Effects of anti roll bar removal!

[(RIP) PLANK]

I have noticed removing anti roll bars is a popular off road mod, I was wondering though would it affect braking efficiency?

I know answers must be a bit speculative unless we actualy tested a vehicle with them on and off, but what do you all think?

 

[Deleted Member]

When we were down in the Yorkshire dales greenlaning,Hummingbird didn't seem to have a problem,or maybe he did,that's why nobody could keep up with him!!! :lol: :lol:

 

[tommo]

I have both front and rear bars removed the only time i noticed any more body roll was when braking heavy and turning at the same time, braking in a straight line there is no difference as the roll bars would not be working anyway on the + side i have noticed more grip when accelerating out of corners and going round islands off road it does make a big difference to wheel travel.

 

[Terranosaurus]

Well mine doesn't have any roll bars at all now and I have to say it does lean a bit but IMHO it has more grip too.

Whilst it is speculative as to what happens on a T2/Mav without back to back testing I can tell you that it is common practice in motorsport to back off adjustable or disconnect anti roll bars in the wet to gain grip.

As for braking it should be uneffected or may actually be better with no anti roll bars because each wheel is able to do its own thing and one wheel won't be un weighted by the other lifting over a bump.

Ideally a car should have no anti roll bars and the springs should do all the work, however the realities of controlling roll to avoid geometry changes and the need for softer springs for a softer ride for passengers means that almost all vehicles have them for one or both reasons.

For more info a good book to read (Xmas is coming) is Allan Staniforth's "Race Car Engineering and Design". Theres usually a few on ebay but not today - figures.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

what made me think about it was a rerun of the top gear "test" of 4x4's climing they all had lousy stopping distances, I wodered if the extra momentum of the vehicle caused by no anti roll bars would carry it along i the orginal line of travel when changing direction.

 

[Deleted Member]

But wouldn't the ABS fix that problem plank?? :?

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

well im no expert, but i wouldnt have thought so no, as ABS is to stop the wheels locking ans skidding in over breaking situation? not neccesarily to compensate for missing bits?

Most members who have rmeoved them seem to have older vehicles which probably dont have ABS anyway, well we have had 3 T2's and none of them have/had ABS

 

[Deleted Member]

Iv'e been thinking of doing this,was just wondering about the ABS,and would this fail the mot??
:?:

 

[Terranosaurus]

I think the issue with the handling that might rally show up the lack of ARBs is the so called "Elk test" that flipped the early A series Mercedes'. However decent dampers should help minimize that effect, tbh mine have seen better days so aren't a good comparison.

IMHO for people who use there truck everyday the compromise is to disconnect the rear ARB when you go green laning or to a pay and play site, just undo the ball joint at the ARB/drop link one one side and you're sorted. I used to do this with mine and it really helps articulation and passenger comfort - you don't get thrown around side to side by pot holes etc. You have to live with the front ones they'd bang around if disconnectted there just isn't enough room between the wishbones.

Word from MOT inspectors seems to be mixed some consider if the vehicle had them fitted as standard it should have them others seem not to be that bothered - personally I'm taking mine to a place that specializes in 4x4 (Landies in particular) and they go down to Frickley pay and play site themselves so I'm sure they'll be ok about them not being on.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

I have asked a couple of MOT testers apot this and the concensus seems to be, if they are not fitted it will pass, but if they are fitted but disconected or broken it willl fail.

But im not sure if thus os the official MOT line or just their interpretation of it.

 

[johnston_evo3]

we used to take front link off a evo rally car all the time helped with the turn in esp in wet or on gravel in the end we sold it to fella the thumped front corner and bent his bar..

as far as mot goes think it depends on tester over here in NI i seen load of cars go through with knackered ones cos the shaker plates dont pick it up.

but if your running any sort of uprated springs your arb gonna be
mis-matched anyway.

 

[elty001]

arb removal

just been reading through this post as i'm gonna remove my rear arb for the time being as one of the mounting points has snapped off the diff.can honestly say that i havn't felt any difference in the handling of my t2.i have got uprated springs on(20% stronger 2" longer).not sure weather or not to take the front off.don't really do alot of road driving so i might whip it off while iv'e got the spanners out.drop links on front are shot anyway so its got to come off.any info or advice greatly aprreciated on this.

 

[Terranosaurus]

I'm keepong mine on for Mac 4x4v challenge, theres just so much road work involved - 1000mile approx route. After that I think I will be looking at tking em off - though i do have a design for disconnect in my head - might give that a go.

 

[elty001]

my design for disconnecting was to ground out in very deep ruts and snap it off the diff:lol
have got a spare rear diff but its a big job to change them for the sake of an arb.so i'm just gonna remove it and see how it goes.

 

[andrewk]

IMHO for people who use there truck everyday the compromise is to disconnect the rear ARB when you go green laning or to a pay and play site, just undo the ball joint at the ARB/drop link one one side and you're sorted. I used to do this with mine and it really helps articulation and passenger comfort - you don't get thrown around side to side by pot holes etc.

As you'll probably know, the 'Troll has a demountable rear anti-roll bar that is hydraulically actuated and activated by a switch on the dash. To be honest, I take it on trust that it "really helps articulation and passenger comfort" as there is no obvious difference when green laning.

I also haven't tried driving around on the road with it demounted (the handbook says not to do that - but it would, wouldn't it?). I'll give it a go later on today or tomorrow and see if I can tell a difference on corners.


Cheers
Andrew

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

pity cant make them quick disconnect. certain seen a kit for patrols likely in states, or perhaps was oem there at some point. sure text said remove pin/r clip or similar to play. maybe other trucks have had elctro mechanical disconnects.

 

[andrewk]

Word from MOT inspectors seems to be mixed some consider if the vehicle had them fitted as standard it should have them others seem not to be that bothered - personally I'm taking mine to a place that specializes in 4x4 (Landies in particular) and they go down to Frickley pay and play site themselves so I'm sure they'll be ok about them not being on.

The situation with LR Defenders is a bit different, I think. Recent Defenders have anti-roll bars as standard but earlier ones didn't - so testers may not know whether they should have them or not. Terranos will always have had them, won't they? I've seen discussion about removing them on LR forums in the past - but can't remember what the conclusion was. It might be worth a look around the forums .......


Cheers
Andrew

 

[Whatmot]

i broke the front and rear links on mine. replaced the front ones but never got around to fixing the rears. about a week ago i broke the front one again so ive removed in completely now. theres a bit of bodyroll from my mav which results in some extra understeer, but i can live with that.

as for the mot side. when i had mine done back in september, my mot man said they werent part of the test (so didnt need to be tested).

if anyone wants some ideas for some disconnects, calmini sell these for the (d22) navara:

http://www.purenissan.com/sway_bar_discos.htm

or i found an interested site from the US of a guy who use to make them

http://www.yankeetoys.org/lee/sway-bar.htm

just a shame he doesnt make them anymore

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

am sure first time garage did my drops, they said would fail test but were not
actually dangerous in broken state. which sort of fits in with remove completely
and avoid testing issue.....maybe.

 

[elty001]

am sure first time garage did my drops, they said would fail test but were not
actually dangerous in broken state. which sort of fits in with remove completely
and avoid testing issue.....maybe.

not got m.o.t until june so have got plenty of time to re-fit them if need be.
will pop up to the garage were i take it and ask the tester his opion on it.