Hi folks,

I need new FARB bushes for my 2005 (53) Octavia vRS Estate. That is, the FARB->Chassis bushes. They appear to come in different sizes, and having done a bit of digging around, found this topic:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/163523-powerflex-suspensions-bush-kit-mk1-octavia-vrs/

....which suggests that a mk1 vRS needs a 19mm bush. Great, but what I wanted to do was to confirm whether that is definitely the case even for the Estate variant of the car, just before I spend the best part of thirty quid on the Powerflex part.

Can anyone advise? I called the local Skoda dealership and the guy just wouldn't give me a part number or size, claiming that it is their 'policy' which seems to be geared toward preventing me going third party IMHO.

Thanks.

John

You could try calling your local branch of TPS (who supply your dealership) and go "over the dealers' head" so to speak. They should be able to look up your original part number and size from your registration plate.

Sorry to be ignorant, but TPS? Who they? Happy to call anyone if it helps, but need a bit of educating

Pretty sure its 19mm same as the hatch. You could PM RobClubley I think he replaced the ones on his estate VRS at some point (don't expect a quick reply, he's in NZ so it'll be the middle of the night over there...)

TPS http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/territories/t_edinburgh.php

(assuming you're in Edinburgh going by your username)

OK, spoke to a helpful guy at TPS and he checked and it's a 19mm, so off to Ebay I go.....

Only thing is, if the plastic sleeve on the a.r.b. has disintigrated,as they normally do, then you will require 17mm bushes.

Too late... 19mm bushes ordered :(

I'm not going to be able to tell until the car's up on the lift though.... I guess I can always order 17mms as well and see if they'll allow me to return the unused ones?

It needs 19mm bushes if its a 19mm bar mate not 17mm ones.

If you've bought Powerflex the right part number is PFF85-411-19 for the Powerflex ones, SPF2593-19K for Superpro ones, not sure what the OEM part number is though.

I've ordered 19mms, I was simply responding to the Kenny R's post saying that I might need a tighter fit if the coating is gone (car is 53 plate, just a little under 80,000 miles, so if it's going to go I'd imagine it'll have gone by now).

Must admit, don't know a lot about the underside of the VRS as mine has been impeccably reliable so never needed to mess with it...

Ah, I see. If the coatings gone though chances are the bar will have corroded underneath anyway so it'll be a new bar as well. I don't think Powerflex or Superpro do the bushes in 17mm either only 19-23mm.

When mine went (hatch rather than estate, and at about 90,000 miles) they had to replace the whole bar and bushes at the same time.

I *think* the bar was looking OK - but I don't recall a coating (then again, it could have been covered in grunge). Either way, it'll be the 19mms anyway, plus a new bar if required (fingers crossed that it's not required)...

can you order direct off TPS? just a thought as they are trade so prob not for the public

Some branches will do cash/card sales to the public, as well as "30 day invoice" terms or whatever for the trade. It's entirely at the branch managers discretion though so you'd have to find your local ones and call them.

Derby do, I go there a fair bit, and if I could be bothered to work out ClubGTI I think they do an extra discount for members there (which I really should take out).

I removed the plastic sleeves and fitted 19mm SuperPro bushes. Everyone tells me I need 17mm ones if I've done this and I did buy some 17mm OEM ones but couldn't get the beggars to fit!

So 19mm worked for me, no issues and they've been on for about 3-4 years now.