Anti roll bar ( arb) end rubbers- How to.

[4v6]

Thought id put this up and hope it helps someone out to do what can be a difficult job.

Replacement of the antiroll bar end rubbers is in theory a pretty straightforward operation, however, with tight new rubbers and the imminent threat of serious injury via screwdriver or other prodding/prying type instruments its as well to take a little time to produce a tool that takes all the sweat out of it and the possible pain.

Heres how i approached it.
Haynes manual is useless, it hasnt any worthy info for this job.

Youll need, a bolt long enough to go through the arb and the disassembled rubber, and the supporting "cup" ( you can also use a suitable socket) but not too thick as you want to have some space inside between the shank of the bolt and the hole in the rubber that it passes thru, a nut and washer to go on the end and a large washer thats thick enough to cover the rubber diameter.
Youll also need a 31mm inside diameter tube thats deep enough to contain the arb rubber, you could use a large jubilee clip if youre stuck.

Heres how you do it, refer to the pictures at the bottom in order.
1) Lubricate the rubber with either rubber grease, washing up liquid or silicone grease, i wouldnt use petroleum based lubes such as mineral grease or oil as itll soften the rubber later on.

2)assemble the components, with the arb rubber in place to go in, the bolt with its thick washer on top passing thru the rubber and thru the cup or socket with the nut securing it all in place. Picture 3.

3) Place the tube or adjusted jubilee clip over the top of the thick washer and push it down to entirely encircle the arb rubber- this will stop it from expanding outwards so it has only one direction to go- downwards and start to tighten the securing nut ensuring the containment tube or jubilee clip stays put.
Picture 4.

4) Eventually you get to a point where the rubber gives up and youll feel it as it sinks thru the hole and into the arb at which point youll be able to remove the containment tube or jubilee clip easily by sliding it back out.
At this point you can inspect the arb rubber to it actually has gone in squarely and if its not quite in right you can then tease the remainder in by removing the bolt and cup and inserting a suitably sized rod thru the rubber, levering it around until it seats correctly.

No pain, no sweat, no cost, hope this helps.

[pimpdriver]

What car is this? My arb has simpler rubbers.

[4v6]

Aw sorry, Ur quattro, WR, but should be workable on most all others that are a "bit tight".