NCT: Toyota corolla anti roll bar bushes and links

xual

Put my 1996 1.3 xli corolla saloon through the NCT. Failed on this. In fact I got these done only last august and the car passed the test ( it was off the road for a while before that and hence I have to do it this year also )

The mechanic the last time quoted for a big job the last time saying that "they don't sell one side" I had a carina II years back and they always needed doing before an NCT but it was very cheap to get them done.

Anyway its both sides, nearside and offside : anti roll bar links and bushes worn

Is it a big job?

very small job. Mechanic would have it done in twenty minutes.
bushes are 5 each, links 10-15 each. Very easy to do yourself if you have some tools.

andyseadog

as above, arb's are piss easy, 5 minutes each, i think its a 14mm socket, bought them a few weeks back 4 quid each.

same with the links, 14mm but you need an allen key too (forget which side) if you have any practical skills you can have a bash at them yourself no bother.

xual

God bless my haynes manual. Bought it recently.

Stabilizer links, drop links, anti roll links are the same thing. The cert tells me anti roll links are fecked and the garage sells stabilizer links and the book refers to drop links. :rolleyes: major source of confusion.

Yeah the parts are cheap and the job is easy alright. But the parts on her were only put on a while back in august 2010. Either they are wearing out fast or the NCT guys didn't think they looked new and say they need replacing. I doubt the NCT guys do stuff like that so I'm wondering is there a problem that the car is wearing these parts or do they wear out often.

Thanks for the comments. Confidence is key when you're DIY'ing your car :-) It is a 14mm socket, any tips for cheap parts online or is micksgarage.ie my best bet.

CJhaughey

xual wrote: »

Yeah the parts are cheap and the job is easy alright. But the parts on her were only put on a while back in august 2010. Either they are wearing out fast or the NCT guys didn't think they looked new and say they need replacing. I doubt the NCT guys do stuff like that so I'm wondering is there a problem that the car is wearing these parts or do they wear out often.

I fitted droplinks on Mrs CJs Corolla last year and they are gone already, these roads tracks give them a fierce battering.

andyseadog

xual wrote: »

God bless my haynes manual. Bought it recently.

Stabilizer links, drop links, anti roll links are the same thing. The cert tells me anti roll links are fecked and the garage sells stabilizer links and the book refers to drop links. :rolleyes: major source of confusion.

Yeah the parts are cheap and the job is easy alright. But the parts on her were only put on a while back in august 2010. Either they are wearing out fast or the NCT guys didn't think they looked new and say they need replacing. I doubt the NCT guys do stuff like that so I'm wondering is there a problem that the car is wearing these parts or do they wear out often.

Thanks for the comments. Confidence is key when you're DIY'ing your car :-) It is a 14mm socket, any tips for cheap parts online or is micksgarage.ie my best bet.

i know they are a common weak spot in the 97-02 corolla's and i know that the 93-97 corolla and the 97-02 model share a lot of suspension components. you do hear of a lot of cases of it, sounds like yours did wear a little quick but i still wouldn't be too concerned.

tbh i wouldn't bother sourcing these online, head to your local motor factors and you should get 2 bushings and 2 links and some change back from 30 euro, you wouldn't make a saving worth justifying by buying online, but if you must buy online i suppose micksgarage is the place to deal with.

DublinDilbert

xual wrote: »

But the parts on her were only put on a while back in august 2010. Either they are wearing out fast or the NCT guys didn't think they looked new and say they need replacing.

If the anti roll bar bushes were only fitted last August they are fine, no way they would of degraded that quick especially if the car was sitting up. Even if you hit every speed bump in Dublin for the last 6 months they'd still be fine!

The test on the anti roll bar bushings isn't computer based, the tester is of the option that there's too much play in them, so is very open to interpretation. He was looking to fail the car on something, so that's what he failed it on. The other thing they typically fail cars on is flexible brake hoses that don't need replacing.

You've two options, replace them, which for the cost of them is probably worth it, or just pop the 6 month old ones into some soapy water and put them back on. As a matter of principal i'd almost do the second one!

CJhaughey

DublinDilbert wrote: »

You've two options, replace them, which for the cost of them is probably worth it, or just pop the 6 month old ones into some soapy water and put them back on. As a matter of principal i'd almost do the second one!

I agree that they are fairly new to be worn out, but I disagree with just refitting old parts, if you are taking them off, then just fit new ones!
Your problem may be that the actual AR bar is worn where it sat in the bushing, the wear erodes the bar and it ends up with a smaller diameter that makes it a sloppy fit in the bush, I have heard of people wrapping the bar with PTFE tape to make it a snug fit again.
I got a full set of 4 bushes for less than 15 delivered, the old ones were worn and they made an awful thumping sound, the new ones made the car a lot quieter.
I stick a bit of rubber grease on the inside of them when I fit them as well.

I don't know why Toyota never fitted the Rough Road package on Irish cars, it would make the cars last much better on these roads.

xual

I read somewhere before the 98-2000 avensis had trouble wearing these parts and as I owend a carina II I know it wore out.

I'd be tempted to wash the parts for a laugh and see what happens. It would be nearly worth to get the cert with a pass and tell the tail :-)

Little thing on the side. I'm testing the car in the carlow NCT center. There was a guy in just ahead of me and he was asked to replace some part on the driver side and bring the car back on a retest. They tried to fail him again on the saying the part need replacing on the passenger side instead. He had the paper, in black and white, drivers side. He pointed this out and said "That what I was asked to replace by you and your machines!" They basically told him to **** off. I would have just gone down to a solicitor with the form if it was me. I'm not being biased because I have no hassle replacing a bit of wear and tear for safety, BUT they are seriously ignorant and completely unhelpful to people. I've always had the family mechanic drop the car in and out of the test center for me. That was my first time in there. Sour faced grumpy ****ers. All of them are foreigners also which was a bit odd but not a problem... except where they were completely unhelpful, contradictory and ignorant. Is there some scam on i the NCT to make cars do a retest.