Binned the ACE

Hi all, after much thought I decided to remove the knackered ACE on my car and fit regular anti-roll bars. I got all the stuff I needed from Extreme 4x4 who were very helpful. This included the front and rear anti-roll bars, all the links, all the nuts, bolts and washers and the auxiliary pulley and bracket and a new drive belt.
This little lot cost £393.00 inc. vat and delivery.

Also I took the opportunity to swap the shocks and springs for a +50mm kit from Britpart.
Everything went fairly easily apart from stupid anti-roll link bar fixings with a torx bit to hold while undoing a well seized nut - cutting discs are far quicker!

Got it all back together and was surprised at how much higher it now sits, I guess the old setup was tired and sagging. It also drives and handles very well.

While I had the cowling and fan removed to fit the new pulley, i took the opportunity to change the thermostat and also fit a EGR removal kit. I now have a heater that works properly!

That it for now but next to do will be the drag link as the bloody thing is seized solid and I need to adjust the tracking.

Was your ACE well and truly fooked?

Could you please provide a quick guide on how to remove the Ace and refit with a mechanical system?
I'm ultimately thinking of relocating to Africa and the less complex the car is the better!

Brickied40 said:

... and was surprised at how much higher it now sits...

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50mm higher would be my guess

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The pipes were all very rusty and I didn't fancy changing them all.
Very easy job to replace the ACE setup as the regular anti-roll bars fit exactly the same. Also removing the pump and fitting an idler pulley is dead easy apart p
From struggling to get the belt to fit!
To remove the ACE and replace with regular bars took around 3 hours, although I haven't stripped out all the pipes and valve block yet.

PaulMc said:

50mm higher would be my guess

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Like I said, I reckon the old springs were well sagged.

Since fitting the new belt (and also before) there is a bad squealing noise coming from the belt area. I have tried belt dressing spray, and also the WD40 method but it doesn't have any effect. I guess it is probably one of the pulleys with a dry bearing but does anyone know the most likely culprit?

Brickied40 said:

Since fitting the new belt (and also before) there is a bad squealing noise coming from the belt area. I have tried belt dressing spray, and also the WD40 method but it doesn't have any effect. I guess it is probably one of the pulleys with a dry bearing but does anyone know the most likely culprit?

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Have you got the right size belt (is it Genuine, ****part or 'other')? - I'm wondering if it's too tight?


Have you routed it correctly?





I've still got ACE on mine and I recently replaced the belt for a new (Genuine Land Rover) one and it was very easy to fit (I remembered to draw a diagram of the routing, before starting)

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Hi, I think I got it routed correctly but the was supplied be Extreme 4x4 and badges up by them ( maybe its a bad belt? )
It was really tight to fit even with the tensioner completely out of the way.
Had another look today and got my mate to rev the engine whilst I looked and listened to see if I could identify where noise was coming from, first I thought it wad coming from the air conditioning compressor but then on hard rev I saw smoke coming from the belt slipping on the power steering pump pulley. I guess the pump needs replacing ad I don't think you can change the bearing?

Brickied40 said:

Hi, I think I got it routed correctly but the was supplied be Extreme 4x4 and badges up by them ( maybe its a bad belt? )
It was really tight to fit even with the tensioner completely out of the way.
Had another look today and got my mate to rev the engine whilst I looked and listened to see if I could identify where noise was coming from, first I thought it wad coming from the air conditioning compressor but then on hard rev I saw smoke coming from the belt slipping on the power steering pump pulley. I guess the pump needs replacing ad I don't think you can change the bearing?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure how easy to turn the Power Steering Pump Pulley should be, but if the belts slipping on it's pulley, then the pump must be too stiff.

With the belt off, you should be able to feel all the pulleys and idlers for stiffness, wobble, noise, etc...

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