Does anyone one know the actual size of the front anti roll bar on the Mk1 Octavia VRS. Seen some previous threads and people saying they are 19mm but looking on some websites at uprated anti roll bar bushes and they are showing sizes of 21mm any help is appreciated. 

19mm bush with the plastic collar on, 17mm bush without IIRC. Not sure on the size of the bar?

Most websites been on are saying 21mm also checked euro's as a bench mark and they state it as 21mm confused dot com 

Standard bar (unsleeved)

Standard bushes for unsleeved farb (originally a 17mm bush

So new bushes are 17mm

When changing them even if you have a plastic sleeved farb simply break the original sleeves off and fit the 17mm bush, the plastic sleeves are useless and cause problems so best getting rid anyways

17mm are fine.

I got myself some 17mm super pro front anti roll bar bushes and there is no way in hell that I can get them to fit!

I'm doing the job with the subframe on the car but I can't seem to get the clamp in place around the bush. Are people sure that 17mm bush is right? There is no plastic sleeve on the bar. Any help would be great.

when you say get the clamp in place do you mean you cannot get the clamp far enough over the bush to get the bolt to catch on the subframe? If so grab yourself the rear caliper bolt (I think) and use that as it's longer. Once mounted you can remove it and use the standard bolt. Greasing the outside of the bush may help get it in place also.

 

Have you undone the drop link? Might be obvious but....

I have sorted it I used the original bolts, I did have some longer ones ready to use but I don't like been defeated. I undid the droplinks in the end sounds stupid saying this but I didnt think of it at first,but I changed them at the same time anyway. Cheers

Also i removed the subframe!

Far far easier

/\ that just looks too easy, where's the fun in that?

How hard was that Jase, I am seriously considering this...

Its not that hard

Disconnect bottom ball joints on either side (3 x M6/8 bolts)

Disconnect droplinks

Remove bolts from steering rack that mount through the subframe

Think theres also an exhaust hanger mounted to the subframe that needs to come off too

Disconnect dogbone engine mount at gearbox

Then its 4 bolts holding the subframe on, think it was a 21/22 mm socket that took care of that.

Sounds hard but in reality its not that bad

Edited 23 February, 201412 yr by BigJase88

Thanks, I don't suppose theres a handy picture somewhere showing it is there? I find it much easier to visual once I've seen image or gotten my hands dirty.  Perhaps you could point out on your image with some Paint wizardry roughly where each bolt is? 

 

Sorry for slight derail but another question, how did you remove the whole thing without it falling on your head....?  

Okay i've had a quick go for you

Drop link needs disconnected

Remove balljoint from wishbone (both sides)

3 M6/8 bolts can't remember size

Remove the gearbox fixings for the dogbone mount

Exhaust mount = Yellow

Steering rack fixings = Green

(This is a picture from the top obviously)

Location of subframe bolts

As seen here

To lower / raise the subframe i used a trolley jack while the car was supported in the air on axle stands.

HTH

Edited 23 February, 201412 yr by BigJase88