I have had conflicting reports on whether a balance bar braking system will pass the SVA test. It says it cannot be adjustable easily, or words to that effect. If I set it, then make spacers for either side of the threaded rod, take it all apart, fit the spacers, then SVA it, that should pass shouldn't it? It isn't technically adjustable because you have to dismantle it completely to adjust it.

I was advised to use a roll pin.

After checking the bias locks up the front wheels before the rears I drilled a small 2mm hole through one of the clevis pins and threaded rod then tapped in a small roll pin.

This is a non destructive mod that certainly passes the criteria of not been adjustable with my SVA inspector.

I'd make sure the rollpin was cut to the right size to make it flush at both ends and thus "harder to disassemble". Also, don't be tempted to use a split pin as these are not acceptable according to the March 2004 amendments to the SVA manual. Seems a bit daft to me, haven't they heard that rollpins can be drifted out almost as easily as split pins?

Cheers,
Craig.

You are allowed to use a bias bar, the stipulation is that it cannot be adjusted beyond the worst case condition,

I have been thinking about it and surely if I get it all set up, measure the distance from the spherical to the clevis each side and make accurate spacers, then remove the clevises, slide the spacer tubes on and put the clevises back, before winding in the master cylinder pushrods, then this should be ok. It is impossible to adjust in situ, requiring complete dissasembly, while avoiding putting a hole in the highly stressed balance bar itself?

I am at a loss as to why anyone would go to the trouble and expense of fitting something that is adjustable just to make it un-adjustable???

I didn't say the spacers would be left in place after the test!!!!

Just spoken to my mate who runs Ultima Sports Cars, they use locknuts on the bias bar with no probs at the Nottingham centre.

I went to Nottingham

I needed to adjust the bias bar slightly and told him I will drill the hole through the bolt and bias bar to accept a split pin there and then to lock it all together. He said as long as the lock nut was tight up that it would do

It was almost a year ago though

Mark.

The draft SVA manual states that:
"Devices that allow further adjustment, eg lock nuts/adjustable stops, split pins, will not, in isolation be considered as capable of preventing further adjustment to a "worse" condition. (A roll pin will be considered acceptable providing it penetrates the full diameter of the component.)"

This seems to rule out lock nuts and split pins ans specifically permits roll-pins. There are enough reasons that an SVA inspector can fail a car without tempting him to fail you on one more thing... I'd use a roll-pin if I had a bias bar.

HTH,
Craig.

[Edited on 23/3/2004 by craig1410]