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[T3] Adjusting front stabilizer bar


The other day I was driving on the motorway in a 50mph zone when my front
wheels started vibrating in an alarming manner. The vibration stopped as I
went faster. I did the rocking side to side test and established that my
front stabilizer bar was indeed loose. I know this has been covered many
times, but I just finished adjusting out the play and it didn't go exactly
as per Haynes. In the haynes it says to loosen off the pinch bolt, tighten
up the end bolt till the swing arm contacts the thrust washer, loosen it
again, tighten till the lock washer just can't be moved by hand, tighten the
pinch bolt to torque, tighten end bolt to torque, then lock. Well I
tightened it up till it was as tight as I could go with a 6inch spanner in
the cramped conditions- it didn't ever really hit a stop as it seemed quite
stiff to adjust. I then backed it off but rather than loosening immediately
and leaving the swing arm in position, I think the arm came back out with it
as the play came back. It wasn't on the levelest ground so that might have
caused this. So what I did was tighten it tight again, then back off the end
bolt a little- maybe 1/8 turn, then lock it all up again. Should this be OK?
What are the dangers of overtightening? Should I have checked and tightened
the pinch bolt at the other end?

I think I might need to do this on a fairly regular basis as my route to
work is populated by loads of sleeping policemen and I think that the design
of this part of the suspension is a bit suspect and not really up to the
side loadings that these cause- even though I try to take them slowly and
respect my car.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Mark Seaton
'73 Fasty, London


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