Hi Guys

My Fabia just failed its MOT on Front suspension arm bushes. The guy at the test centre mentioned it was a common problem on VAG models due to poor bush design, and that there was an upgrade availble. Does anyone happen to know if this is true, and if so what the various part numbers are please?

Hi, I'm not trying to be silly, but maybe use the "search" function as its all been asked and answered fully in the past. If its only replacement for a superceded part you want (improved), then just ask for "front console bushes" at your local VAG place - they all use the same bush for this platform range of cars, and the original parts will have been purged from their stock.

Eitha the bushes from a seat ibiza cupra as they are metal caseing or polly bushes

I had a similar problem... Had both control bushes (the original bushes are known to be shocking) and the leading arm bushes replaced... Cost ~£250, but did make the car drive a hell of a lot better

Look at the technical guides section, if you are even remotely capable of basic DIY then it's easier to fit Power Flex bushes and will cost under £50 all in.

agree with the powerflex bushes. tbh as Avalon has posted before check your balljoints and wishbone at the same time. as its £90 ish just to replace the lot if you DIY it http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-VW-POLO-FOX-SKODA-FABIA-LOWER-WISHBONE-ARM-and-REAR-BUSH-POWERFLEX-PFF85-602-/150821607021?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item231dab166d#ht_782wt_952

for example

Yep, I did drop links, ball joints, wishbone's front and rear wishbone bushes and my car thanked me by needing a wheel bearing within a few weeks If you're doing the job for the relative ease/cost involved I'd suggest doing all of the above (not the wheel bearing). It adds 10-15 mins to the job but like doing the water pump when you do the timing belt it saves more than the cost of the parts if something goes wrong later.

Thanks all. Just had the Front lower arms and the rear bushes replaced... much better :-)

The things seem to go at 50k, both mine and my wifes both went at this mileage.

insist that the tracking is done at the same time, they dont if you dont ask, they say it shouldnt need doing.

15mm of toe out and a shredded pair of new tyres in less than 1k mile, they did refund the cost of the tyres

Mines just gone over 52k miles and one of the control bushes pretty much fell out :-|. . Replaced it with a standard bush,for now, pollybushes all round soon.

Don't take 50k as a definitive indication, I had to do my own at 21k (12years old), age plays a significant factor.

mine is at 127k and never had them done. Until I did them (cars got full service history). Well until I bought it

I know this is a very old thread but my Fabia Mk1 has just failed it's MOT due to the bushes and anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover.  However, I only had the complete arms with new bushes changed 3 years ago this month so the question I have is should they have split so soon?  My wife only drives the car to work and back, about 15 miles per day, on pretty good roads so no rallying involved (so she tells me).  Got a quote of nearly £400 to repair it as well (local garage not dealer) plus they'll charge me another £24 to have it re-MOT'd if I have it repaired elsewhere.

Anti roll bar links are around £25 and take about half an hour to do the pair.

The console bushes are likely to have failed in this time if they were the standard ones. Get some poly bushes fitted

should be no where near £400

You dont need new arms every time, just the bushes which cost around £20-60 depending on which you buy. Labour is maybe an hour each side at the most although 30 -45 mins is possible if everything goes smoothly. This is from my experience of doing it on the driveway where the bushes were stuck solid in the aluminium consoles. 

ARB  Drop links circa £15 at car parts 4 less. Poly bushes from a polybush dealer will be circa £60. ( for both sides). SIL did one side for me one year ( he'd have done both sides, but this was MOT fail in October). Plan was to replace other in decent weather ,but he'd hurt his back ,and I can't get down. Local place did the other ( fit part as supplied) for £50.

Origonal console bushes on mine were not metalastic, but plasticlastic. ( Outer is plastic rather than metal and drops out id you look nasty at it . )

I highly recommend Meyle HD ARB links. Very nice quality - better than original.

 

Example...

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Meyle-HD-Stabiliser-Drop-Links-VW-Polo-Mk4-Volkswagen-Fox-Up-1160600000-HD/182880929195?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda|Model%3AFabia&epid=1728517854&hash=item2a948d85ab:g:~NkAAOSwLF1YBOLR

Edited 15 November, 20178 yr by TMB

yes dont get cheap arb links, mine lasted 12k miles.

plus 2 on the Meyle HD links....

 

bigger ball & better built....

 

I used OEM from dealer at the time as the Meyle were N/A years ago when I did my old Fabia...& I polybushed all the other bushes front & rea...powerflex & superpro...

Edited 16 November, 20178 yr by fabdavrav

You won't be pleased if you fit Meyle HD Console Bushes or Poly Bushes to your 1.4 TDI - The vibration is far too much to tolerate.

 

I have fitted them to mine over the years and had replace them.

 

DB.

 

41 minutes ago, mogwye said:

You won't be pleased if you fit Meyle HD Console Bushes or Poly Bushes to your 1.4 TDI - The vibration is far too much to tolerate.

 

I have fitted them to mine over the years and had replace them.

 

DB.

 

 

I have Meyle HD console bushes on mine and find them to be fine - much better than the PSB ones I had before them. Mine's a petrol though.

Edited 16 November, 20178 yr by TMB

TMB you have a 1.4 MPI which may not produce the same torque as a TDI, which is where the vibration and noise is created.

 

I was in discussion with Meyle over the vibration issue and I got the impression that they had automatically assumed their HD version would be OK for the TDI model.

 

DB.

 

Edited 16 November, 20178 yr by mogwye

15 minutes ago, mogwye said:

TMB you have a 1.4 MPI which may not produce the same torque as a TDI, which is where the vibration and noise is created.

 

I was in discussion with Meyle over the vibration issue and I got the impression that they had automatically assumed their HD version would be OK for the TDI model.

 

DB.

 

 

Yes, point taken

I have PSB on my vrs and they are lovely. Tight and responsive steering and no major vibrations other than what you would expect from a diesel.

Have OEM X-type large bushes for many years / 146'500 km already- still looks and works ok.

At least for me it's ok, as not-sporty driver :-)

Sorry for this  but what are consol bushes?

 

Are they same as wish bone bushes on jeeps and Honda?