear what really keeps the two parts firmly together other than the fact one end looks like its a tight wedge fit into the other. Does anyone know?

I ran out of time this evening. I'll have a closer look at it tomorrow

[grahamwatson]

I loosened the interesting end of the stabiliser bar earlier and took a look at it.

It seems the shorter arm that locates onto the engine bracket is fitted into a bush that appears to be wedged into the circular ball end of the longer main arm.

I assume that bush is indeed this part http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-158986C. It still isn't clear what really keeps the two parts firmly together other than the fact one end looks like its a tight wedge fit into the other. Does anyone know?

I ran out of time this evening. I'll have a closer look at it tomorrow

I'm pretty sure that Rimmers told me that the interesting end of the steady bar is not serviceable. In that link they describe (I know!) that bush as being for a "replacement type bar". I wonder if there is a different aftermarket bar which takes that bush as, like you, I don't see how it fits in the ball type bracket securely.

If you haven't loosened it by your investigations, I would leave the interesting end as it is if it is reasonably solid, and just replace the bushes at the other end. That's my plan, anyway!

[olr159w]

Yep my intent also, subject to any further discovery tomorrow

cheers

[Flyfisherman]

I'm sorry to dissapoint everybody - but there is a bush in there as mine has some of the rubber bush hanging out and it needs replacing - I will take some picture tomorrow and post them.

All have a look at this: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-158986ASSY

Paul

Guys

Here is your picture of the said bush:


Paul

[olr159w]

And here's a picture of mine.

It seems to be in fair shape so I'll stick with the plan to only change the two bushes at the bodywork end