Rear ARB

GreatOldOne · #1 20th February 2008, 12:00

Ok, still waiting for bit from Marlin, so more 'busy work'

I've got my rear ARB all painted up and ready to go on, but I seem to remember that there was a problem with the drop links to the trailing arms... IIRC, Patrick ended up using a different model BMW part...

Also, brackets for holding the rubber blocks that support it - I assume it's a DIY job? Any tips on forming them up (The blocks are D shaped, aren't they?)

Ta,

Jason

peterux · #2 20th February 2008, 21:21

Jason,
I had numerous emails from Terry insisting that ARB's are not required and not fitted as standard on their factory built cars (despite pictures on the build CD) and hence no ARB brackets supplied anymore.
My donor didn't come with a rear ARB so that decided the rear one

My front ARB was removed from the donor and placed, uncleaned, in the corner of my lock up. It's still there supporting a whole colony of spiders.

It'll stay there until I've driven the car a few hundred miles,

Peter

GreatOldOne · #3 20th February 2008, 21:32

That's interesting, as both times I've been to Stoneleigh, the Marlin show car was fitted with a rear ARB...

I wonder why they tell you one thing, and then do another?

Patrick · #4 20th February 2008, 21:43

I fitted them to mine. If you decid to install the rear ARB you need to use drop links from an E36 Compact, they are a lot shorter than the E30 ones - the E30 ones bash into the chassis

IIRC the race car had them on there, maybe the recommendation is to make the rear end less twitchy?

I've not fitted the front one, but then I've only done running in miles and not much set-up yet (was too wet for a proper chuck into the bends!)

GreatOldOne · #5 20th February 2008, 21:47

Patrick - I don't suppose you have the part codes for the rubber bushes and the drop links do you?

peterux · #6 20th February 2008, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick

(was too wet for a proper chuck into the bends!)

That was lucky, wasn't it !

Patrick · #7 20th February 2008, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterux

That was lucky, wasn't it !

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

Patrick - I don't suppose you have the part codes for the rubber bushes and the drop links do you?

33551135307 for the link. I used stock E30 bushes with metal spacers and Marlin's brackets (Terry can also supply a suitable bush)

I intended to swap the bushes for Powerflex ones at some point as the don't deform as much and act more like a ball joint.

GreatOldOne · #8 21st February 2008, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick

I used stock E30 bushes with metal spacers

Spacers?

Patrick · #9 21st February 2008, 12:06

Yellow bit is the spacer, blue bit standard bush. I didn't use the Marlin one (hard plastic type) and sent it back (as I hadn't ordered it but was sent with the brackets).

GreatOldOne · #10 21st February 2008, 12:10

Ahhh, everything becomes clear.

I've ordered e30 bushes from the local stealers, and I'm making my own brackets, so I shouldn't need the spacer.

I'm picking the drop links up from GSF on the way home - they happened to have them in, and a £7.00 each, they're a lot cheaper than the BMW parts counter!

Patrick · #11 21st February 2008, 13:17

The diff bracket might get in the way using the standard depth. I took a tiny bit off mine.

Mike · #12 21st February 2008, 13:26

Marlin continually change their minds about a lot of specs.
I have the Sierra front suspension, which uses an ARB to double up as a forward/backward link for the track control arm. On other Cabrios with BMW engines I've seen, Marlin modified the ARB by shortening the forward length, and fitted the support brackets closer to the front of the chassis, presumably to avoid fouling the sump.
So I sent mine to Marlin for modification and this is what I received back!
Two separate stub arms -
see http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikes_b...abrio/Complete anti roll bar

I have trial fitted my engine and found that I can fit a complete ARB without fouling on the sump, so I will have an ARB.

This raises an interesting question - is the sump on a 325, different to the sump on a 525? I have seen M50 engines with the oil sump at the front, and at the back of the engine. My own, from an E36, has the sump at the rear, which allowed me to fit the complete ARB. Marlins demonstrator had the sump at the front - hence the modified ARB.
I assume Marlin do not feel an ARB is necessary on the front?

Ps
How do you download pictures on to this site? I just tried and my single photo was 4MB, and the limit here is just 98KB?
Pps
How do you generate a direct limk to another site - as I've tried to do above?

Mike

Mike · #13 21st February 2008, 13:38

Try this link to see the two part Marlin ARB !!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikes_b...7603853056410/
Mike

GreatOldOne · #14 21st February 2008, 13:53

A two part ARB... Right...

The sump on the M20B25 engine (e30 325i) is at the front of the block:

I'm not going to have a front ARB. My wishbones have no mounts for them.

Patrick · #15 21st February 2008, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

Try this link to see the two part Marlin ARB !!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikes_b...7603853056410/
Mike

how is that supposed to work

ARB works by connecting both sides of the suspension together, split they are just along for the ride no matter what either side does

Mike · #16 21st February 2008, 15:49

Patrick

That was my immediate reaction! I was really disappointed and annoyed.
However, it is interesting that I can actually fit a standard Sierra ARB as my oil sump is at the rear of the engine(M50 E36)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikes_b...7603851939993/

Mike

MartinClan · #17 21st February 2008, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

How do you download pictures on to this site? I just tried and my single photo was 4MB, and the limit here is just 98KB?
Pps
How do you generate a direct limk to another site - as I've tried to do above?

Mike

Best way to display pictures is using the [img] tag. For example:

[img] url of picture here [/img]

where your picture is hosted somewhere else - for example flikr

Normally to get a direct link to another site you just paste it in and it takes care of it automatically.

Patrick is the expert, I am just an old hacker....

Best

Robin

Patrick · #18 21st February 2008, 17:42

To post a picture from flicker click "All Sizes" then Medium. In firefox right click and click "Copy Image Location". In IE right click, properties, select the link, copy.

The paste:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2307/...c0e225cb8b.jpg

The add [img] [/img] and you get:

peterux · #19 21st February 2008, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

I'm not going to have a front ARB. My wishbones have no mounts for them.

Ah, so the newest type wishbones don't have ARB mounting points. I guess that decides the fate of my old donor ARB then.
I guess the stress on the the wheel end of the wishbone will be greater if an ARB is fitted to 'stiffen' the wishbone.
Imagine hitting a large bump in the road, the wheel wants to go up and the spring, damper and ARB are all trying to hold the wishbone stationary.