[Mk2] [NA] New tyres fitted, Front ARB bush question

[GDWMR2]

Had an interesting experience over the weekend.
Firstly, I have been looking to do a swapover of wheels/tyres which I bought last year - I got a set of 17" Wolfrace wheels off of EBay, changed two of the tyres for new 215/40 Toyo T1s from Camskill, fitted them on the back, and stayed with the Falken 205/40s on the front. The fronts always looked 'odd', and the car felt alot different to the previous 14" set-up.
Anyway, I started looking at moving the 215s to the front and getting some 235s for the rear - on Saturday I collected two NEW Falken FK452s (235-40) from a guy in Dagenham. His EBay auction had ended without a bid being placed - I emailed him, and got both tyres for ....... £60!! Result!
Took the car and new tyres to the local garage who do my MOTs, and I have never seen such a struggle in getting tyres off of a rim - the 205s I was replacing (which looked 'odd') turned out to be fitted onto 7.5" rims, not 7" as I thought, so must have been massively stretched. Eventually, after three mechanics and numerous trye levers were used, everything was cool - the car drives, a shedload better, and I'm dead chuffed with the bargain I got.
Right, a question (probably dumb) - when the car was in the air without its wheels, I noticed the front ARB bushes don't look too clever. Also, even though the front drop links look to be perfectly OK, I'm now nervous about removing them to get the ARB off to do the bushes. I'm looking to change the bushes for SuperFlex/Urethene ones - when you buy these, are they 'split' (meaning they can be fitted over the rollbar, and not having to remove the droplinks)? Do I have any option on bushes without having to remove the droplinks?
Looking forward to any answers,
Cheers,
Grahame

[HighwayStar]

Well ...
Just give them alot of lubrication well in advance and take the links off. Shouldn't be a problem. How do they look? When were they last off?
Have to say though with a car as sensitive and occasionally snappy as the 2 can be I'd invest in matching rubber on all 4 corners. I'd also get that rear tyre on a bigger rim... 8 - 9.5, I'd say it's a bit pinched on a 7.5 (or are they staggered already?) but then others do the same with no reported ill effects...

R.

[JohnnyC]

All ARB bushes I know of have a split in them to fit 'over' the bar.

I've never heard of people removing droplinks to change ARB bushes

[JeffD]

As Johnny says you dont need to touch the droplinks. Each ARB is held on with a bracket which IIRC is secured witha bolt and a nut (cant quite remember now LOL). Just undo then you can pull the bush out, replace then out bracket back. Very easy job this.

If you look at your existing bushes carefully you can check tje size in advance as its stamped on the side.

[HighwayStar]

Thanks for filling in my knowledge guys... Still reckon you want all 4 corners on the same rubber with a 2 though Graham.

R.

[GDWMR2]

Thanks for everyones inputs. I take on board the comments on having the same tyre type (manufacturer/pattern) on all corners, and the best approach being a true staggered set-up - I'll keep looking for a pair of 8" rims for the back, but I'm comfortable having the Toyos upfront and Falkens at the rear (all four tyres are less than 200 miles old now).
Glad to know that the drop links can stay in-place when I change the ARB bushes - I've heard horror stories about removing these, even though it should be straight forward ...
Thanks again,
Grahame