Chaps,

Wondered what whiteline goods are worth doing to my MK2 FL?

I already have coilovers and 19" wheels with 35-series profile tyres so not really looking for anything that will massively increase the harshness of the ride, really just looking to tighten things up a bit.

Cheers

Andy

WALK , control arm bushes and Rear ARB.

I have got the first 2 on offer at the moment as well ;-)

What will those give me though - can you (or anyone!) give me an idea of what they are and what they do?

Anybody?

I believe the WALK reduces torque steer and stops the wheel hopping you get when accelerating at speed. It's abbreviated from Whiteline Anti-lift kit if you want to have a look in good, plenty of post on the Golf forums about it.

Hi Andy

I've been thinking for some time that my car could do with a stiffer rear anti roll bar. There's nothing "wrong" per se with the way it goes 'round corners but as with any FWD car there's a tendency to understeer, plus I think with the big estate rear body the car should get a stiffer rarb vs. the hatch. Also, with the stiffer weitecs I think the car would benefit from some increased resistance to body roll. Everything i've read on the subject related to cars on this chassis seems to point to improved handling with the stiffer rarb. I've bought an autotech bar but not got around to fitting yet.

The witeline rarb is IIRC about 160 quid so it won't break the bank.

I'd like to get the supalloy lower arms on my next car - that incorporates the anti-lift and stiffer bushes, but right now I can't justify the 400 quid or thereabouts.

HTH.

WALK - Whiteline Anti Lift Kit - Reducers torque steer - Basically helps to keep the wheels on the road and reducers veering to the side when acclerating. Realworld driving it does help but it's not a massive improvment if your running standard performance. You get bigger gains when you go to stage 1 and above.

RARB - Rear Anti Roll Bar - Helps to strengthen & stiffen everything up at the back end - The biggest gain you will see from fitting any of the mods you have listed. Makes a difference to turn in and reduces understeer. You will notice some difference in standard set up especially if you have susspension mods and it doesnt make the ride any harder under normal driving IMO. NOTE - It doesnt banish understeer so dont expect miracles.

Control Arm Bush - Helps to stiffen things up at the front end. You will see a difference if you fit uprated bush's. In general this helps to stiffen the steering, helps improve turn in and feedback through the steering wheel. The difference will be noticeable in standard set up but much more noticable when you go stage 1 and above.

My priority list would be - RARB, Bushs, WALK.

You might be happy enough with just the RARB which is the easy and cheapest option. Cost v difference its RARB every time.

All three as a package together with coilovers makes a very big difference and makes the car handle much better and more predictible but.........IMO the Octavia isnt a great handling car in stock form so there are limits to what you should expect. Before any one starts ranting. Overall its not a bad car but it does have pretty low limits when it comes to handling compared to other stock cars, including comparitive models in the VAG group E.G. Golf

As an all rounder and a family car with a huge boot I dont think anything comes close to it in value for money terms and I love driving mine :love:

The WALK and ARBs make a big difference.

Damian @ DPM Performance

Thanks guys, will have a think and report back if I decide to go ahead, would like the car sharpened up a bit (it's been remapped by Ben @ Shark) but REALLY don't want any increased vibration/harshness as although I drive in the car with no passengers 80% of the time, the other 20% I have the wife + 4yr old daughter in with me.

Ive got all three mods and coilovers and a few more performance mods as well and the ride has not got any inreased vibration/harshness. Its there when you need it but day to day driving you dont notice it.

I also have the mrs and my 3 yo and soon to be newborn in the car and it doesnt make any difference to them.

Defo go for the RARB I think you will be happy with that on its own TBH.

I had the Walk and Rarb fitted at the same time and it totally transformed the car. As above, I have two kids and it really doesn't effect the quality of the drive. The wife even stated 'I don't know what you've done to the car, but it's f***ing brilliant'.

Due to limited availability from the supplier more than anything but I fitted the WALK a few weeks before the RARB and TBH the WALK had no where near as much impact as the RARB. Both made a difference but i'm not convinced the WALK would be worth the money if running standard. The RARB is the one to go for and see how you feel. Of course thats just my opinion and I havent had the chance to test how good the combination of the all the mods at the limit is....Yet

Ok, have asked the garage I use up in Scotland (Hypertech) for pricing for supply + fit of the WALK + the RARB. Seem to remember him saying something about some special deal at the moment when you buy the WALK you get the rear bushes free or something?

Also - I assume the RARB is the 24mm adjustable one?

I am getting a NSF wheel bearing done in the next week or so, so probably going to get the whiteline stuff done at the same time.

