My car eats ARB bushes. The plastic liner on the ARB is long gone which doesn't help. I was going to fit an R32 bar but they are just too expensive. I wondered if anyone knew of any cheaper alternatives? Or maybe I could fit a smaller super pro bush, would this last a lot longer. Currently they are lasting about 4k.

Cheers

Mike

Are you fitting the 17mm bushes?

If you have the OEM 19mm front bar you must order the 19mm bushes - sounds stupid but a lot of people order the smaller ones thinking it'll get a better fit on the bar. SuperPro make each bush 0.7mm smaller to allow for a good interference fit.

Fit with a hefty amount of copper grease, this should keep it moving for a good few years!

Steve

Are you fitting the 17mm bushes?

Not sure mate, I think they are ones off a fabia? UNIT 18 have fitted both sets when I've had it serviced.

If you have the OEM 19mm front bar you must order the 19mm bushes - sounds stupid but a lot of people order the smaller ones thinking it'll get a better fit on the bar. SuperPro make each bush 0.7mm smaller to allow for a good interference fit.

Fit with a hefty amount of copper grease, this should keep it moving for a good few years!

Steve

Wouldn't these be really loose on mine as I have no plastic sleeve on my ARB.

You fitting genuine ones or after market ones? Might be worth gettin some poly ones

19mm is WITH sleeve is it not, 17mm without. Due to the sleeve having a 1mm diameter.

You fitting genuine ones or after market ones? Might be worth gettin some poly ones

They are genuine rubber ones.

19mm is WITH sleeve is it not, 17mm without. Due to the sleeve having a 1mm diameter.

Thanks for the info, I think this is the route I will go. Cheers.

I have 19mm Super Pro ones fitted with no sleeve with no issues. They've been on for years now.

Yep. 19mm SuperPro on mine too. Smashed the sleeves right off (one had disappeared halfway up the ARB), and the 19's are a perfect fit. Easy job too.

Absolutely no point in fitting standard rubber bushes if the sleeves are missing. No wonder they're only lasting 4,000miles. The sleeves are the downfall of this setup anyways. Fit poly.

IIRC, only the early vRS's had a 17mm bar.

19mm is WITH sleeve is it not, 17mm without. Due to the sleeve having a 1mm diameter.

The diameter of the bar is 19mm regardless of the sleeve - if sleeve is still present they will stretch (20mm), however best if it's not there at all. The bush doesnt need to be mega tight round the bar, it only has to loosely clamp it.

Order a set of 19mm SuperPro's, fit and forget.

Steve

These are the correct standard bushes:

ARB bush for 19mm bar (20mm hole for use with sleeve):

1J0 411 314 P

ARB bush for 19mm bar (17mm hole for use without sleeve):

1J0 411 314 S

The "S" bush is the newer bush, and is fitted to the later cars which have an ARB without the plastic sleeve. So if you're fitting standard bushes without the sleeve, you need the 17mm ID "S" bush.

The older bush, which will be the one Skoda will sell you for your VIN if you have an ARB with sleeves, has a 20mm ID and runs loose without the sleeves. The plastic sleeve is 1.5mm thick, so adds 3mm to the OD of the bar, taking the bar out to 22mm. So the standard is to have 2mm squash across the diameter, which tallies up with the use of the "S" bush.

I went through all this over 3 years ago, when I removed the sleeves and fitted the 17mm bushes. I haven't touched it since, and they never make any noises. Fit and forget....

Ditto to 17mm, been on for a year or more and no issues. Plastic sleeves removed and bar cleaned before fitting.

Well i changed my ARB bushes at the strart of they year now they are creaking loudly on load, =(

is there a rush to change them, they are already poly bushes (Not sure what make)

Edited 28 March, 201214 yr by DSS199

Cheers for the advice. I think I'll rub down the bar so It's nice and smooth then give it a good helping of copper grease.

Is this the bush I need? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330703685192?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Cheers

Not sure if you'll squeeze a 17mm poly bush over the bar, as it won't give as much as the standard items.

All the stuff I commented on above is obviously for standard bushes.

If you're using poly bushes, then it sounds like 19mm is the right way to go from what others have said.

I'm a poly bush hater, so I don't get involved!

I would just use the 17mm rubber ones plus the new brackets, jorily has em. Febi I got. No more noise,

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2560

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=263

Just what you need.

man id just replace the bar! if the sleeves are gone then the bar is probably starting to corrode get your self a new/ nearly new bar and genuine or good brand poly bush. thats what i did cause the arb was in **** and causing loads of knocking.

There was a brand new one on ebay for 30 quid the other day

man id just replace the bar! if the sleeves are gone then the bar is probably starting to corrode get your self a new/ nearly new bar and genuine or good brand poly bush. thats what i did cause the arb was in **** and causing loads of knocking.

don't be daft, a rub down with wet and dry and then a cleanup and copper grease will save a totally unecessary £100 for a new bar