I recently obtained the Whiteline 24mm adjustable rear anti-roll bar for my Octy VRS (Whiteline item BWR20XZ). This give three optional settings of +57% +95% +150% over the original OE bar.

Fitting

Fitting is very easy and took less than 30mins (although I do have a workshop with pit and a fair bit of experience).

Tools needed: 10mm spline bit; 6mm spline bit; 16mm ring spanner; large flat-blade screwdriver.

1. First remove the drop link lower bolts each side of the OE bar. Use the 16mm ring spanner on the nut and counterhold the bolt with the 6mm spline bit. Undo the nuts (1 each side of the car) and withdraw the bolt enough so that it is clear of the old ARB.

2. Remove the 'U' bracket retaining bolts (10mm spline bit). There are two 'U' brackets and two bolts on each bracket.

3. Carefully lower the OE ARB (its not heavy) and use a large flat-blade screwdriver to pry the 'U' brackets off the bushings on the old ARB.

4. Liberally grease the silicone bushes supplied with the Whiteline ARB and pop them over the ARB. Put a little grease on the outside of the bush to ease the fitting of the 'U' brackets.

5. Offer up the Whiteline ARB and install using the 'U' brackets over the bushes - gently and evenly tighten the 10mm bolts until fully home.

6. Re-intall the drop links. (NB - due to the Whiteline bar being thicker than OE, the OE drop link bolts are about 5mm shorter than ideal. Best to replace these bolts with M10x60mm high-tensile steel bolts from a local fastener factors).

Results:

Setting - 'soft'. Little more harshness from the rear and ride a little more jittery on uneven roads. Marked retuction in understeer, more front traction. Handling still very safe with a modicum of lift-off oversteer. A definite and worthwhile improvement over OE.

Setting - 'medium'. Notable increase in restlessness from the rear over typical UK potholed roads. Handling very good on smooth roads with a neutral feel and sharp turn-in. Car more responsive to steering input. Lift-off oversteer fairly easy to provoke, but not dangerous.

Things deteriorate badly on uneven roads - the large amount of lateral coupling between the rear wheels means that a bump encountered on one side of the car feeds through into a suspension movement on the other side - in other words the rear can feel a little skittish on bumpy corners.

For normal road use this is just about the limit of rear roll stiffness for safe and sensible handling.

Setting - 'hard'. Some bias toward oversteer in certain situations. Back end very skittish on bumpy roads driven at speed. Does not always feel safe. I would not recommend using this setting for everyday road driving.

For driving mainly urban, A-roads etc I would suggest 'medium' setting. For those of us who daily encounter undulating rural roads then 'soft' is probably the most sensible option.

I have got a neuspeed one ...they do make a lot of difference to handling and enjoyment don't they

Sound like a worthwile investment before i got to the Ring next month. Where did you get it from.

Oh and a good write up for the how to do it. Any pictures to go with the write up? I don't need them but others might find it handy if they are not hands on type of people.

There's a couple of pics here if that helps

http://briskoda.net/general-car-chat/fits-neuspeed-arb-octy-estate/136317/

Sound like a worthwile investment before i got to the Ring next month. Where did you get it from.

Oh and a good write up for the how to do it. Any pictures to go with the write up? I don't need them but others might find it handy if they are not hands on type of people.

Got it from Balance Motor Sport (Motorsport & Car Tuning Performance Parts - Bilstein Suspension B12, KW Coilovers. EBC Brakes, Motorsport preparation,Speedline Turini, Ferodo DS2500 / DS3000) - listed under VW Golf MkV.

I don't have any pictures, but TBH its incredibly straightforward.

One thing I would like people to bear in mind is that as you increase the rear roll stiffness the car tends to understeer less and the transition between understeer-neutral-oversteer becomes more aggresive. i.e. the car could be less forgiving of driver error in an emergency. Something to think about if your wife etc. regularly drive the car. Excessive rear roll stiffness can be dangerous.

Great thread EGC. I have been looking into getting one of these. thanks

Sounds like the Whiteline rear ARB is an excellent idea and good improvement; well done.

I take it this is fitted on a vRS TFSI but for the heavier engined vRS TDI may I suggest the APR 27mm bar. This offers stiffness upgrade of +90%, +135% and +200% over the OE bar. Full details here;- APR - High Performance Development for Volkswagen Vehicles

I had one fitted a few weeks ago. As weather is still cooler I set it up on the medium stiffness which is +135% on an OE bar and certainly something more than my 25mm Neuspeed bar of the stiffest setting.

It really improves the car, I can feel the rear of the car being held flatter and thus the nose does not pitch forward onto the outside front wheel. Steering is noticeably more direct with no noticeable understeer. I managed to go around one of my favourite large roundabouts this morning with no traffic around and I have a wide sweeping left hander out of a roundabout on my nightly commute (taken full throttle in 4th); for both of these the car is really nicely neutral and with a gentle lift just tucks the nose in a bit; sweet!

