StuRox, The jubilee clip simply forms the pivot point for the arb on the existing arm. The ARB and the rear arm are intended to move independently. The jubilee clip will be under load but won't move much at all compared to the actual twist in the bar/arm. As a simple pivot point it makes an ideal mechanical link.

It's difficult to describe withoput a complex diagram but the jubilee clip is more than adequate to hold the bar in place. It's a pretty massive jubilee clip which, combined with the bush, will only allow a couple of mills of movement max.

iep

yes you are right chicken eyebrow and iep (we posted at the same time so didnt see your response first, and your explanation is better than mine anyway!) also they are more like straps with a high tensile bolt to go through, remember they are bolted to the bottom of each strut and they oppose on each other the stap is really just to hold them in place against the beam.

Edited 31 July, 200916 yr by sweedish

I've been offered an H&R one for a fair price. It's 25mm, non adjustable and fits similarly to the eibach one (does not hang down). Originally designed for the audi TT but apparently fits the Octy too.

So, anyone have any experience of these? Better/worse then Whiteline?

iep

Be careful that the H&R is not for the Audi TT Quattro, (same as R32 and Octy 4x4, as unless I am mistaken are not the same set up a the 2WD VRS.

The Whiteline is not fixed by Jubilee clips to the Rear Beam , It is fixed by similar clamps to Exhaust connecting clamps.

I got the white line and I think its ace,

con= it ads weight.

other than that I cant think of any. I dont mind the hanging down as it keeps it away from the back box of the zorst as Ive had mine tucked right up so you cant see it as a few ive seen with the miltec/blueflame ones hang down and look bad.

also its the cheapest and is well matched with the std FARB imo.

now Im off to clean out the car

all best mate

Billy

DO IT THO, GET ONE

It's definitely for the 2WD TT so should be compatible. I'm just concerened that it might be too stiff since the TT will have had a stiffer FARB in the first place,

It's definitely for the 2WD TT so should be compatible. I'm just concerened that it might be too stiff since the TT will have had a stiffer FARB in the first place,

Ok that's good news then.

If it is 25mm could be a little stiff. May do a deal with my Whiteline as I have the R32 thicker FARB if you are up for it.

Edited 31 July, 200916 yr by Bowders1

Sweedish, does the eibach bar foul against the standard exhaust at all? The pics in the post below suggest it is a bit close:

http://briskoda.net/octavia-i/what-rear-arb/114530/

Bowders, not sure how the deal would work (I haven't bough the item yet, just have first dibs on it)!

Cheers,

iep

No, it doesnt foul the exhaust at all, for stealth the eibach h&r and neuspeed seem a better placed than the whiteline due to how they fit, but i know the whiteline is good to and dos its job.

The 25mm balances the car and is not too stiff, dont be concerned, it literally transforms the car.

The only bad points i can think of is i wish i had got one earlier. Even stops the rear jiggling about over rough roads.

I'm so glad I've got a RARB, it kept me out of the ditch earlier when I got a little bit carried away down a wet back road. Came into a tight bend far too hot and started understeering. :thumbdwn: Disaster was avoided though by inducing lift off oversteer to bring the back end round. Absolutly convinced I wouldn't have got away with it without the bar.

Ive fitted the H&R bars to my beasty, cant rememeber the bar sizes but it was both a front and a rear, fitted rear first and wow what a transformation, then about a month later fitted up the front one (with a few swear words to boot as its a tight fit!) and it sharpened the car up nicely imo, the rear one is close to my exhaust box but i have a remus rear muffler and i had to modify the bracket on it and give the pipe a tweak to give me a little extra clearance! get the od knock at the moment but will sort that out once the weathers a bit better!

Im running these with Vogtland springs and i get comments from a few people as to how well the car handles while driving it and how flat it stays while following me

The chap selling the H&R soldit to a local chap over the weekend so looks like I'll be placing an order for a whiteline instead. Not too fussed as it is a bit cheaper and I like the idea of adjustability. I'll post and say how I get on with it.

