HOW TO: Fit a secondary rear ARB on a Nova beam

[Mieran]

I've done this mod before on my Tigra and Corsa and its made a big difference in handling but since the Nova beam is narrower I've never had a chance to fit one till I came up with this idea.

Started off with a bare Cavalier rear ARB, then drilled a hole in both ends and bought the following:

2x M12 Bolts and washers
4x Nylon washers with 13mm ID
2x Universal poly bushes and clamps
2x 76mm exhaust clamps

I welded the bolts onto the beam and fitted everything is similar style to a whilteline item:

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc250/Mieran2010/Photo0394.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc250/Mieran2010/Photo0393.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc250/Mieran2010/Photo0392.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc250/Mieran2010/Photo0391.jpg

[Mieran]

Pics didn't work, now they do!

[Graeme]

Good work there, have you fitted it yet?

[pie]

common mod for a corsa and works 100%

but never seen it n done on a nova before :thumb:

[Mieran]

Good work there, have you fitted it yet?
Yeah but car hasn't got an engine so haven't had a chance to test it yet.

[Balley]

I like the idea, might do it myself :)

[dc1984]

Nice one mate, admin could Put this into the Articles section???

David.

[TeddyThom]

Any pictures of it fitted?? Any difference on a disc beam?

[vx kev]

Now redone my cavy anti-roll bared nova axle now as per this, spot on and more or less as the whitline bars fit to corsa axles :thumb:

[Mieran]

Post some pics up kev if you can.

[Benn]

About to do this mod too. Hoping to not have to weld the beam tho...

[vx kev]

Post some pics up kev if you can.

Will do :thumb:

Actually only thing i didnt do was weld bolts on, i just used nuts & bolts and some bushes for the ends.

[bazil]

I used a mk2 Astra GTE one, just weld on 2 plates and bolt it on, job done.

[vx kev]

Pics of mines....

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/TurboKev_2006/Reshell%20GTE%202012/2012-06-25165126.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/TurboKev_2006/Reshell%20GTE%202012/2012-06-25165149.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/TurboKev_2006/Reshell%20GTE%202012/2012-06-25165133.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/TurboKev_2006/Reshell%20GTE%202012/2012-06-25165103.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/TurboKev_2006/Reshell%20GTE%202012/2012-06-25165055.jpg

[Benn]

Kev, what bar is it? Where did you get the fixings?

[Mieran]

Kev that looks very nice, makes mine look crap lol

[vx kev]

Kev, what bar is it? Where did you get the fixings?

Its a cavalier rear arb & fixings from ebay. Basically as Mieren describes on the 1st page of this thread but with a 80mm diam plate in between each mounting bush and the axle for extra support, the other difference on mine is that i drilled the arb and the axle and used spare rear strut top bushes (new) to put in between the bar & axle and then just bolted it through.
Quite simple really but effective.

2x 80mm U-bolt plates, 6mm thick.
2x Universal 20mm poly bushes and clamps.
2x 76mm exhaust clamps .
2x Nova rear strut top bushes (poly or standard)
2x Nuts, bolts and washers to suit.


Kev that looks very nice, makes mine look crap lol

Not at all mate, just glad you put this up as it was a far better and easier way than i had previously tried!

[scott.parker]

Humm, never seen this before, would it be worth wile to weld a plate, like the one's you (Kev) have put in between the beam and bush, so this is solid to the beam, then it would get rid of them massive exhaust clamps, just an idea, might try it?

[Iain]

Assuming the exhaust mount is a snug fit it should be solid to the beam using Kevs setup anyway

[vx kev]

Humm, never seen this before, would it be worth wile to weld a plate, like the one's you (Kev) have put in between the beam and bush, so this is solid to the beam, then it would get rid of them massive exhaust clamps, just an idea, might try it?

The axle i had before had a bit 5mm plate welded flat along inside the axle which allowed me to use the original cavalier brackets but having seen what Mieren did with his, i thought it looked a better setup and ment it can be removed easily if need be.
Either worked well for me so its just personal preferece really, but yeh by doing what you suggest your adding yet another way of doing it that would work equally as well and as you say it would be tidier.
Get it done scott and add it to the tread :thumb:

[vx kev]

Assuming the exhaust mount is a snug fit it should be solid to the beam using Kevs setup anyway

Using the 76mm clamp makes it a tight fit so yeh as Iain says it should and is pretty solid!

[Mieran]

Here is pic of mine fitted

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc250/Mieran2010/Widearch/Photo0585.jpg

[mk1nova_rich]

Good work, any links to the bush and clamp kits? :thumb:

[Martin.p]

Just thought I'd add my findings

I've got a bar off a MGF,

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/1950ADA7-CDBD-4AAD-9807-A4EDE35A4F20-4496-000006A18EABA671-1.jpg

I'm planning to drill a hole through the bar so it lines up with the hole already in trailing arm.

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/9CED8566-F4BA-4742-8CCD-1DF0C8DA15CA-4496-000006A1A24D7A21.jpg

[Mieran]

Good find, looks like a perfect design

What diameter is it?

[Martin.p]

Good find, looks like a perfect design

What diameter is it?

20mm

[Benn]

OO that looks good too.

[Timmy]

Old thread I know will this improve handling ? For a road going ex?

[Mieran]

First thing I would do if I had a Corsa/tigra/nova is fit one of these, makes massive difference.

[Dan Stanley]

On the hunt for the parts! After doing the rose jointed gear linkage, I fancy another 'articles' thread to have a crack at! lol
Especially since my pov spec saloon hasn't even got the GM nova rear ARB.

[Martin.p]

A few people have asked,
So I'll add my 2p worth.

