I have a quick quesiton for those who have fitted a rear arb to their octy.

In the main, I quite like the stock suspension on the vRS. Not too soft, not too firm. It works for me as a compromise. However, fitting a rear ARB makes sense as the octy does have a bit of body roll in the corners.

Does fitting the rear arb make the ride much firmer when driving around town or do you only notice it when driving more enthusiastically?

iep

Round town you will not notice it at all really. The idea of the RARB is to stiffen the rear end up when cornering. It does this by bracing the rear or the car. This is one of the first handling mods that should be done and is better than a suspension change for overall feel of the car when driven briskly or briskodaly(could not help myself there).

This sounds promising as I do feel that the estate need a little extra bracing (it doesn't have the internal bracing that the hatch uses). Provided it doesn't make the ride any firmer for town and low speed driving, I might be tempted.

Thanks,

iep

I should ask. What's invovled in fititng the arb?

From the pics I have seen posted, it looks simple enough to attach the ends of the arb to the box at the bottom of the shock but how are the other two brackets in the middle of the arb attached to the chassis of the car. Is it necessary to drill additional holes (I'm guessing beneath the rear seats)?

Tough/easy job?

ip

I should ask. What's invovled in fititng the arb?

From the pics I have seen posted, it looks simple enough to attach the ends of the arb to the box at the bottom of the shock but how are the other two brackets in the middle of the arb attached to the chassis of the car. Is it necessary to drill additional holes (I'm guessing beneath the rear seats)?

Tough/easy job?

ip

If you go for the Neuspeed 28mm rear arb its a easy job, no holes to drill, just bolt the clamps onto the rear beam, and then think which hole on the the arb you want to use for the adjustment (I always used the middle one) then just bolt the ends of the arb to the shocks.

Some use the Whiteline, some, me included, used the more expensive Neuspeed, the latter seemed a better finish, and mine never rusted at all.

As Bowders has said, you will really notive the difference to the handling of the car with just the rear ARB fitted.

Easy job.

the rear ARB has 2 U shaped brackets that just go over the rear been

easy to fit mate. 20 mins

you notice it when cornering at most speeds. but it doesnt firm the ride as mentioned.

best mod for the money

billy

Here's a couple of pics from the ever helpful RobClubley of his Whiteline ARB fitted and you can clearly see how it's fitted.

This is a very good "how to fit" one to a Fabia by Tom_vRS, but the pictures have now gone. Still, it does talk you through all the stages so should help should you get stuck - and there is a link to an excellent "how to" by vRStu here.

HTH

Steve

Edited 6 April, 200917 yr by Scathel

beet me lol

the neuspeed is more rigid lol I have whiteline and its fine just a small amount of oxidisation on it but nothing bad yet. been on nearly 2 years now and I am on the west coast of pembrokshire most of the time

billy

beet me lol

the neuspeed is more rigid lol I have whiteline and its fine just a small amount of oxidisation on it but nothing bad yet. been on nearly 2 years now and I am on the west coast of pembrokshire most of the time

billy

Ah well, if you're not first, then it's not worth being in the race! :P

A rarb is my next mod too, so this is all research that I've been doing anyway.

Steve

where can I find a neuspeed arb? A quick search did not find any suppliers for the mk1 octy.

ip

Okay, found them on Awesome GTi. Should have looked there in the first place.

I gather there is a 25mm and a 28mm bar. Anyone used the 25mm vs the 28mm?

ip

if your gettin the front one done to the 21mm R32 front ARB then get the 28mm. if not then the 25mm will be nice or the cheaper whiteline 22mm adj one is fine too.

i am on the second hardest settin on the 22mm one and i dont really get much understeer even wi crap tyres. mind I do now have coilovers too. but before she handled pritty well.

billy

isnt the whiteline treated against rust?

Whiteline bars up to about a year ago had problems with the powder coating. The newer bars should be a lot better

Yep they are treated but very thin, and as these bars come from Austrilia to uk(I beleive), I think the knocks and chips are bound to happen. The fact that these sit under the car open to all weather is the other factor.

Neuspeed expect to pay around £250

Whiteline expect to pay around £120

Where are you seeing the whiteline arb for £120?

Cheers,

iep

Ok, fair point that is what I paid at Balance a year ago, for the none adjustable.

The Adjustable is £153 now (gone up due to the poor pound)

But the none adjustable is still reasonable a £135. This is still a good choice. Look up for MK4 golf. Ref . BWR15_1

http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=58887

mine is fine so far. only a small amount of oxidization is commin thru were the whiteline sticker is????????????

iirc the neuspeed one doesnt hang as low ?

or is it an eibach one? it curls round the spring base.

billy