In a few weeks time I'm going to move up the the stiffest setting, giving +200% on an OE bar and run this for the summer; should be fun.

Overall; very worthwhile and enjoyable investment - highly recommended.

For clarification, with the settings described as +95% over OE, I take it that mean nearly double the OE rather than 95% of OE? So the APR 27mm at the 200% setting is nearly 3 times as stiff?

Is it just me that thinks lift off oversteer isn't a good thing?

For clarification, with the settings described as +95% over OE, I take it that mean nearly double the OE rather than 95% of OE? So the APR 27mm at the 200% setting is nearly 3 times as stiff?

That's about the sum of it.

Is it just me that thinks lift off oversteer isn't a good thing?

Chassis engineers try to produce fairly fail-safe designs. This means a bias toward understeer. If a driver enters a curve too quickly then understeer sets in and the natural instinct is to back off the throttle and add more lock. This has the effect of reducing understeer and tightening the line.

Certainly as an 'enthusiastic' driver there is much to be gained from increasing rear roll stiffness and hence shifting the handling away from predominant understeer toward something more neutral. It is certainly possible to overdo things though and excessive rear roll stiffness could be lethal to an inexperianced driver who in running on worn tyres, a wet road etc. You can certainly have too much of it.

Or dry roads, fast light snappy car.

Bit like the MK I golf or the 205 GTI's

The adjustable Whiteline ARB in the TDI RS is best set on it's stiffest setting due to the heavier engine.

Thats just my personal exparience

Is it just me that thinks lift off oversteer isn't a good thing?

Nope! Lift off oversteer can be lethal on ocaision if the car swaps ends.:eek:

Got it from Balance Motor Sport (Motorsport & Car Tuning Performance Parts - Bilstein Suspension B12, KW Coilovers. EBC Brakes, Motorsport preparation,Speedline Turini, Ferodo DS2500 / DS3000) - listed under VW Golf MkV.

Just ordered, together with WALK

good news, i like it.

Im really interested in the WALK. the write ups from the gti forums speak very highly of it.

I believe you will need your wheels realigned after fitting it though.(might be wrong there though)

If you have plans for a front ARB as well it might pay in the long run to get one of these fitted as well at the same time thus saving the cost of paying for two lots of wheel alignment.

look forward to a write up on the walk though.

Hi Simon,

I went for RARB as initial step because my Diesel engine should make my Octy understeer more than a petrol engined one. But I'll know the effect only after fitting it

About the WALK which received so many enthusiast reviews, it should require realignment. I'll post my findings!

P.S.: Too sad you didn't decide within yesterday to benefit of a 5% rebate by Balance on ukmkiv-s users.

are they fitting them both for you also. If so how much did they quote for supply and fit(im nosey:O).

If its a nice looking price, I might head down that route instead of chasing figures wih the engine.

are they fitting them both for you also. If so how much did they quote for supply and fit(im nosey:O).

If its a nice looking price, I might head down that route instead of chasing figures wih the engine.

Don't think they're fitting for Genoa1893 - he lives IIRC in Italy!

ahh, would be quite a large fuel bill ther then.

Ive been on the phone to them now anyway. they are going to get back with the price, as he needs to look into how long the WALK takes to fit as he has never fitted one to a vRS or mk5 platform

Ive been on the phone to them now anyway. they are going to get back with the price, as he needs to look into how long the WALK takes to fit as he has never fitted one to a vRS or mk5 platform

I quizzed my dealer on this a couple of months back and also discussed with an independent specialist; both suggested a little under the hour, plus the alignment check. I've got my car booked in for a service in three weeks time and I'm sorely tempted to get a WALK kit too.

Done it!

Just ordered a WALK kit from Awesome GTi, in stock at best price of £118.00 plus VAT and postage

Done it!

Just ordered a WALK kit from Awesome GTi, in stock at best price of £118.00 plus VAT and postage

and a good chat too

Sarah

Done it!

Just ordered a WALK kit from Awesome GTi, in stock at best price of £118.00 plus VAT and postage

Thats a good price. is it incl VAT.

Ive had a pretty wild last two days. Ive gone and ordered eibach front and rear ARB, and WALK all to be fitted on the 25th. Plus I have a lovely set of ultrac sessantas in the post as of 5 minutes ago. Good price, £97 incl VAT and Delivery.

you should be able to do a good review, mine wont be accurate as the ARBs will be having an effect at the same time, so wont be able to single out what causes the improvements

Nope! Lift off oversteer can be lethal on ocaision if the car swaps ends.:eek:

Many a 205 gti got written off going backwards. I wrote my first car (mk2 Golf) off backwards through a wall in the peak district. Inexperienced, crap tyres and freezing cold. Backed off mid bend and that was that. Once caught the most incredible bit of lift off oversteer in my Jetta in the wet. I've always said I would pay a grand to see a video replay of it. In fact, I'm pretty sure it looked just like Jason Plato's save at the weekend... YouTube - Jason Plato "What A Save" BTCC 2009 Round 1 Race 3 at Brands Hatch