Is there a difference?

Do i already have one on my Octy (TDI)?

JD

You will have ARB on it i'm sure, you wont however have a strut brace. Strut braces are to errr brace the struts. As in stop sideways movements of the struts when placed under cornering forces. An ARB is to stop too much body roll. From my experience with the vRS the rear ARB transforms the handling, whereas the S

Cheers

What i want is less body roll, and less of the bonnet lift when i accelerate.

I don't know whether it is better to get a set of Eibach springs which will stiffen the ride and reduce the roll, but on the negative side will lower the car. Or, to get uprated antiroll bars to stiffen the car and keep the same ride height.

Can an uprated ARB be fitted with standard springs and shocks?

What is the main difference in handling between ARBs and lowering springs? i.e. stiffness, body roll, comfort loss etc.

Which would be stiffer, springs or ARBs?

JD

I would suggest rear ARB (if they are available for your car) first. They wont stop bonnet lift when accelerating, you would need dampers with increased rebound compression for that i believe. A change of springs would change comfort more thana change of ARB. I'm not too sure on the differance in weight with the TDi compared with the vRS but i would guess the extra engine weight will be why you get more problems at the front end. I'm no expert but am just trying to help if i can.

You will probably have an ARB on the front, but I doubt you will have one on the rear.

A thicker ARB will reduce roll in corners significantly, especially on front & rear. However, an ARB on the rear will tend to make the car oversteer, if provoked aggressively. ARB will not stiffen the ride & can be fitted to standard suspension.

Lowering springs will do exactly that, with a stiffer ride. This will probably eliminate the bonnet lift under acceleration. Matched dampers will improve things more so.

HTH