Front anti-roll bar

Quite surprised when I had the rear suspension bushes changed and they checked the car over, and told me that there is now play in the front anti-roll bar. Not bad, but an advise.

What generally is the life of the roll bar and its bushes? my car has covered about 30k and is a late 2003.

Wonder if with the 159 alfa have realised that suspension parts are not consumables?

30k isn't bad! I got mine with 6k miles on at 1 year old. Had a clonk from the day I picked it up. Had no play in the ARB as such, but after several visits to dealer, and a (recorded) letter to Antonio Baravalle they changed the thing and cured the knock!

I still have my originals at around 44K miles, they have not had an easy life so I must be lucky.
The front drop link possibly are nearing time for replacement though, apparently these cheap as chips plastic links are the cause of many knocks, not the bar itself and they only take a few minutes to change.

Replacing the front ARB as a whole is expensive due to the labour involved though.

Possibly it might be worth considering an adjustable anti-roll bar for the front from Whiteline or Eibach, it mightn't cost that much more (as a complete job) than the standard ARB, especially if you don't bother with the Whiteline rose jointed adjustable drop links, the standard ones can be used too.

Cheers,
TB

Need to change my anti roll bar soon (35,000 miles) but dont want to replace it with a standard one.... Any ideas guys?

whiteline or eibach I guess mate.

Eibach's are a good bit thicker than the standard GTA bar and the rear bar has a small amount of adjustability but the bars are expensive in comparison to the standard GTA bars.

I have Eibach ARB's on my Selespeed and they make a worthwhile difference to a standard car really flattening out the cornering. My V6 which has a more modified suspension is not as flat - especially noticeable on tight roundabouts.

Just had mine replaced at 25k miles, done under the 3rd year dealer warranty. Now I've only got knocking coming from the back

Thanks for the info guys, was pretty sure they weren't making up carp but it is always reassuring. Was told it is nothing to worry about but play is starting, certainly no klonks like I was getting from the back.

Hmmm. I've got the knocking from the front suspension when cold. I've just had new ARB drop links fitted but this hasn't cured the problem. Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Nigel

OK, I just read the other recent thread on this subject. Could be upper wishbones?

Cheers,

Nigel

anti roll bar life spans on alfa`s really do very, I`ve changed them from as little as 15k, but my brothers 156 sportwagon has done 75k and is still on its original ARB

Been contemplating a stiffer rear bar recently and have some pricing and availability for the Whiteline products from www.southernperformancecentre.co.uk who don't have the Alfa parts on their website but are available by contacting them.

156/147 Front Bar 24mm adjustable - BAF14Z - £114.57 (next day)
156/147 Front Bar 24mm - BAF14 - £101.22 (6-8 weeks)
156/147 Front Links - KLC052 - £66.12 (next day)
156/147 Rear Links - KLC053 - £68.78 (next day)

156 Rear Bar 18mm adjustable - BAR17Z - £114.57 (next day)
156 Rear Bar 18mm - BAR17 - £101.22 (6-8 weeks)

147 Rear Bar 20mm adjustable - BAR18XZ - £114.57 price needs confirmation (next day)
147 Rear Bar 18mm - BAR18Z - not available

Are these for the GTA? Think the GTA bushes are bigger

The 147 parts are actually listed as being for the 147 GTA, I think the 156's would be okay because they share the same codes except rear bars, the Eibach kit also being spec'd for both standard and the GTA.

Thanks for that.. Think im about to order the front ARB soon!

anyone know the standard Alfa ARB diameters F&R?

I think the sizes are as follows:-

Front 156 22mm
Front GTA 24mm
Front Eibach 26mm

Rear 156 14mm
Rear GTA 17mm
Rear Eibach 18mm

Not 100% sure of the GTA sizes

Hi folks,
I am just waiting for the delivery of the ARBs form autodelta, so hopfully will be fitted by the end of the week and will keep ya posted.

Steve

I think the Autodelta ones might be rebadged Eibach - my Novitec ones were not that I'm complaining

A word of warning........my bars came with only bushes and no brackets. I had to remove the brackets from the old bars and reuse them on the Novitec bars with the new bushes.

Its wasn't too big a deal but the garage who were removing the front bar wouldn't split the original brackets so it was a hassle to go and bring the bar home first, do the work, fit them to the new bar then take them back for them to refit.

Thanks for the warning. They will hopfully be here tomorrow so will get cracking cos the knocking is getting worse.
Scotish roads Eh!

Cheers again for the advice
Steve