As said, the front end is squeaking. Has done since the day I got it. The chap who sold it to me said that his mechanic reckoned it was the wishbones. If this is the case, how much is it going to cost me to fix with standard parts? and if I go up market, what parts am I looking to buy and at what prices?

wishbone bushes knock, the bearings squeak. I think.

could be brakes or something though...

does it squeak when you go over bumps or is it a squeak all the time, like with each revolution of the wheel?

Have a good look at the front ARB bushes before the wishbones, if its the original front arb, water may have got under the plastic coating and caused rust to form on the bar.

This is a common fault.

Does it squeak when braking or when the car pitches forwards?

Does the squeak disappear when it's raining? Then it's a bush I believe.

It only happens when my car pitches. I can't honestly say I notice it when it rains, so it will more then likely be the bushes. So if they are the reason why, what dort of price am I looking to spend, what ones am I looking for and how much effort will it take for me todo?

The front anti-roll bar bushes were squeaking on my Octavia TDi 110. So much so they were driving me mad. I sprayed motorcycle chain lube all around them and they haven't made a sound since.....

It definitely sounds like the roll bar bushes to me, because it is creaking when the car pitches and the roll bar rotates in it's mount.

The original bar has plastic collars moulded onto it where the bushes attach. Over time, these plastic collars crack and break, causing them to grind against the bar. The newest cars don't have the plastic collar, but have the bushes mounted straight onto the bar.

To fix it, you need to take the old bushes and brackets out, and also chisel the plastic collars off (if they don't fall off).

You then fit these:

17mm bushes

And these:

New bracket

Obviously the parts are really cheap, but it does take a bit of patience to fit them. It took me all day, but I was replacing the wishbone bushes too.

are the part numbers mentioned in the link the genuine vag ones or replacement part numbers? only reason I ask is cos it says febi on the links and there are 2 numbers for the bushes.

anyone with EKTA able to help?

ARB bush for 19mm bar (20mm hole for use with sleeve):

1J0 411 314 P

ARB bush for 19mm bar (17mm hole for use without sleeve):

1J0 411 314 S

Part No's from the very helpful list at the top of the octy section,I fitted the smaller ones(17mm) at the weekend as my plastic sleves had split.

Edited 10 June, 201016 yr by kenny rsell

thanks kenny - do you know the part number for the metal brackets too?

Sorry no, I just refited the originals.

iv fitted some 19mm superpro bushes which i bought from Awesome and they are top (fitted fine on the bar without sleeves)