Cheers,

iep

Okay, made my choice and ordered my whiteline ARB from Balance. Just need to find time to fit it next week and then find a nice twisty road to try it out on. Cannae wait!!

iep

lol

good mate, you dont need a twisty road to try it lol. jus go to the nearest roundabout or 90o corner and youll notice the diff mate.

even in slow corners you can tell its there.

youll be amazed

billy

I have one on my vrs estate. it greatlly improves handling when there is weight in the boot it stops the rear trying to catch up with the front. Comfort is not affected at all. There is only one thing it lets the rear cut away a small bit but when you get used of it you dont pay any attention to it. Mine is a whiteline bar. This is the best money i spent on the car

RARB just arrived (cheers Balance). Quick check in the box shows everything is present and correct. No instructions but I'm guessing the grease goes on the Arb bushes where they clamp the bar and that the bushes themselves shoudl be placed on the bar as far apart as possible (to increase rigidity).

Sadly no time to fit it during the evening this week so will have to wait until sat.

iep.

Okay, verdict. Very easy to fit once the car is up on ramps (more on that later). Decided to start it off on setting 2 and immediately felt a difference when I set off round the first corner (even at low speed!).

It's pretty impressive. Youy definitely know it's working as soon as you hit your first corner or roundabout but the rest of the time (even on cobbled streest) you can't tell it's there at all! This is exactly what I was hoping for and sets this mod apart as being pretty much the only one I have found that appears to have no downsides!

So, brilliant cornering, no effect on ride and dead easy to fit too! In the very wet weather this weekend it didn't seem to give me any hint of oversteer (maybe cause it's on setting two) so I think this really is the must do mod.

My only question is why it's not on the car in the first place!?

Anyway, back to my first statement. Getting the car onto the ramps. Did the job in my mate's garage which is at the top of a very steep/narrow driveway. The plan was to put the ramps in the garage and reverse in to get max clearance (picture the italian job mini scene but in reverse). The issue was that the ramps kept sliding out and (after 5 attempts) there was a decidedly clutchy smell in the air. Clutch seems okay now with no real slipping but (and this has always been the case) it does feel a little vague around the bite point.

I guess the issue with these cars is that there is so little torque until the turbo kicks in, that you do have to rev them a bit before engaging the clutch if you want to move away swiftly.

I'm only on 36k (3k of which I have driven). How long are other peoples clutches lasting?

Cheers ,

iep

104k and still original and going strong.

I never boot it from stand still though, because like you say there's no torque there. I normally let my opponents get away from me off the line, then crush them in 3rd gear on full boost!

Yeah, I'm pretty subtle with it too. Think I can count on one hand the amount of times I have tried to boot it off the line.

Was just a knightmare trying to get it onto these ramps when already on a steep incline. No torque down low meant having to use clutch control to get it up the ramps and a needed a bit of right foot to stop is stalling. Clutchy smell scared the **** out of me, never done that to any of my previous cars. Hopefully it will stand up to 1 incident of abuse though.

In the end, drove the car into the garage nose first and then reversed down the hill onto the ramps. Dead easy and just chocked the front wheels in case the ramps slipped. Wish I'd done that in the first place.

What's the simplest test for clutch wear?

Cheers,

iep

...Stick it in top at 30mph and put your foot down. If the clutch is slipping, the revs will rise but the speed won't. I wouldn't reckon cooking the clutch one time only will have done any serious damage, however.

Bit of a thugs test, but this is what we did with 205's: Crank on the handbrake hard, then gently pull away in 1st. If the car drags the rear tyres or overcomes the rear brakes then the clutch was generally fine! However, if the car stayed still and the revs rose with the clutch up, it was considered duff! It's a fine test if your gentle and forgiving.

Your clutch is probably fine though. They're designed to take a few roastings from women in multi-storey car parks!

Cheesrs guys. Drove it alll over Scotland for the rest of the weekend with no sign of clutch slip when booting it in any gear. My only worry was whether the previous owner had roasted it a few times before I got my hands on the car.

As much as anything was embarrased to have done it. Never roasted a clutch before.

Does anyone else find the bite point of the clutch a little soft? My old VR6 clutch came in very abruptly and I guess I got used to it.

iep

I must say I agree, the transition always seems a bit vague to me.

I put it down to it being a characteristic of the dual mass flywheel.

I'd prefer a cable throttle and cable clutch with a solid flywheel.... but heyho!

Anyway, all thisd clutch chat has detracted form the real reason behind this post. The Whitline RARB is ace. Go and buy one!

iep