OK firstly I know this has been covered several times but please don't ask me to do a search because I have, I've read all the threads (well alot of them) and I'm left a bit confused

Basically I love the handling of my Octavia but if I could ask for anything it would be a little more rear turn in. I think a rear ARB is the beastie that will allow this?

If so I'm stuck between the Whiteline and Neuspeed bars. Suspension will be staying stock and I plan this to be the only handling mod as I don't want to alter the setup too much from stock which I find pretty damn good as it is.

Cost aside which should I be going for? I'm after a subtle but noticable improvement in rear turn in. What I want to avoid is turning my car into a snap oversteer hoon wagon :P

Any help and advice appreciated.

The Neuspeed one is better quality but costs more.

I have the Neuspeed 28mm and can highly recommend going for this one.

If you want to keep the standard suspension (i don't think you will:)) i would also fit a Powerflex dogbone mount bush and a S3 lower bar,as these 2 cheap additions will help with the handling for very little money.

Edited 23 May, 200917 yr by jaymd

I'm running a whiteline rarb with standard suspension set up and it made a massive improvement. The car turns in so much better, have to really push it now to get it to understeer.

People will disagree with me, but the quality of the whiteline isn't great:thumbdwn:. If you can afford to spend extra on the Neuspeed ARB then do so:thumbup:

I know mine is a mk II but the neuspeed on that is brilliant

People will disagree with me, but the quality of the whiteline isn't great:thumbdwn:. If you can afford to spend extra on the Neuspeed ARB then do so:thumbup:

I'm with you on this. I love my whiteline but it could be made better, especially the U bolts, had one snap within a couple of months of fitting. I will be upgrading to the Neuspeed at some point.

I'm happy to spend the extra on the Neuspeed. My concern was that with it being a thicker bar it might be a bit too stiff and make the car a bit lairy at the rear!

The Whiteline works well but mine is rusting a fair bit after a couple of years - and they don't salt the roads here in winter:

Have a 28mm Eibach one myself, fits fine and still looking good.

Makes hell of a difference to the handling

Phil

I'm happy to spend the extra on the Neuspeed. My concern was that with it being a thicker bar it might be a bit too stiff and make the car a bit lairy at the rear!

I've got an Autotech 28mm adjustable RARB on the hardest setting, with a standard ARB on the front & I've never had any problems with the rear being lairy.

I would recomend the Autotech ARB, but as they are imported in from the US by JBS & due to the price of the £/$ It would cost too much, so go for the Neuspeed ARB or even the Eibach piv34uk has fitted:thumbup:

Well, I plan to keep the car for another 3.5 years or so and your pic RobClubley is a little worrying.

Looks like I'll be getting a Neuspeed after my holidays then! Thanks chaps!

The newer whiteline bars will fair much better as they changed the powdercoat process.

I started looking for sources of the Neuspeed ARB and found the 28mm rear mk4 Golf platform bar, as expected, but also a 25mm one. Has any one tried the 25mm bar and is it even suitable for the Octavia?

I started looking for sources of the Neuspeed ARB and found the 28mm rear mk4 Golf platform bar, as expected, but also a 25mm one. Has any one tried the 25mm bar and is it even suitable for the Octavia?

Just go for the 28mm one and trust

Any good stores to get these RARB's?

The newer whiteline bars will fair much better as they changed the powdercoat process.

Good to know

The newer whiteline bars will fair much better as they changed the powdercoat process.

Have they changed the U clips though that fasten It to the rear beam?

From previous searches, my understanding was that the 28mm Neuspeed worked better when you purchased an uprated front ARB to go with it and the Whiteline 22 was the one to get if you weren't changing anything else. Are people running the Neuspeed 28 with a standard front (and/or standard springs and shocks)?

Also for people with relevant experience, as they're roughly the same price (I think), do you think the RARB by itself, or just lowering springs, will make the most difference to handling?

Eibach gets my vote! Works very very well and is a far better design over the Neuspeed.

Steve;)

I'm perfectly happy with my Whiteline ARB, I got it cheap from Balannce Motor Sport.

Considering moving onto the next hardest setting (mine is on setting 2 out of 4 at the moment).

From previous searches, my understanding was that the 28mm Neuspeed worked better when you purchased an uprated front ARB to go with it and the Whiteline 22 was the one to get if you weren't changing anything else. Are people running the Neuspeed 28 with a standard front (and/or standard springs and shocks)?

Also for people with relevant experience, as they're roughly the same price (I think), do you think the RARB by itself, or just lowering springs, will make the most difference to handling?

The RARB will make a bigger difference than lowering springs.

I started off with just a 28mm Neuspeed RARB and it made a huge difference and would be the 1st thing i would buy if starting out from fresh again.

A 28mm bar will be fine as i have mine on the middle setting and have never changed it.

There has been a price increase since i got mine (due to the $) and they are about £260 now (mine was £195) including VAT compared with around £150 for the whiteline but from what i have read,the Neuspeed bar is better quality and also has better fittings.

Interesting. I'm considering FSDs to replace my OE shocks, as my baby's done 125k! Not so bothered about lowering though, so maybe the Neuspeed (in combo with the Konis) would allow me to keep comfort levels virtually as is, with better handling

Interesting. I'm considering FSDs to replace my OE shocks, as my baby's done 125k! Not so bothered about lowering though, so maybe the Neuspeed (in combo with the Konis) would allow me to keep comfort levels virtually as is, with better handling

PM gmaster as Glenn is down your way (sort of) as he has fsd's/h&r springs on his.

The problem is some people have reported problems after fitting Koni FSD's on the original springs so you are better off paying the extra and getting the spings fitted.

Go for the RARB first and when you have the cash get the springs/shocks together.

PM gmaster as Glenn is down your way (sort of) as he has fsd's/h&r springs on his.

The problem is some people have reported problems after fitting Koni FSD's on the original springs so you are better off paying the extra and getting the spings fitted.

Go for the RARB first and when you have the cash get the springs/shocks together.

Ok, pm'd Glenn. But then searching, I found this from Bowders1:

Quote:

Originally Posted by auroan

Yes but are the H&R units worth the premium ?

Yes they are for the Octy VRS MK1 . There are only a handful of springs for this model and the H&R's are top of the list(not including coilover setups). You only have to see this combination on a lot of VRS's owners on this site.

Quote:

Originally Posted by martziniuk

I had an interesting chat via email with Dan from Dcdezign today.

Apparently the FSD's should n't really go with the H&R springs:

"they are not suitable for the H&R springs. They don't work properly running any more than a -15mm drop."

Martin' date=' don't be put off buy this. yes FSD's are good with standard springs. But they are very good with H&R's. H&R's will not lower more than 15mm. Again most users with FSD's on there VRS's have H&R fitted and will tell you that this combination is superb(me for one of them , as I had it)

So perhaps I could try FSDs with vRS springs, on the basis that the price of the springs is similar to that of a Neuspeed RARB? Same price, similar handling, more comfort - no?

Bearing in mind my stock setup has done 125k, FSDs should be an improvement in handling just by being new, let alone being uprated?

The problem people have had with the fsd and stock spring combination is that old and tired springs don't seem capable of controlling the shock absorber very well and causes bounciness as a result. I would recommend new springs whether standard or uprated if you are going to change the shocks. Will save the labour costs of doing it later. just my 2 cents worth.