Hi there,

I have a 2004 Fabia VRS Diesel, great little car and I don't think I will ever get rid of it as there is nothing out there that compares, My other car is a Focus 1.8 Diesel and they are chalk and cheese.

Anyway Mot time and it failed on the headlight adjustment Drop links with an advisory for the saddle bushes on the ARB and a few other nonsense things which took 5 mins to put right.

I have got the new parts coming and was wondering which is the best order to do these, drop links 1st then the ARB bushes or ARB 1ST then DROP LINKS.

Common sense tells me the ARB'S 1st what does anybody think ?

It also got and advisory for having the under tray/engine cover which I have never heard of before, and also the what seems to be common slightly seized rear brake calliper after having new rear discs and pads, front brake discs scored and one of my tyres is under 3mm

I don't like having any advisories so I am fixing the lot, well its all done apart from the drop link and ARB bushes.

I thought I was going to save money going to Kwik fit with there £35 mot lol cost so far £194, that's for new tyre, front discs and pads, the drop links, ARB bushes, mot and re-test fee. The tyre is the most expensive thing of course.

Is there any tips for doing these bushes & drop links, seems easy looking enough.

Cheers and great site so glad I came across it

Edited 16 May, 201313 yr by bigdeal1970

Never go to Kwik Fit. They will lure you in with a cheap MOT then try and shaft you for work that needs doing. Go to an independent who only does MOT testing, they don't care about the result as they don't do the work, it'll pass or it'll fail but you aren't getting screwed over because they fancy creating work.

Normally you don't replace single tyres, you'd generally want the same on the left as the right and they should wear evenly. Doesn't matter on the ARB bushes or drop links order, do whatever you find is easier for you.

I wouldn't agree with that comment on kwik fit I was a tester there for 3 years and I just used to test the cars as presented. Tbh I just did mot's and didn't care if the depot made money or not I was on bonus for the amount of tests I did so as far as I was concerned as long as I was okay sod the rest of them lol. There probably are some kwik fit depots that do it but none in my area that I know of.

That's not to say they're not rip off merchants though, a old manager I had blatantly ripped people off for tyres which used to rile me up and got to a point where I was banned from reception as I'd point out they could be left for however long as they weren't actually that bad.

Also if they've tested it and done the world there should be no retest fee, I'd check this as sounds like they're pulling a fast one!

The other 3 tyres where all new a couple of months ago, and to be fair that one still had 3mm of tread.

I do all my own repairs to my car have done for many many years so Kwick fit had no chance of making any money from me, the new tyre came from the local guys round the corner from the house and i needed two directional tyres turned around on a honda that some monkey had put on the wrong way.

To be fair to the guy most of the things he did point out needed done. Just a shame the company who i ordered my spares from have sent me the wrongs discs and pads, 256mm discs instead of 288 and silly little pads to match

Night shift this week as well so only have limited time to play with the spanners.

RE: the drop links / ARB bushes ,Thanks will do the drop links 1st then the ARBB'S, thats the morns job, not that the car is going anywhere goes it now have no brakes, one of the front pads fell to bits when i too it off lol.

Well all is done aprt from the Brakes, which I hope will arrive tommorow or Monday,was unaware there was so mant diffent sizes of discs and pads, mine are 288mm dia but i see you can get a lot smaller which i cant think are for the VRS.

The drop links and ARBB were very easy and only took about 20 mins.

Mot re-test coming up soon. :0 ) OK Mr Kwick fit get those advisories gone ..