Okay,

I've already ordered the breathers (in red, not sure why!)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160588642152

and

http://www.viperperformance.co.uk/productsearch2.php?cat=9065&mat=104&leg=Skoda%20VRS%20breather%20pipe

since I can already see that these are on their way out. Is there any other hoses that will be real problematic on a '03 plate VRS petrol that I should be looking to replace before the inevitable happens?

Next up, I'll be ordering this tomorrow since the cars rocks, sways and generally makes the wife feel sick (or it could just be the company of yours truly, which in all honesty is much more likely )

http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_detail.php?part_number=BWR22

The fact that the car understeers like a bitch when pushing hard on tight corners (when she decides that she actually wants to give me all the power for a change, that is! )currently makes me think this might be somewhat of a necessity, too.

Now, I also have creaking and will be looking to replace front ARB bushes, but I suspect despite having only 53,000 miles that I also have other suspension wear. The last 20,000 miles for this car were done solely towing a caravan, which is quite harsh treatment IMO.

I don't really want to spend VAST fortunes, but I do intend to keep this car for it's lifetime. So, which bushes should I be looking to replace? I gather SuperPro are the people I should be going to, but which am I most likely to need?

Basically, I want to make the car a little stiffer, less wobbly, and less knocky if possible, as well as increase the serviceable life of the parts fitted. I think one of the wishbones is suspect already, so I definitely need to start looking there (haven't had a chance to stick my head under properly yet, since we only have jacks, chocks and blocks at work... no ramp! :( ), but the list of available parts on the superpro site is so extensive, I'm REALLY confused. What I don't want is to be arsing about adjusting the car all the time though. I just want to fit, and forget. Outright performance is not very important to me. The car is just a family runaround for me to transport me, my family and my guitar gear around in. The motorbike is for blatting around like an idiot, not the car.(Either that, or the wife's E92 335iSE )

Is there anything else I can do without getting silly and spending big bucks to stop it rocking? Or will the RARB really make that much of a difference?

Anything else that I should be looking to change as a matter of course? For instance, I'm already planning to rip the sump off and change the pickup pipe, and I might as well do the cam belt whilst I'm doing major work. I'd rather be doing a whole load of work in one big hit, than have to rip into the car in great depth several times. Especially since I intend put her off road for a week or so whilst I rip the interior out and do some serious dyeing too, as the carpet it atrocious. (Anybody tried Auto Glym carpet dye on the seat cover centre panels yet :S ?)

Edited 13 June, 201115 yr by demonufo

RARB makes a huge difference, talking about taking a corner faster and making it feel alot more secure. I'm saving up for coil overs, bushes and possibly audi tt lower front strut brace next.

For the carpet get one out of a golf, bora, leon or toledo (i think?) All based on the same platform

If you replacing the cam belt then fit a new water pump at the same time.

Great stuff, I'll add water pump to my TPS order. (Which currently I'll have to get through a mate, since TPS don't seem to be responding to my account request!)

Hmm, think coilovers are right out of the question though. I'd rather sh!tcan this and get a better car rather than blow silly money like that trying to improve upon it. I'm all about getting a return on my investment, and for me, not ripping the arse out of it very often, there's little point improving the handling that much. Unless of course there are actually any cheap coilovers out there that are effective (I don't want to affect the ride height though, I'm already having clearance issues on these crappy Oxfordshire village roads! This also limits the effects of most coilovers I suspect)

I should probably mention that the shockers are knackered as well (or the rears are at the least, I haven't tried rocking the front yet. I really ought to look at this thing properly ), so I expect a difference once they're changed. I suspect this is probably down to the caravan towing.

Edited 14 June, 201115 yr by demonufo

Great stuff, I'll add water pump to my TPS order. (Which currently I'll have to get through a mate, since TPS don't seem to be responding to my account request!)

get it from Sere Motors instead of TPS - better price, same parts

Quite a few people with coil overs say that their cars don't ground out as much as when they were standard.

get it from Sere Motors instead of TPS - better price, same parts

Maybe, but I can't see Sere Motors delivering direct to my workshop like TPS do! And for free, too.

Edited 15 June, 201115 yr by demonufo

RE: Water pump.

Make sure it's the brass empellor pump (Non OEM) rather than the sh!!ty OEM plastic rubbish which will strip over time!

Steve

RE: Water pump.

Make sure it's the brass empellor pump (Non OEM) rather than the sh!!ty OEM plastic rubbish which will strip over time!

Steve

Aha just in time, where can I obtain such an item???

Aha just in time, where can I obtain such an item???

I know Jabba stock them.... Give Brian or Kevin a bell (01733) 211779.

Honestly, don't waste your money on the oem plastic crap.

Steve

Smashing. First job for tomorrow then.

Okay, still need advice on bushes, anyone... Mostly which front ARB bushes (size??), but all other likely possibilities too.

Smashing. First job for tomorrow then.

Okay, still need advice on bushes, anyone... Mostly which front ARB bushes (size??), but all other likely possibilities too.

• Front anti roll bar bushes are 19mm. LINK
  
• It's worth replacing the drop links too whilst you're at it - note you need 'left' and 'right' versions. LINK
  
• Front polyurethane wishbone bushes are a must too, (these make a hell of a difference!!) the Oem rubbers are as sloppy as a hookers gash!! LINK

These stiffer bushes with a 24mm Whiteline rear anti roll bar will be absolutely spot on!!!!

I ran my Octy for nearly 2 years on stock springs/dampers and a fully poly bushed front end and a 25mm Eibach rear anti roll bar...oh and it was running 330bhp at the time, it managed fine!!!

Coilovers can be used and maintain standard ride height too. Weitec GT's are exactly the same as KW varient 1's, apart from they are galvanised steel instead of stainless...... oh and they're around £250 cheaper!!!!

Hope this helps!

Steve

Soaking it up, thanks.

Already ordered drop links as a matter of course, since things do feel a little sloppy. Found out just how horrible the understeer can be this morning too. Then got hit up the arse quite hard by a beemer at the next T junction. Fortunately I have the old "reverse park sensor" mounted at the rear, although I'm not sure there isn't a little damage there. Will find out wednesday. Can't be bothered to rip the bumper off and look myself since this is somebody else's fault.

So on the understeer issue, I was looking at the Whiteline BWR22 initially, simply because I won't have to fanny about with adjustments. But since body rock and roll is the big issue for me, should I be looking to go for the 24mm adjustable instead then?

As for the Weitec's, that sort of money is right out. Like I said, this isn't a performance motor for me, since it can't compete with the bike. I just want to stop the wife feeling bilious.