Vertical link pin on the lower antiroll bar...?!? help!

[Anonymous]

guys, need some advice...

car was in for MOT on saturday, it passed, but aparently the guy should've failed it because of the above link being in the wrong hole!? it would seem that when my car was being repaired after the accident, the garage put the vertical link on the lower antiroll bar on the drivers side in the wrong hole.

The garage have said that this will be stiffening up the suspension on that side a bit, and will probably alter the handling in corners slightly. they have also said that the link/pin might snap as it's not meant to be under that much stress. They did say however, that if it did snap, it's not the sort of thing that would bin me straight off the road, it would just make the steering feel a bit

loppy

s:shock: :shock: s:shock:  

is this right? or should I be getting it sorted straight away before waiting to see what Norwich Union have to say?? (in middle of lengthy complaint with them)

cheers for the help guys. As much as I love this car, I'm feeling a tad sh!t about the whole 'repair' thing, but can't really afford the amount i'd lose in depreciation if I were to sell it...

[Anonymous]

*bump*

Any thoughts anyone? if only for peace of mind...

[Tem]

I don't get it...are you saying you have an adjustable antiroll bar?

Your sig says your suspension is stock. '01 shouldn't have any adjustable parts.  s:? :? s:?


Can you take a pic of what you mean?

[roger]

Are we talking front stabiliser bar here?

Looking at the pictures in the manual, the bar is linked to a lower suspension arm by a vertical link. There are 5 holes in arm, one huge one, a medium size one (which it should be in), between 2 small ones. and another medium sized one quite some way (2 - 3") towards the side of the vehicle. If they managed to get it into that, I reckon the strain onthe stabaliser bar and / or link is going to be great, and would definitely be a candidate for a breakage, whichcan't be good.

Comparison photos would certainly help the diagnosis. Is it possible you were being thrown a "curve ball"?

The rear stabiliser bar fittings area doesn't look as though there are any "spare" holes that could have been wrongly used.

[Anonymous]

no, definately not a 'curve ball'! I queried exactly what he meant when he was telling me, as I was fuming that the repair centre had screwed yet another thing up, so he put it up on the lift and showed me.

The passenger side link is almost vertical, but the drivers side one is probably off vertical by about 20degrees (very rough estimate from memory). Unfortunately I didn't think to get my phone out and take some photos  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  , I was so angry!   s:evil: :evil: s:evil:  

If I remember correctly, where the bottom of the link attaches to the 'whatever-its-name-is-bar', there were only two holes?   s:? :? s:?   One was slightly larger where the pin was meant to be, the other was a bit smaller and about 5cm further away from the wheel (again - very rough estimate of distance from memory)

The garage is only 30secs from my house so I'll pop in tomorrow lunch and see if they mind putting it up on the lift again so I can take photos. I could do with it anyway, as I guess it'll help with the complaint with norwich union.

needless to say, I've been taking it very steady and trying not to drive more than necessary, but is this a "stop driving til it's sorted" kind of thing??

[roger]

If you are going to the garage I would ask them to get it sorted (you will probably have to pay and recharge Norwich Union).

And yes, suggest don't use it until its fixed. If nothing it will affect your stability, if it breaks.....well who knows ?!

Get pictures as well (both good and bad side, as proof) and make sure you add a goodly extra for worry, fear, etc etc in your claim to NU! They might argue about it, but it depends how long you are prepared to keep fighting as to whether you will get anything.

I am assuming NU recommended the repairer and pays them direct, so your argument is with NU.