Anti roll bar

[Shann]

just been to a garage to ask about a knocking coming from my fabia sdi

the garage said i needed a new up rated anti roll bar and some thing about the sleeve wearing away and that is why it is rattling

This sound right? he made it sound like a common fault

[mattvrestate]

Yes its a common fault. The anti-roll bar has 2 lugs (one at each side) that stop it moving left or right..

These crack... thus allowing sideways movement.

This on its own shouldnt cause the knocking but the anti-roll bar bushes are probably worn which will cause knocking.. and they will have noticed the bar needs replacing at the same time..

It is an MOT fail aswell (the bar not the bushes)

Quite a big job + u have to drop the subframe so tracking / 4wheel alignment will be required after fitting

Hope this helps

[Shann]

yea that helps, thanks!

know where I can get the parts?

the garage want to charge me £50 + vat per hour labour so would rather get the parts and take it somewhere else

Edited 22 October, 2012 by Shann

[Jayke]

The last time i did one i just brought a brand new anti roll bar from the dealers i think it was about £45 it was 2 years a go though! if the garage has a 2 post ramp they should get it done pretty quick its not too hard a job

[Shann]

they have quoted £250 + vat

so main dealer is who i need to talk to for parts?

[bonesetter]

There is a way of changing front arb bushes without dropping subframe and using jubillee clips - which is a better solution. Must be around somewhere, my mate did it I can't remember the exact detail

[mattvrestate]

There is a way of changing front arb bushes without dropping subframe and using jubillee clips - which is a better solution. Must be around somewhere, my mate did it I can't remember the exact detail

U dont need to drop the subframe to change the bushes... but u do to change the bar

Jubilee clips?? To replace the 13mm bolts? Or to replace the lugs on the anti-roll bar?

Either of these would not be a good idea :/

[fabdavrav]

There is a much cheaper and easier way......

The original ARB had glued on plastic sleeves which were between the ARB and the bush....this sleeve also included the lugs which stop the bar sliding from side to side, rust gets under the paint and lifts the sleeve from the metal bar....it then slides out allowing the bar to slide........

I have done the following to a Fabia 18months ago.....remove old bushes and sleeves....sandpaper the rusty area smooth and apply some copper grease....get a new set of bushes and fit.......not had them slide and the ARB has stayed put.

If you are worried then fit a set of whiteline ARB bush clamps (lateral locks)....linky...

http://www.whiteline...accessories.php

If you want to do a full proper job then fit the new redesigned ARB

[bonesetter]

U dont need to drop the subframe to change the bushes... but u do to change the bar

Jubilee clips?? To replace the 13mm bolts? Or to replace the lugs on the anti-roll bar?

Either of these would not be a good idea :/

the Jubilee clips are perhaps working like these lugs...

[mattvrestate]

There is a much cheaper and easier way......

The original ARB had glued on plastic sleeves which were between the ARB and the bush....this sleeve also included the lugs which stop the bar sliding from side to side, rust gets under the paint and lifts the sleeve from the metal bar....it then slides out allowing the bar to slide........

I have done the following to a Fabia 18months ago.....remove old bushes and sleeves....sandpaper the rusty area smooth and apply some copper grease....get a new set of bushes and fit.......not had them slide and the ARB has stayed put.

If you are worried then fit a set of whiteline ARB bush clamps (lateral locks)....linky...

http://www.whiteline...accessories.php

If you want to do a full proper job then fit the new redesigned ARB

Without the lugs is an MOT fail

[Shann]

just rang dealers and part is £52 + VAT so got it ordered

also ordered 2 whole wishbones with bushes as the rear bushes on both are bad.

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...ME:L:OC:GB:3160

my usual garage are doing the work for me so we will see as the full job parts, labour and VAT would have come to £520 at this other garage who are a VAG specialist

pars have cost me £117 ish (and they was only replacing the bushes not the whole arms)

so as long as labour and 4wheel alignment come to less than £403 inc VAT i'm a winner

Edited 23 October, 2012 by Shann

[fabdavrav]

Without the lugs is an MOT fail

Don't see how as all they are allowed to check is for "play" in the bushes and drop links and corrosion near a mounting point!......