I've used a ARB that I found 'listed for'
A MG/MGF !
The bar is 20mm thick.
Note the two holes in end of bar. (I cut these off and drilled new holes)

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/927A8FA0-F0A2-4EA3-A835-BC5205B5B33E-1052-000001092ECC2FCD.jpg

I marked up the hole on trailing arm

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/61F1A2FB-CF1D-42E3-A7EE-62A9C68C9074-1052-000001095E2DF00B.jpg

Lay'd the bar on so it ran parallel and central to beam and marked holes for new fixing.

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/2E24B122-86CE-4875-A15D-0EDA6FEDFBC7-1052-0000010982CE5FAD.jpg

I then welded on 4 studs to hold it down.

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/5FFBA8C3-48F8-4270-A80E-6A81AA8F9658-1052-000001099F712571.jpg

The bar came with the rubber bush seen below. But the brackets didnt have enough of a arch to them so I used others I had. Think there std GTE front ARB clamps.

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/C78F5C9E-20FA-45D1-B705-80CD10F16C09-1052-000001306710BE5F.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/ED7407A0-32B2-47BD-A4E2-1A9EF7BBE01D-1052-000001306E7B69A2.jpg

^^^^^ different clamps^^^ larger ones where the ones I used.

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/AC451E44-4BA6-448A-9798-E5508044B5FD-8771-00000AAFA787BD50.jpg

[Dan Stanley]

I bought the same bar, but Im yet to fit it.
Where you've drilled through the ends, what size bolts did you use? I didnt think the bar would be thick enough to get a strong bolt through the middle of it. I was planning on clamping down the ends using the shallower brackets, maybe.

[Martin.p]

I think they where M8's
The bar is hard as hell!! I got through several bits doing the holes! (Going slow with coolant lube)

Tbh the drop links off the ARB on my old Calibra had smaller bolts holding it to lower arm. And that's a much bigger heavier car.

[Mieran]

Nice work there Martin.p (http://www.pngclub.com/forum/member.php?201530-Martin.p)

Well last Saturday I fitted a whiteline from a corsa b, only because it came up cheap second hand and they look better imo, had to take off the old bolts and my mate welded 2 bolts in new position

http://s23.postimg.org/kf36xs1h7/photo_1.jpg
http://s23.postimg.org/a3qu549rv/photo_2.jpg

[Kev Turbo]

Anyone have anything to report regarding handling effect / improvement?

[Martin.p]

This reminds me I was going to take mine off an see if it / how much difference it makes.
Because I'd not driven the car for a yr when it was fitted and put back on the road I can't tell what effect it's having. Hopefully I'll find time to remove it this weekend and see what the change is.

But, I did run the car without a front roll bar for a while. And then I fitted it!
and I personally prefer it with one on front.

Im im guessing with or without rear is going to be a preference thing as well!?

[Kev Turbo]

Be very interested to hear your feedback Martin.

[Dan Stanley]

I thought it much improved the car. It turned in quicker, rather than loading up the suspension before turning.
I run a MGF secondary ARB like Martin's.
Buying the fixtures and fittings was relativley expensive, but I got the MGF bar for ten on twenty quid. It was a 'mare to drill through though.

[Martin.p]

Well. You've had me wondering all day about this, so I got home early and took the bar off. And took it out for a country lane run.
In short get one fitted! :D

without it, the general ride was smoother over bumps.
Car did roll noticeably more. Seemed a lot more effort was being put into front wheels. (Diving down on front corners)
the worst bit was at high speed over our bumpy back roads it seemed a lot more unstable. Felt like I had to fight the steering left/right to stay on track :/
twitchy at speed.


Now ow refitting the bar befor I go anywhere again.
Im for the bumpy ride that feels planted to the road in corners and at speed.

[Kev Turbo]

Awesome feedback - thank you +1 rep given all round!

when you say the ride was smoother - can you elaborate on this?

[Martin.p]

when you say the ride was smoother - can you elaborate on this?

By smoother I mean, your driving along and the nr side wheel goes over a drain/ man hole cover/ lump in road/ pot hole.
and car would go bump bump. (Without roll bar) (front OR rear)
but with the roll bar (either front or rear) it is more of a bang bang. Where you hear the change in the door pocket jump lol. Like you've fitted stiffer springs!
guess it's because without the roll bar all the impact from the road ie, pot hole is directed at that wheel. But when the bar is fitted!, it tries to divert/ share the effect across the bar to the other side wheel. Making it seem/feel more dramatic.

Just made the car feel stiffer. There for exaggerates any imperfections in the road.

[Kev Turbo]

Great explanation - Thank you.

[ben doodar]

I've finally got round to ordering the parts for this.
Ordered some 20mm universal bushes and clamps.
Measured my cav antiroll bar. And it's more like 18mm.

Umm should of measured first ay?

[Iain]

I ordered 19mm. Just build it up with paint ha ha

[greene94]

What kind of mg is the 20 mm one of off ?

[greene94]

Would a mg zr be the same ?

[greene94]

I'm thinking of doing the mgf set up can someone give me a list what I all need and what bushings do I need to buy ?

[greene94]

Any one have a list of what I need for the mgf set up ?

[House]

eBay item number 261970886388

You don't need bushes, just get some plates welded to the bottom of the beam, bolt through

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170215/355df23912b4ce2f0f1f189bc7bc1bdc.jpg

You can see the ARB fixed to the beam, doesn't need any other bushes

[Iain]

That looks a good solution. Cheap enough new too.

[Benn]

It is a very nice way of doing it. 85 isnt cheap tho, but they are nicely powder coated which might be close to that.
Do fancy doing it that way too.