Thread: Anti roll bars in defender 90

There is some nonsense about anti roll bars posted as 'fact' here. This has been discussed before... Just beacuse versions of the 90 sold here in earlier models may have had them doesn't mean that all 90's did.

TD5 90's were available without anti roll bars. most 'commercial' versions wouldn't have them by default, unless at the time it was optioned with the heavy duty suspension pack whcih included them along with vented front discs. commercial ie, pick up or hardtop (no rear windows)

My TD5 has no anti roll bars, and thats how it left the factory, and its handling when I got it standard was fine.

It wouldnt suprise me if lower spec versions of the current model were avaialble without them aswell. (in other markets) but I dont know for certain any more.

Originally Posted by rick130

People assume anti-roll bars are a major safety item when they aren't, all they do is limit body roll which is more a comfort factor.

An ARB won't limit or stop a car rolling over, that is governed by CofG height and gravity and usually involves tripping over something anyway.

Actually, an anti-roll bar limits grip, it's a lateral load transfer device that transfers load from the heavily loaded wheel (the outside tyre) across the axle to the inside tyre and diagonally across the chassis to the inside tyre at the opposite end.
An ARB reduces the roll angle but increases the slip angle.

The rough rule of thumb in chassis dynamics is that springs control grip and ARB's control balance, although in reality they work hand in glove.

On independent suspension they can be used to tie a car down to limit camber gain or change and so can help grip when a wheel would normally have to much camber gain, upsetting the contact patch, I've done this on some cars, McPherson struts and swing axles (eg Ford F100) can benefit from this.
Live axles don't.

Where an anti-roll bar can have a good benefit is in transitions such as quick left to right turns, the chassis can respond more quickly to the steering input rather than lurch.

Hi wade you must admit Rick makes his piont so very eloquently . I can uderstand why you are confused . At this point I would like to say i'm a 110 man , I have drove 110s with arbs and without , as you have said arbs restrict suspention travel . I've never noticed any big changes to body roll but then again I don't drive as hard as some poeple . I have never drove a 90 so I will let the 90 drivers make there coments , Cheers jimr1 ...

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

There is some nonsense about anti roll bars posted as 'fact' here. This has been discussed before... Just beacuse versions of the 90 sold here in earlier models may have had them doesn't mean that all 90's did.

TD5 90's were available without anti roll bars. most 'commercial' versions wouldn't have them by default, unless at the time it was optioned with the heavy duty suspension pack whcih included them along with vented front discs. commercial ie, pick up or hardtop (no rear windows)

My TD5 has no anti roll bars, and thats how it left the factory, and its handling when I got it standard was fine.

It wouldnt suprise me if lower spec versions of the current model were avaialble without them aswell. (in other markets) but I dont know for certain any more.

I did qualify my statement as "In My Opinion" and not Land Rover design facts.

I replaced the mounting bushes of the ARB and drove the 90 without it being attached to the chassis and "In My Opinion" the body roll was significantly pronounced and unpleasant.

Possibly just a comfort issue, but still my opinion...

Cheers,

Lou

Turns out its a typo, spoke with the dealer and he contacted LRA, apparently they all ship out with ARBs .. He told me that they can't be sold without the ARBs as it would fail the ADR, which is something that was discussed when the army started selling off all the 110s ..

Don't really wanna get into an argument, as Lou says, In My Opinion a 90 without ARBs at highway speed would be uncomfortable and dangerous, I find the old 90s jittery enough.

Wade

Originally Posted by lackuwaxa

Hi guys, looking at the new my13 parts and price options catalogue it has listed that you can swap the boost alloys for hd steel wheels with Goodyear mtr's for bout $470 .. However it says in the brackets that this will remove the front and rear anti roll bars .. Why would this be? And how would it affect the on road handling? I'd prefer steel as u can't beat alloy back into shape when u bend em and I prefer the look of the steelies ..
Wade

I was at the Dealers today pricing a D90 with HD Steel Rims too, it's still only $470 increase & in the Book & a phone call to parts department LR swop the Springs to for HD Springs at N/C no mention of sway bars being removed.
I would love to have a D90 with HD steels but will miss out on the Main Event Deal if i do as the D90 needs to be paid & collected before end of March & if one is to be ordered today it will come in after March therefore no Main Event Deal

Originally Posted by Rickoz

a phone call to parts department LR swop the Springs to for HD Springs at N/C

Don't all 90's in Aus come with HD springs anyway?

Originally Posted by Lagerfan

Don't all 90's in Aus come with HD springs anyway?

NFI

Originally Posted by Rickoz

NFI

Just as my opinion.... but I'd stay with stock suspension. NO HD upgrades. D90's are already bouncy and harsh ride compared to a 110. I loaded the back of my 90 full of pavers... made it ride really nice and it didnt' sag very much at all. Unless of course you are planning on running fully loaded ALL the time.