..so as I said clean the rust off and fit new bushes.........no play and no movement.....

.and the car has been through a strict MOT and PASSED..........(and the Skoda dealers where doing this to the Fabias as a fix)

And if you really are paranoid....just fit a set of the WHiteline lateral locks as I mentioned in my post!!!!

[Shann]

should I get a new set of drop links too?

[fabdavrav]

should I get a new set of drop links too?

Will need new nuts as well.......and for the extra expense....might as welll as they are cheap.....and a known item to "go"

[Shann]

new nuts?

[fabdavrav]

The nuts should come with the drop links............

.....the reason is that they have an oval shaped thread hole for the threaded stud part of the ball joints on the drop links.....and therefore are a locking type and should be renewed each time!

[Shann]

ok thanks

[mattvrestate]

Don't see how as all they are allowed to check is for "play" in the bushes and drop links and corrosion near a mounting point!......

..so as I said clean the rust off and fit new bushes.........no play and no movement.....

.and the car has been through a strict MOT and PASSED..........(and the Skoda dealers where doing this to the Fabias as a fix)

And if you really are paranoid....just fit a set of the WHiteline lateral locks as I mentioned in my post!!!!

Im not at work this week untill friday but i can print the failure specific to anti-roll bar lugs either missing.. cracked... fractured or not secured propperly

If a skoda dealer did this as a "fix" they will have done it as a cowboy "fix" and will not be approved by skoda themselves..

The whiteline locks would pass but dont know the costs of these + if u can get them without the bar???

[fabdavrav]

The whiteline locks are available just on their own to fit to ARB's where the originals have failed......

[Shann]

just to get back to you on this, on the new arb I got from Skoda (cost £64) and instead of having the old plastic parts the new bar has metal stoppers, same principle of them whiteline locks just welded to the bar.

currently at my usual garage to get all the new bits fitted, so I spent £161 replacing everything that could 'go'

so as long as the labour comes in at less than £359 (which it will by about £200) then its cheaper than that rip off VAG specialist

Edited 30 October, 2012 by Shann

[JLneonhug]

RE the lateral locks - isn't that just the gold clamp your talking about? surely they will cost only a few £'s, else you could just get any old 19mm clamp no?

[Shann]

yes well I was just told I needed a new ARB as it was missing the plastic bits that stopped lateral movement.

those lateral locks would do the exact same jobs as the new metal lateral stoppers on my new ARB so it would have probably been cheaper to get a set of them but I didn't know that

also being a SDI mine has a 18mm ARB but yea if you get this fault yourself just do what fabdavrav did and fit locks at a cost of £22

http://www.part-box.com/product_info.php?products_id=73097

Edited 30 October, 2012 by Shann

[JLneonhug]

Lol ow?

perhaps these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MIKALOR-W2-Stainless-Supra-Heavy-Duty-Hose-Clamp-Exhaust-Pipe-Turbo-Clip-Jubilee-/140671164843?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&var=&hash=item20c0a7a1ab

Or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Phobya-Hose-Clamp-Hexagonal-17-4mm-to-19mm-Silver-/320999356364?pt=UK_Computing_Water_Cooling&hash=item4abd0d77cc

I remember where I seen these now.. They're similar to the ones on bike seats.

[Shann]

or those, and yea they do

[aak]

My vRS passed its sixth MOT test today with 2 of whiteline's lateral clamps fitted. There was a small issue when fitting them in that one half of each clamp had to be filed a bit as the space between the bar and the console is quite small at the points where the bar is mounted.

Tester said that they were a good engineering solution to a common problem - he had previously seen stainless Mikalor clamps used.

@ £22 a pair a much less expensive alternative to replacing the anti roll bar.

Certainly seems to be working well with normal suspension travel presenting no issues with clearance. I suspect that as the clamps are 'not to be overtightened' - if the clamp did come into contact with the console - the bar would simply rotate within it whilst still ensuring no lateral movement.

Will post again if any negative experience with durability.

Alan

P.S. I also replaced the anti roll bar bushes prior to fitting the clamps.