why do the ARB kits from the likes of H&R and Weitec for the 4x4 have a thicker front than rear whilst the popular thing with the VRS is to have a thicker bar at the back?

Is it to do with the 4x4 deing independent suspension at the rear instead of a beam?

Anyone got one of these kits fitted and what are they like?

Are they worth it or is it better to get the R32 bits instead?

The 4x4 not only has independent rear suspension, but of course the haldex clutch and Diff.

Haldex 4x4 powers the rear-end round corners (when required), as opposed to FWD Octy's which drag their back-side round.

There is also considerably more weight at the rear end of the 4x4, helping to keep it more balance and planted (even if no power is being tranmitted to the rear).

Fair enough the R32 ARBs are going to be a vast improvement of the OEM units fitted, but they are generally considered to soft for the R32.

It was Jeremy Clarkeson's biggest complaint about the R32 - body roll.

If you really want to be able to go round corners in a fast and stable fashion, get the H&R or KW units.

As I mention on another thread where this question was raised a few days ago, the new H&R units are adjustable, so you'll be able adjust the body roll.

It would also allow you to tackle the understeer issues by adjusting the front and rear stiffness.

The first mods I did to my car where the fitting of KW v3 coilovers and the older non-adjustable H&R ARBs'.

The difference is night and day - it will feel like a different car (a much better one ).

good to know just need to get saving now then. So is your car up and running again?

Its had a little engine test, so just mapping and tracking left to complete.

Fingers crossed, it'll be ready for a proper road-test end of next week

what sort of map you going for? stage 3+ i'd guess with that engine are you getting it corner balanced as well as you have the KW v3's? will it be going on track or is it just for fun?

Think I've got a lot of suspension tweaking ahead, corner weighting being one of them.

TBH I'm not really a track fan, its distance on twisty whinedy roads that do it for me.

I would love to have a go at targa style racing though.

Currently planning a trip to the École de Conduite sur Glace

So far I have managed to find three/four options if you include the R32

Option 1:

H&R Kit 33431-1 - 25mm front 21mm rear - both adjustable x2 holes - comes with uprated bushes but not sure what other bits? Do I need to buy any OE bits to fit as the description is a bit vague? best price £301.94 from FR+R Tuning

Option 2:

Eibach kit e40-85-001-01-11 - 26mm front 24mm rear includes full fitting kit but not sure what that means? best price £297.00 from DPM not sure what sort of handling with only 2mm difference between the two bar though?

Option 3:

Neuspeed mix and match. front of 22/25/28 rear of 19/22/25 so can keep the difference between the bars or tune either way? Not sure on pricing though.

some of the best reviews I have found relate to the TT or R32 which is obviously going to be a bit different to the Octi which has a heavier back end (and thats before I load it full of cr4p and a tank full of LPG) so not really sure what sizes to go for? I know I am going to have to replace bushes etc on the front as it is banging and knocking more and more as time goes on so I may as well upgrade

Karl, how modded is your car? what do you want out of it at the end of the day...

nearer to oe.....go r32, cheaper too

modded fast road car....go uprated h&r or mix of eibach/neuspeed.

KW also do 4x4 arb kits, damian sells them iirc.

Ask graham to get under his car and measure the bar thicknesses, his car handles very very well, but is a lot away oe, and there is little display of breakaway until it occurs.

Edited 27 September, 201015 yr by Oet

Off play with ECU's tomorrow - vernier caliper packed, will measure thickness

My theory with regards to reviews about kit on R32 or TT is simple - if its good on them, it'll probably be even better on the Octavia

(thats aftermarket modding kit)

Edited 27 September, 201015 yr by snow_muncher

put it this way,

i had the r32 bars on my 4x4 at the difference was like night and day, the car handled with so much less roll than stock, however after time i always want more, and when i drove grahams car after he got them done, with the H&Rs on, i realised i wanted them.

If you are only planning to mildly mod your car, then r32s are enough, if you are looking to make a real fast road car, like grahams car, and my current vrs, then i would get the H&R/eibach/neuspeed thikcer setups...

I suppose budget will play a part in any final choice but I always work on the fact that if it needs to be fixed it gets upgraded

yes thats the right way to do it, how much are you looking to modify your car though?

depends how much neeeeeeds fixing I think its going to be a keeper so overt ime quite a bit I would imagine. As long as work and pay improve. I got made redundant a year ago, was only out of work for a day but money is 2/3rds what I was on :-( but things are improving slowly.

Ideal shopping list at the moment goes:

ARB set - seeing as it needs looking at anyway

Downpipe and decat - exhaust makes a farty rasp at certain revs or on the overrun - the cost of this should be covered by an improvement in economy (eventually)

Rest of the exhaust - going to use Prospeed in Cardiff and get it custom made (same as the downpipe and decat)

Uprated SMIC from millsey when they are ready or a twin setup from a cupra/tt/s3 or a twin setup from millsey or possibly an allard tdi one as I like the opposing inlet/outlet and it should be a really short pipe run

Brembos - got one caliper but may sell and go for the porsche ones with the smaller pistons instead?

Koni FSD's if the price ever comes down, would go coilovers if it wasnt a daily driver that does 15-30k a year

K04 hybrid plus all the bits - will get the downpipe modified as and when

APR or similar intake mani

water meth

so need a small lottery win or just 2 mods a year until its done

hmmm interesting, i have been thinking about ARBs and strut braces (do they actually make a difference to add a strus?) and will be very interested to know any results you have about buying and fitting the ARBs.

I am presuming it is a job for the trained person to do, ie on a ramp.

Thumbs up from me on the R32 arbs - got 'em front and rear.

Did the rear on my drive but one bolt stripped and was sorted by my garage, so they put the front one on.

Rear needs the tyre well to be gently altered.

Do it.

Edited 29 September, 201015 yr by mackdaddy

karlbar2k - just a thought - ask Prospeed to measure your exhaust up as I'm sure there're loads of 4x4s out there who want a performance exhaust without having to get a custom made one - they'd sell a few mail order I reckon...group buy?

when we had a quick look at it there is a nice straight run up the middle of the car as there is no rear beam to go up and over like the VRS or the Leon (which Charlie at prospeed drives) If I get a decat Charlie advises that the mid silencer needs stainless packing as the heat is greater or something like that?

... vernier caliper packed, will measure thickness ...

... can't get the ARBs', cars too low to the ground ... its back on the ramp tomorrow, so fingers crossed ...

... strut braces (do they actually make a difference to add a strus?) and will be very interested to know any results you have about buying and fitting the ARBs.

I am presuming it is a job for the trained person to do, ie on a ramp.

The lower S3 strut brace is much more important than the top one, firms up the sub-frame alot.

I had my upper and lower struts fitted after my ARB's and coilovers, so was able to see the difference on their own.

They give the car much more front lateral (side-to-side) rigidity.

When corning the force is carried across the front chassis more effectely. Steering response is slightly improved too.

It is a perfect companion for harder than OEM suspension and ARBs'.

TBH, I'm not sure I'd recommend this mod with stock or softer ARBs', as this mod will force more energy through your ARB's.

Edited 30 September, 201015 yr by snow_muncher