Well, after getting my Neuspeed Rear ARB a few weeks ago, i have finally got round to getting it fitted, so a short 1 hour trip up to Bristol was in order, to pay Lloyd a visit, who had kindly offered to help fit the rear bar.

So after arriving it wasn't long before he opened the garage so we could break out the red one, wow, what a car, most of us have heard about it, but this was the first time i get to see it in the metal and it was better than expected.

We got mine up on the ramps, off we go (i say we, Lloyd did 99% of the work) and surprisingly, it was not that difficult to fit, a bit awkward but its done and to say i am happy is an understatement.

Now its time for a test drive... after Lloyd has taken me out in the red one... OH MY GOD, you see his car and it is immaculate, but you forget its stage 2, it really does shift along, even with all the camber and wheel issues going on at the moment, i couldn't get over the noise it made, the Miltek, Kona and Dv all make it sound immense, considering it was the first time i went in a stage 2 octy, i was well impressed.

Well after all that excitement, it was time to take my slow boring octy for a spin with the bar fitted and... what a transformation, why haven't i done this sooner, it just changes the way the car handles.

My drive home after was a lot more fun than on the way up, i can't wait to get the R32 front ARB and polybushes fitted, it will completely change the car.

I have had a good day and i want to say a MASSIVE thank you to Lloyd for helping me out over the past few months with all his advice and fitting the Neuspeed, he is a top bloke and a real genuine guy, will defo be getting up to visit again soon.

For anybody wanting to do some mods to there car, i highly recommend the ARB's before you start going for more power, if it doesn't handle well, you can't get all the power down, so its pointless.

Next Step... start buying for Stage 2

I'm surprised young Lloyd used to be scared of tools lol

I'm also shocked he took you out in his that means it left the garage !!!

Lol

It was out the garage most of the day and it even rained while it was on the drive.

Such a great car

Oh no rain that's not good lol

Yeah it's a clean mk1 just needs some proper power to make it AMAZING lol

No probs bud

Glad ur pleased

Hehe clive im retired

Well...... Once get more new wheels

He moved alright just need to remove the risk of tyre from wheel risk issues lol

But yeah look at me getting brave fitting stuff lol

The neuspeed is a chunky beastie

Job....... Jobbered

It was out the garage most of the day and it even rained while it was on the drive.

Such a great car

 

It was out in the rain..........jez, surprised Lloyd was not mopping up the water droplets, He probably cleaned the passenger seat when he got back home too....     

Im not that bad

Glad Lloyd has looked after you buddy his car looks stunning. Regarding the arb, what would be the main improvement you noticed in the handling?

Turnt up with 1 car

Drove of with another

More stable, planted and under control ,

There was a "wow" when he found a big roundabout

Another point to the rarb

Have u still got the standard front arb on the car bud?

The car is more planted, you don't get that wobbly back end like before, it feels stable, you can get more power down in the corners while being a lot more in control.

I do have the standard front at the moment, but have an r32 23mm to fit, so hoping that will improve handling even more.

So it sounds like night and day the difference. I think I'll start looking into this in a while. Is there a recommended size to use for the rear.? I would be keeping the standard front arb.

So it sounds like night and day the difference. I think I'll start looking into this in a while. Is there a recommended size to use for the rear.? I would be keeping the standard front arb.

If you don't intend to change front then either get the 24mm whiteline or the 25mm Neuspeed one.

Sent from my Samsung S3

They certainly sound like a massive improvement. Also expensive! I'll have a look for one I think.

I got mine second hand, but no difference, just mate sure you get the fitting kit with it, but a well worth while mod, totally transforms the car

What's the fitting kit? Bushes, drop links etc?..

Yeah drop links and then the brackets to hook onto the rear beam, but if you buy new you will obviously get all that if you buy new, but just check if you buy second hand, look out on Facebook pages, you get a few on there coming of cars breaking, a lot of Leon's

Thanks. I'll keep a beady eye out! So mk4 golf, Octavia, Leon will all fit?

Yeah they are all the same platform

How hard is it to change rarb as my Haynes manual says it cant be changed as its integral to rear axle beam??

How hard is it to change rarb as my Haynes manual says it cant be changed as its integral to rear axle beam??

How hard is it to change rarb as my Haynes manual says it cant be changed as its integral to rear axle beam??

.

The Haynes bible is correct. The octy has an integral sort of anti roll bar as part of the rear beam. What is talked about above are an additional add on RARB either Neuspeed or Whiteline. Simple to fit as Lloyd has proved. A year ago he shat his pants at the thought of doing stuff involving tools ! Now he's a RARB installing catch can fitting Bristol Octy legend !

.

The Haynes bible is correct. The octy has an integral sort of anti roll bar as part of the rear beam. What is talked about above are an additional add on RARB either Neuspeed or Whiteline. Simple to fit as Lloyd has proved. A year ago he shat his pants at the thought of doing stuff involving tools ! Now he's a RARB installing catch can fitting Bristol Octy legend !

 

we used to have a DIY difficulty meter

 

ranged from 

 

Very Difficult

Medium DIY experience

No DIY experience

Lloyd 

 

But happy to say Lloyds moved up.......

 

Yo know I luv ya Lloyd......  :p

ranged from

Very Difficult

Medium DIY experience

Lloyd

No DIY experience

Now reads something like this.

we used to have a DIY difficulty meter

 

ranged from 

 

Very Difficult

Medium DIY experience

No DIY experience

Lloyd 

 

But happy to say Lloyds moved up.......

 

Yo know I luv ya Lloyd......  :p

Harsh.........

 

Well done Lloyd - top man