Smart Racing Front ARB Install
 

Quick question: on the SRP front anti roll bar install, how did you enlarge the stock "through the body" hole? Hole saw?

Thanks,

Michael

With a hole saw and die grinder and a template made from thin sheet steel. It wasnt hard, but it took a bit of time as I was very careful not to over enlarge the hole and ensure a good fit.

What takes even more time is getting the mounts to line up perfectly side to side so there is no binding in the bar. Its a trial and error process with gentle bending of the mounts on either side using the bar itself as a lever. To get mine perfect on my '69 911S it took many hours.

I used a drill with a special drill bit - looks like a file on the side - great for enlaging the holes a bit as well - when you tighten the mount it changes it's alignment slightly.

I bolted the SRP mount to the fender well using the 3 existing nuts, scribed the holes and the centre holes, and went to work - took about 10 minutes per side to get the basic hole made.

What is harder to do is remove the 3 existing nuts on the inside of the fender well - used a small cold chisel and a ball peen hammer - and much cursing... have some ice handy for your fingers....

Centre hole was tidied up with a hand file and a power wire brush before painting.

I also had some interferance to the bigger sway bar itself from the fuel overflow pipe - removed the metal u-tube completely and replaced it with a flexible hose.

Ok...I'm going to head down to our local "super" hardware store and see if I can find a good drill bit. Also...in terms of the holes being the correct size...isn't it ok if the body hole is a bit bigger? The plate bolts onto the car, and is perfectly sized for the bar, so I would assume it's cool to skip the body altogether.

And, in terms of the bolts, I thought the directions stated to leave the fixed bolts where they were for early cars, and thread the allen bolts into the existing holes. Then use nuts/bolts for the other three. I'll go back and re-read.

Tspringer..

I can see what you mean about the binding. It's tough to get them right! I'm starting to devise a plan and going to get back out there again.

I had great luck enlarging the hole and using a rubber"stopper" grinder with a course sanding disc on it. Thanks for the help.

It helps to have the bar and bushings in place before you do the final tightening of the sway bar mounts. I've done 2 of these and the first one was really a challange to get the alignment right. If any criticism of the SM bars is the tolerances are too tight.