Another thing that can break on your front suspension... (4200/GS)

[Fat Arnie]

Front Anti Roll Bar - PN 195320 - 4200 and GranSport.

Mine went in to be powder coated and once recoated we noticed a flaw in the coating where it had "gassed" (powder coaters term!)

The powder coater bloke actually noticed the crack when he blasted it, but didn't take a photo at that time.

Turns out the bar has a deep crack - we have ground down 1/4" into the bar and the crack still penetrates this far, so its fair to assume the bar could snap at any time.

The failure is on the bend in the bar on the n/s/f. which is almost certainly the most stressed point on the bar (ditto on the other side). If it broke the loose, there is the risk it could fall to the road and dig into the ground. This can lead to quite spectacular loss of control hence the warning. Without having my car back together its hard to see how low it would drop. It would certainly make a mess of the underside of your car.

Mine wasn't overly pretty to look at, fine surface rust, but not flaking or peeling rust, so I cannot really advise how to check other than take it off, wire brush and some POR15. Fortunately its reasonably accessible.


You can see the crack here:


Condition of my ARB before mediablasting:


Location of front ARB - 6 bolts to remove:

 

[davy83]

is that a stock photo or is your car really that clean??? wow. worrying crack in the ARB, must give mine a look over.

 

[Fat Arnie]

No car is that clean!

 

[BL330]

Might be the perfect opportunity / excuse to the wife to get a Formula Dynamics ARB.
A couple of guys over here have sworn it makes the greatest improvement to handling, particularly as they take theirs to open track days.
It's on my wish list for when I get my suspension rebuild in the next 2 years.

 

[GeoffCapes]

Could that crack be from the accident damage on the car prior to your purchase?

 

[Fat Arnie]

No Geoff. The impact to my car was very light. Now the car has been stripped for "operation de-rust" its very easy to see that nothing approaching structural damage was ever done. I am in the process of having the inappropriately assigned CAT D removed.

 

[Contigo]

Inappropriate? That has nothing to do with severity of damage surely it's a "cost based" decision.

 

[StuartW]

I am in the process of having the inappropriately assigned CAT D removed.

I didn't think that could even be done? Surely if an insurance company has decided that the cost to repair the car does not make economic sense to them, it goes on the register and that's where it stays?

 

[conaero]

Remember that car was in a front corner smash, it probably was damaged then.

 

[GeoffCapes]

No Geoff. The impact to my car was very light. Now the car has been stripped for "operation de-rust" its very easy to see that nothing approaching structural damage was ever done. I am in the process of having the inappropriately assigned CAT D removed.

Technically an ARB isn't structural, unless I'm mistaken?

I didn't think that could even be done? Surely if an insurance company has decided that the cost to repair the car does not make economic sense to them, it goes on the register and that's where it stays?

It can't. Again, unless I'm mistaken. I thought the nearest you could get is an approval to the standard of repairs done. Effectively 'as new'. But not CAT removal.

Remember that car was in a front corner smash, it probably was damaged then.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[miket]

From what I understand the owner of the car at the time of damage/insurance payout is the only person who can get the car declassified if they chose to take the car back as part payment or buy it back and get it repaired themselves.

 

[mjheathcote]

It is a shame if it is stuck with the CAT D stigma after all the work you have put into her.