Hi all

 

Simple question, really............

 

I have been told that one of the rear anti roll bar bushes is wearing out (only lasted 157,500 miles!!) on my 2005 1.9 tdi estate - Is this a simple two bolts out, change the bush over and screw back up again on each side or is access difficult or anything else I need to watch out for?

 

All advice gratefully received

 

Thanks

 

Tom

 

Oh, and by the way is it worth getting those polyurethane bushes or shall I just replace the originals as the first lot have lasted all this time (bearing in mind my sports car days are over and I don't drive harshly?)

Edited 16 December, 201312 yr by ThomasP

As far as I can tell yes, 2 bolts secure the bush holder and the bush is a split rubber affair.

So if I'm correct you won't need to mark anything and can simply change one bush at a time and all should be fine.

Poly bushes will probably be a worthless expense.

Micmac..........you again!!..............lol. Thanks for your reply

 

 

Firstly, in relation to my last post about the rear brake calipers the item I bought was an exchange item so I no longer possess the seized caliper, so I cannot make a little project out of it,

 

Thanks for the reply to this query.........As you can guess my trusty octy is just beginning to show her age with these fairly minor problems (157,500 miles now) but I will hear nothing said against it - it has been a marvellous car.

 

The reason for this question was that I was wondering whether or not the anti roll bar would be under any tension with the car jacked up and the axle hanging just before I did the job

 

Once again, thanks for the reply

 

Tom

Yep afraid so, me again!

Re tension on the RARB...

I'm not sure if there will be significant pressure on it with wheels off ground or not.

Perhaps you could temporarily secure it with a tie down on the side you are working on if if looks like springing loose upon unscrewing the bolts.

note the rear drop links attached to the anti roll bar also have bushes in them so you may want to check which bushes are worn before buying the parts

Micmac..........you again!!..............lol. Thanks for your reply

 

 

 

 

whether or not the anti roll bar would be under any tension with the car jacked up and the axle hanging just before I did the job

 

Once again, thanks for the reply

 

Tom

not with both wheels at the same height

OK....finally got around to looking at this job to find out that the bushes I have are the wrong size!! (My fault). However, having finally managed to get under the car on the first dry day since i posted this question I discovered that the bushes are indeed worn.

 

I then discovered that the retaining bolts for the bush brackets are those multi splined bolts that require a splined adaptor to undo them (they are not torx and I don't think they are the twelve point splined bits either but those bolts that have even more splines than 12). I don't want to try and undo them with an incorrect size bit so I would really appreciate it if someone could definitively tell me the name of this type of splined bolt and the correct sized adaptor to use.

 

I went on to measure the diameter of the anti roll bar with my very expensive vernier calipers (£2 from ebay) and it looked to me like it was showing 18mm........I have tried to research the correct size but cannot nail exactly the one for my vehicle (2005 1.9tdi pd estate BKC) but cannot. There is an option for 18.5mm bushes.......

 

Further more my local parts supplier told me that the bushes are a main dealer only part so I am keen to avoid a visit there.

 

 

Again if anyone can definitively let me know

 

the correct name and size of the splined bit to remove the ARB bracket

 

the part number for the anti roll bar bush I would be very grateful

 

Thanks again

 

Tom

I may be in the same position, however weather is key to me getting the job done.

I have a selection of splined bits, recently bought to undo front hub/strut pinch bolt, £24 for set of 6 from local tool retailer.

If I get around to the job anytime soon I'll post my findings.

But if you beat me to it I'd appreciate your findings.

MicMac

 

Thanks for your reply (yet again.lol)

 

I was hoping someone might just know the size of the bit I need..........The bolts holding the brackets in are those with numerous splines.....much more than 12 (I think)

 

I think I might have id'd the roll bar for my model as an 18.5mm diameter. I have sent the supplied bushes back with the hope that they may be able to supply the correct ones

 

I will certainly let you know what my experience is

 

And once again, thanks for your reply

 

Tom

Update esp for MicMac...........

 

Well, this job is essentially very simple in that it just involves releasing the roll bar bush brackets  (two bolts each side).............In reality, what a nightmare!! In my case the bolts were all very, very stiff to remove and seemed to have some kind of coating on the threads (from new, I think). 1st bolt just about came out then the upper one broke off as I undid it leaving most of the bolt seriously stuck in the threaded ,welded nut so it had to be drilled out. Access was not good and I needed a flexible drill attachment to allow the broken sbolt to be drilled out. The two bolts on the other side of the car were just as stiff but I just about managed to get them out after a really judicious soaking in proper penetrant oil (i. e. not wd40).

 

Then came the sourcing of the replacement parts...local Skoda price £26.83 plus vat each. EBay price £4.65 including postage. However, there is such a wide choice of diameters for the numerous widths of anti roll bars fitted by Skoda that the only answer to positively identify the size fitted to your own car is to get a vernier caliper and measure it yourself. Mine was 20mm so then off I went hunting for the proper bushes.....Well, there is available 16mm, 18mm, 18.5mm, 18.7mm, 19mm, 19.5mm, 20mm(the rare one), 20.5mm, 20.7mm, 21mm and so it goes on and on.

 

In the end I bought the polyurethane bushes - not because I am in any way a sports driver but only because I knew exactly what I was getting sent to me.

I replaced all of the splined drive bolts with new, old fashioned hex drive bolts (8mm) as they still seem to work!!

 

So, there you have it readers just an update for anyone who is thinking of doing this job.

 

I hope this helps anyone else out there

 

Tom

Just a couple of anorak notes from someone who has never done this job himself:

(1) the torsional stiffness of any rod is proportional to the fourth power of its diameter, so a tiny difference in diameter can make a surprisingly large difference to its stiffness - thus the proliferation of what may look like hardly-any-different-diameter anti-roll bars

(2) although the anti-roll bar will not be twisted if both wheels drop by the same amount when the car is lifted, the bar will still rotate in its bushes so it may be better to ensure that the car (or at least its wheels) are at their normal running height before tightening the clamps which hold the bushes, to protect them from the stress of being permanently  twisted most of the time.