Hi i have just noticed my front ARB plastic collars have cracked and its knocking well.

Whats best to do? Is is replace the arb with the skoda revised version with metal collars or just replace the collars. Do they slide up the bar and how they retained? If i go for a new bar and mark the sub frame position with paint before i drop it do i still need 4 wheel alignment afterwards?

Many thanks

Chris

Hi i have just noticed my front ARB plastic collars have cracked and its knocking well.

Whats best to do? Is is replace the arb with the skoda revised version with metal collars or just replace the collars. Do they slide up the bar and how they retained? If i go for a new bar and mark the sub frame position with paint before i drop it do i still need 4 wheel alignment afterwards?

Many thanks

Chris

New bar is the answer.

Part number for Bar is 6Q0 411 305AC and cost is 43.77+vat

part number for bushes (advised to replace) 6Q0 113 14N @ 1.78+vat each

There are also some bolts that have a special anticorrision coating that will require replacing.

No matter how hard you try to get the consoles back in the right position youll need an alignement.

Took me about 1.5 to do one the other week start to finish

I think that you will find that you MUST fit new bushes as the area that they fit over is now a smaller diameter when you fit the new style ARB now that the plastic stops are not at that point. Some people said that the clamps need replacing as well - ie the whole lot might come as a kit - new style ARB + mounting bushes + different clamps - I'd ask at your Skoda dealer. The other job to do at this time should be to replace the TCA rear (console) bushes with Cupra ones. By doing this now you are just going to pay for one four wheel realignment - instead of paying up later when you get the bushes replaced.

If I were you I'd stop the knocking now by fitting a couple of jubilee clips at both sides to stop the ARB walking across and damaging the consoles etc - push the stops back in if they still exist!

I had mine done a while back on warrenty. (New ARB, bushes etc)

And they didnt align it after. Do you think they should have?

Dave

I had mine done a while back on warrenty. (New ARB, bushes etc)

And they didnt align it after. Do you think they should have?

Dave

When I got this done on the wife's Polo, the VW garage did not mention carrying out a four wheel realignment (they mentioned it when they replaced the front wheel bearings on my Passat a few months ago). I put that emission with the Polo down to the fact that there are meant to be a set of locating dowels that VW use to avoid doing this realignment with the Polo etc. After the Polo was returned to us the steering wheel was "off" and the front tyre wear was looking like the tracking or toe-ing was "out". So, after all that I'd say yes you will need a four wheel realignment - time will tell!

how do they do the front wheel alignment. do they check it using lazors then re move the sub frame to suit it etc?

how do they do the front wheel alignment. do they check it using lazors then re move the sub frame to suit it etc?

Yes - well move the lower crossmember and anything else that needs to or should get moved.