Fitting rear ARB Bushes -'04 XC70

[Nick45]

So... got my new 14mm bushes from a nice man in Latvia (eventually...2 weeks delivery!) and am in "assessing the job" phase. The car has failed Mot on these and I'm not up for £204 pls vat for the full bar from Mr Volvo. Or not yet at least.

Problem - the aluminium collar around the bush appears to be joined to the adjacent bracket. How on earth do you get the old bushes out and fit the new ones without resorting to using the grinder?

Has anyone got a how to or hard won knowledge to share? I'm stuck already.

Cheers, Nick

[stegreg]

I know and appreciate on my 2003 V70 awd the rear bushes are bonded on the roll bar, and, like your good self, not wanting to fork out a meager £158 for genuine bar, so I was considering self replacement, but by cutting a slot in the new bushes.....at their thickest point, like most replaceable bushes. don't cut at the thinnest point....for obvious reasons. . I just need to slide under mine to measure the diameter of the bar, as according to Volvo, could be one of 6 diameter variants.

[Nick45]

Originally Posted by stegreg

I know and appreciate on my 2003 V70 awd the rear bushes are bonded on the roll bar, and, like your good self, not wanting to fork out a meager £158 for genuine bar, so I was considering self replacement, but by cutting a slot in the new bushes.....at their thickest point, like most replaceable bushes. don't cut at the thinnest point....for obvious reasons. . I just need to slide under mine to measure the diameter of the bar, as according to Volvo, could be one of 6 diameter variants.

Fitting the actual bushes to the bar is the more straightforward bit stegreg. As you say, slice across the 'flat edge', apply a bit of Tiger Seal (other mastics ARE available) and all should be well. It's the removal of the collar which is puzzling me.

[Nick45]

If this helps anyone else, I've found this from member Tykey in 2013: quote...

"It's not as difficult as I feared.The first thing to realise is that the two U-brackets aren't fixed or welded together, but have a locating lug on the outside bracket which fits inside the bolt hole of the inner bracket. After removing the support bolt, separate the two brackets by hammering a screw driver between the two brackets, the outer one will open a bit and drop off.

The second thing is that the rubber bush is still on the ARB and needs to be cut off, although it isn't straight forward as it's vulcanised in a couple of spots to the bar. I used a stanley knife to remove it in bits.

The next thing is cut the new bush and replace it in the brackets. Your first thought might be "this will never fit", but it does, it just needs some compression. I fitted the bush into the brackets by using a vice and left it overnight. It didn't recover it's size, and almost allowed refitting to the car. Not quite, though, and I had to get it in line with the support bolt hole by using a jack to push it up, and a hammer to nudge it sideways until the bolt slides all the way through. Tightening the bolt makes the lugs relocate properly''.

Thanks Tykey. I'll report back in due course.

[Brendan W]

I guess the 14mm is a typo. Afaik they come in 19 and 21mm.
Check it out before cutting or opening. Sometimes they send the wrong size.
If you are lucky the old bushes will have separated from the bar and can be removed easily. Cut lengthways with an old carving knife and they should fall or peel off without too much trouble.
Open the drop links to get wiggle room and the bar can stay on the car. I think I had to get both sides in the air for it to work?

[Nick45]

Originally Posted by Brendan W

I guess the 14mm is a typo. Afaik they come in 19 and 21mm.
Check it out before cutting or opening. Sometimes they send the wrong size.
If you are lucky the old bushes will have separated from the bar and can be removed easily. Cut lengthways with an old carving knife and they should fall or peel off without too much trouble.
Open the drop links to get wiggle room and the bar can stay on the car. I think I had to get both sides in the air for it to work?

Nope, 14mm was the seller's quoted size for a 2004 XC70 & that checked out with a 14 mil spanner round the bar, adjacent to the bushes, fitting snugly. The diameter increases significantly towards either end of the bar but even so it seems a bit puny doesn't it?

I'm running an Bmw E36 tourer while the Volvo is off the road and the rear ARB on that is about 24 mil!

[Brendan W]

Originally Posted by Nick45

Nope, 14mm was the seller's quoted size for a 2004 XC70 & that checked out with a 14 mil spanner round the bar, adjacent to the bushes, fitting snugly. The diameter increases significantly towards either end of the bar but even so it seems a bit puny doesn't it?

I'm running an Bmw E36 tourer while the Volvo is off the road and the rear ARB on that is about 24 mil!

Everyday is a schoolday
I imagine things are a bit crowded at the back end of an XC and something has to give.