My wife has a Fabia 1.2 2003. Recently it has been handling really bad. Diving about at the front.

 

I had a look underneath today, I saw this 

 

I am certainly not a mechanic, but happy to tinker. Is this something easy to sort or a big expensive garage bill.

 

:wonder:

 

 

The other side looks like this

 

 

 

Your lower wishbone bushes have gone (Or it certainly looks like that from the pics, need one from far away!)

 

Common fault apparently, i've literally just got in the house after replacing mine today!

 

It's fairly simple, a few niggly bits here and there.

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/92625-fabia-wishbone-bush-replacement-diy-guide/

 

That's a brill guide to follow.

 

The tough bit I found was fitting the new bushes, I didn't have the big washers or anything that could get into the small space so I removed the whole console and stuck the bushes in with a nice big vice and everything went perfect from there. 

 

The standard bushes are around £5 each or you could fit Cupra solid ones that will give you better performance and won't perish as quickly. Wish i'd fit cupra ones now :(

This job is a doddle with a puller for the bush, bit time consuming but not to difficult

Polybushes are generally considered easiest to fit if your going to DIY.

Few hours and basic tool kit mate not a problem, the aftermarket polyurethane type ones are much easier to for into the alloy casing than the oem rubber ones

IMO, if you havnt done one before, it's a hard job!

I'm not going to sugar coat it for you.

- You'll have problems getting the old bush out.

- You'll spend ages getting the new bush in, even with a puller if you don't line it up correctly.

- you'll pull the threads out of the console removing the wishbone bolt.

Ok, that's a job gone bad but all very common. I can get the bush out in 15 seconds with a pry bar and hammer.

Lots of penetrating oil and cleaning up the threads on the front bolt, play with it while removing I.e tighten it, loosen it, tighten it, loosen it etc..

Get poly pushes to fit, million times easier to fit.

Expect to pay about £120 upwards at a garage for this job.