The WALK will add 0.5 deg. of caster, when you turn the wheel they get more neg. camber and this reduces understeer.

I've got the WALK and the RARB on my VRS TDI, the best upgrade regarding handling.

You need a wheel bearing on a 2010 car????

Thats not good.

You should get the lot fitted for around £400 I guess.

Yes its adjustable. Ive got mine on the middle setting and thats fine so far.

You need a wheel bearing on a 2010 car????

Thats not good.

Well, I remain to be convinced it is actually a wheel bearing but I have a small vibration over unsmooth tarmac as well as a "wooooooo" noise when doing over 50. I have coilovers + 19" alloys with 35-profile tyres and I hit a pothole a few weeks back on a cold wet dark morning and Hypertech checked over all the suspension on Saturday and said it all appeared fine.

From what you desribed (especially the sound) it could be a wheel bearing but if it is i'd get that done under warrenty. I'm think the same as you and doubtful it is a wheel bearing. Out of interest whats the mileage?

Mileage is 16K roughly I think.

I could probably get this done under warranty but the following makes me want to just get it done myself:

• There is a Skoda garage reasonably close to where I live, I wouldn't use them for service as the last time I wanted them to reset an airbag warning light that would take them 2 minutes they wanted me to wait 3 weeks until I got booked in, AND I didn't find them particularly friendly on that occasion or on one other time I had the misfortune to speak to them. The garage I purchased the car is a bit further away and I can't be bothered with the hassle of courtesy cars, being late for work, having to leave work early again (work is in the completly opposite direction from the garage) and getting home late
  
• The fact that I have non-OEM suspension and larger than OEM wheels on the car might give the garage cause to turn round and say both those factors are a contibutory factor in the wheel bearing needing replaced.
  

I'm slowly collecting bits for when the mileage is a bit higher and insurance is up for renewal (not mod friendly insurance at the moment so on hold)

Arb upgrades tend not to stiffen the ride too much from experience. Bushes do but vag use such soft ones you can tolerate a bit of an upgrade. Once foolishly went for Motorsport grade bushes on a alfa.... Harsh and noisy beyond belief - handled great though.... 15k miles later needed replacing....

Instead of walk and bushes up front consider the superpro lower arms - you get the lighter longer arms with all the bushes, castor adjust and anti lift in one hit. I'll be doing that as well as fitting my latest acquisition a set of alloy s3 hubs.

Deffo RARB made a massive difference to the car, surprised Skoda arent blaming that for the clutch being defective they have tried everything bloody else rather than hold there hands up and accept its a faulty DMF!!.. (hope they see this cause i'm gettin fed up of the "pass the buck" mentality")

Anyway yeh RARB and a WALK

After the 20mm eibach springs , fitted WALK only , for me it made a massive difference. Reduced understeer allowed better steering all together. Have not felt the need for RARB yet as the car feels very planted and rear hangs on in there. A really chuckable set up.

Before i fitted the walk , had 4 wheel alignemnt done, using the updated set of values , was not too happy with that , but after walk was fitted , what a difference. Have to say it also depends on how you drive , pushing the handeling is where you really notice the difference. In normal driving you won't feel any difference with walk.

Does the rarb make that muck of a difference? Find my car does not lean that much , to my surprise it corners quite flat.

At the moment we're giving free control arm bushes when ordering the WALK - http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_detail4.php?part_number=W0503

Damian @ DPM Performance

I have the whiteline RARB fitted on the stiffest setting on my car. Totally transforms the handling, so much so that it felt like a different, more compliant car when I had it changed. Turn in is great, it's massively noticeable even at low speeds under normal driving conditions. I haven't bothered with anything else yet, but as my bushes are on the way out i'll upgrade those next.

The only issue I have had it with the poor lubricant supplied with the rarb, I've had to have it re-greased with a better product (and more of it!) as the RARB started creaking after a few weeks.

Will have to put the rarb on the shopping list !

I have the whiteline RARB fitted on the stiffest setting on my car. Totally transforms the handling, so much so that it felt like a different, more compliant car when I had it changed. Turn in is great, it's massively noticeable even at low speeds under normal driving conditions. I haven't bothered with anything else yet, but as my bushes are on the way out i'll upgrade those next.

The only issue I have had it with the poor lubricant supplied with the rarb, I've had to have it re-greased with a better product (and more of it!) as the RARB started creaking after a few weeks.

Agree with all of the above, including the rubbish grease. Had to redo mine after it started creaking as well.