Hi guys,

took my 56 plate octavia mk2 vrs in for a service, I was told that the anti roll bar bushes at the front are worn, and that I have to buy a whole new anti roll bar, rather then just put on new bushes, is this true?

 

 

Yes. Skoda don't sell bushes or the clamps for the ARB seperate. You have to buy as a complete unit at around £140.

 

Unless your a confident home mechanic and can get the car on a ramp, you can replace the bushes, but you have to drop the sub frame to remove it, and then you have to cut/drill the clamps to seperate them to fit the new bushes.

 

Massive PITA.

Fair enough, cheers for the infomation, I did believe the mechanic as he is a good mechanic, but after spending out for a full service new front tyres and changing a split CV boot, I am sure they will last one more month!

where are these bushes located please? Did you have any symptons from the car?

where are these bushes located please? Did you have any symptons from the car?

Errrr ,,,, front anti roll bar?

Yes please front anti roll bar I was quoted 120 quid for the parts and 250 to fit. Are they the same as drop links or are they different. Sorry I am a numpty on this

Sorry can't read 30 pounds for anti roll bar bushes. 250 to fit

"Are they the same as drop links or are they different. Sorry I am a numpty on this"

As you probably appreciate, an anti-roll bar is usually a rod which runs across the car, and which has each end bent back (or sometimes forward).  The ends are connected to the wheels (well, actually, to the suspenion arms) on each side of the car.  The bushes are what attach the rod (the anti-roll bar) to the body of the car so that the bar can rotate.  The links are much shorter rods which drop down from the ends of the anti-roll bar and provide a flexible connecting to the suspension arms.  The flexibility is needed to allow for the angular movement of the suspension arms.

When the car hits a bump and the suspension on both sides flexes up or down at the same time, the anti-roll bar just rotates in its bushes and has no effect.  However if the car leans over while cornering, the suspension moves up on one side and down on the other side.  The ends of the anti-roll bar are forced upwards on one side and downwards on the other side.  This twists the anti-roll bar which threfore resists the leaning over or "rolling" - that is why it is an anti-roll bar.

So:

- the links are attached at each end of the anti-roll bar and connect the ends of the anti-roll bar to the suspension arms on each side.

- the anti-roll bar bushes are closer in towards the centre of the car and fit round the anti-roll bar to connect it to the the body of the car.

Hope this makes sense!  Someone will probably be able to post a nice simple picture which will make it even more clear.

 

Edited 21 March, 201412 yr by Stuarted

thats brilliant, thanks. Did not realise that was the anti roll bar