Removal
1 To improve access, raise the front of the vehicle on ramps. Do not jack the vehicle up at this stage. Apply the handbrake.

2 Where applicable bend back the locktabs, then unscrew the two bolts securing each of the two anti-roll bar U-clamps to the vehicle underbody (see illustrations).

7.2a Bend back the locktabs (arrowed) . . .

7.2b . . . unscrew the bolts and remove the anti-roll bar U-clamps

3 Ensure that the handbrake is applied, jack up the front of the vehicle and support on axle stands (see “Jacking and Vehicle Support”).

4 Remove the anti-roll bar-to-lower arm securing nuts and recover the dished washers and plastic covers, where applicable (see illustration).

7.4 Front anti-roll bar-to-lower arm mounting

A Rear (black or green) shallow dished washer B Plastic cover (where applicable) C Compliance bushes
D Plastic cover (where applicable) E Front (yellow or black) deep dished washer

5 Unscrew and remove the nut, washer and pivot bolt securing one of the lower arms to the crossmember, and pull the end of the lower arm from the crossmember.

6 Pull the anti-roll bar from the bush in the “free” lower arm then slide the anti-roll bar from the remaining fixed lower arm. Recover the remaining dished washers and plastic covers (where applicable) from the ends of the anti-roll bar.

7 If necessary, the anti-roll bar compliance bushes can be renewed as described Section 8, and the anti-roll bar U-clamp bushes can be renewed by sliding them off the ends of the bar. Note that although the U-clamp bushes are of a split design, they should not be levered open to aid fitting, and the new bushes must be slid on from the ends of the anti-roll bar. The bushes should always be renewed in pairs.

Refitting
8 To refit the anti-roll bar, proceed as follows.

9 Fit the shallow dished washers (colour coded black or green) and the plastic covers (where applicable) to the ends of the anti-roll bar, then push the anti-roll bar through the bushes in the lower arms. Fit the remaining plastic covers (where applicable) and the deep dished washers (colour coded yellow or black) and loosely fit the securing nuts. Note that the convex faces of the dished washers must face the lower arm. Do not tighten the nuts fully at this stage.

10 Locate the “free” lower arm inner pivot bush in the crossmember, and refit the pivot bolt, washer and nut. If necessary, push the outer rim of the roadwheel in order to line up the holes in the lower arm bush and the crossmember. Note that the pivot bolt head should face to the rear of the vehicle. Do not tighten the bolt at this stage.

11 Lower the vehicle so that its weight is resting on the roadwheels.

12 Refit the anti-roll bar U-clamps to the vehicle underbody. Note that various different types of clamping components have been used during production, and if any of the components are to be renewed, it is important to retain the old components for identification when ordering new parts. The same type of clamp assembly must be used on both sides of the vehicle. Tighten the bolts evenly on each clamp to the specified torque. Where applicable, secure the bolts with the locktabs.

13 Bounce the vehicle to settle the suspension, then tighten the lower arm pivot bolt, following the procedure given in Section 2.

14 Tighten the anti-roll bar-to-lower arm securing nuts to the specified torque.

15 Lower the vehicle from the ramps, if not already done.

Front anti-roll bar-to-lower arm compliance bushes - renewal

Note: The compliance bushes must be renewed in vehicle sets, therefore the bushes on both sides of the vehicle must be renewed at the same time. If plastic covers were not originally fitted between the dished washers and the bushes, suitable covers should be obtained for fitting during reassembly.

1 Remove the anti-roll bar.

2 Using a thin-bladed chisel or screwdriver, carefully prise out the compliance bushes from the lower arms.

3 Tap the new bushes into place using a suitable socket or tube drift (see illustration).

8.3 Tapping a front anti-roll bar-to-lower arm compliance bush into position

4 Some vehicles may have small rubber spacer washers fitted to the ends of the anti-roll bar, and these should be discarded on reassembly.

5 Refit the anti-roll bar.