I think my trusty 4x4 needs a little tlc and would like some advice on replacement parts and any recommendations on geting them bought and fitted

I recently had a mechanic friend look over my car. Among other things he spotted a small piece of sping had broken off the rear passenger coil spring, the front anti rollbar clonks and the disc brakes could do with replacing all round. I believe my anti-roll bar will need to be replaced as a whole (info on roll bar given by Caffyns Skoda- Their price at time of quote £195 inc fitting)

I live in the Tunbridge wels area and would like to find a good/reliable , local indepenadant garage to fit the replacements and as I'm changing the parts, find out what. if any,

my options are for improving the handling without pushing up the budget!

Any experiences of price rgarding these parts would be helpful.

Thank you in advance,

Rob

Edited 17 March, 201214 yr by bobbie2shoes

My local garage did the front ARB and bushes on my VRS for £135.

John Bowles at Dunton Green (think they also have a unit on North Farm) are a local VAG specialists, know the Mk4 Golf platform cars like the back of their hand and cheaper than the dealers. They did my last cambelt and waterpump change with genuine parts for only £250.

If you want to upgrade to coilovers or shocks and springs you've got W8 Performance in Tonbridge or AmD in Thurrock Essex both of which are Briskoda sponsors so should give you a discount.

AmD supplied and fitted Weitec coilies and new top mounts on my VRS and did 4 wheel alignment for £600 all in.

Great, Thanks. I'll give them a call today!

i;'d be tempted just to try new arb bushes - not a new arb bar. Bushes only cost around £10 and might be all thats needed

for brakes just get oem parts, and a new spring could be found on ebay

i;'d be tempted just to try new arb bushes - not a new arb bar. Bushes only cost around £10 and might be all thats needed

for brakes just get oem parts, and a new spring could be found on ebay

Thanks STSKODA. Regarding the arb, I was told the 2002 model had to be replaced as a whole. was this not correct?

if the arb is knackered yes it will need replaced - however at £100 i'd try a rub down with grit paper, clean up and new bushes in copper grease - it'll need new bushes any

Thanks Chicken Eyebrow,

John Bowles did a fine job for me. MOT, new spring, antiroll bar, (complete) and a few other minor things as well for the mot. Total was £412 .

Thanks STSKODA. Regarding the arb, I was told the 2002 model had to be replaced as a whole. was this not correct?

Mine is a 51 plate and the arb did have sleeves which are pretty shot but replaced the bushes over the sleeves as best as I could and it is no longer banging. When I do get around to replacing it I will be using something a bit better like Eibach or H&R

best bar to use for front is r32

however the old bar will be fine if you split off the plastic collars, clean up the bar, and use the 17mm bush