The MoT man says I need new anti roll bar bushes on my 1.2, 12V, 2002 Fab.

 

Do I need sub frame location pins to do this job?

No

Thanks for your quick reply Ricardo Smooth. So how do I ensure the subframe is aligned when it is bolted back into place?

You only need locking pins to align the subframe if it's being removed.

The subframe doesn't need to be touched to change the anti-roll bar D bushes. Jack it up, remove the wheel, remove two 13mm bolts I think, pull the bracket back, remove bush and fit new one, tighten bracket back up and put wheel back on!

Thanks again, but I'm even more confused as Haynes and on line manuals (like here : http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/fabia-mk1/chassis/front_suspension_drive_shafts/repairing_front_axle/removing_and_installing_the_anti-roll_bar/ ) say that it must be un bolted and lowered in order to get the anti - roll bar out.

 

Maybe I'm missing something.

 

Haynes says "ensure the subframe is correctly aligned when re fitting".

 

The link says use alingment pins.

The roll bar stays in place when fitting bushes, it's good your looking Into the job but your overthinking it.

The small guide I said above is basically how the job will go. If you look online at the bush that needs fitting you will see the new bush has a split through it to slide over the roll bar while it's still fitted in place.

Aye, you don't need to take the anti-roll bar out just to change the bushes.

What size bushes will I need for a 2006 plate vRS?

What size bushes will I need for a 2006 plate vRS?

 

Have a look on the sticker under your boot carpet and find the option number for the bar/bushes. Should be OAR, OAQ or OAS.

 

Match the code and year of your car here to get the right size bushes... http://www.vwspares.co.uk/fabiasuspension.php

But don't the older VRS have some kind of plastic retention at the clamps that get broken when replacing the bushes?

I've heard that you fit two clamps either side of the bushes to stop the roll bar from moving laterally.

Can anyone with more knowledge of this please go into further detail. I'm going to be replacing my front roll bar bushes very soon and would like to know exactly what I need. More than likely I have the plastic stops because my VRS was one of the first ones built back in 2003.

BTW, how easy is it to change the bushes on the drive using axle stands?

Thanks.

Earlier Fabia antiroll bars fail. The collars on the anti roll bar crack and slide off, this means the roll bar is free to move sideways and it starts knocking on the edge of the console. You can normally see this is the console gets polished up with the contact.

 

The fix was a modified anti roll bar, i've not see the issue on a vRS personally, I think it was resolved by the launch of the vRS in 2003.

 

Bushes are easy enough to change, the larger vRS driveshafts to hamper getting into the bolts, a little 1/4" drive ratchet and 13mm socket is useful.

My 53 plate vRS still had the old design ARB, I had to have it replaced for the reason above in about 2006. Been peachy since.

Had a look at my roll bar earlier & it looks like it has the old style plastic collars. Hi you take a look at the offside picture it looks like the collar is cracked - but its hard to tell.

 

I'm tring to find the link for the replacment metal clamps that you can get. They are gold in colour.

 

 

I've measured the diameter of the bar (with a set of verniers) by the drop link & got about 20.5mm. So I'm guessing the correct bushes for my roll bar are these:

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Skoda_Fabia_1.9_2004/p/car-parts/suspension-and-steering/suspension/suspension-bushes/?610442205&1&5da3ce6de1550e36c995a2bf3b1e50a7456b56ff&000407

or

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Skoda_Fabia_1.9_2004/p/car-parts/suspension-and-steering/suspension/suspension-bushes/?610442200&1&14d6409e81d244742c5e190b9271d2f5fdd0c153&000407

 

Are Powerflex ones worth it?

 

 

One other thing, does the coating on the bar matter? As you can see its badly falking on the offside & just wondered if it meant that the bar needed replacing or can be resprayed with a bit of hammerite.

 

Thanks.

Any reason why these wouldnt be suitable:

 

http://www.part-box.com/product_info.php?products_id=84638

 

http://www.part-box.com/product_info.php?products_id=73098

 

Thanks.

One other thing, does the coating on the bar matter? As you can see its badly falking on the offside & just wondered if it meant that the bar needed replacing or can be resprayed with a bit of hammerite.

 

Thanks.

 

Doesn't matter at all. Paint flakes off all suspension bits eventually.

I think I got the 19mm Powerflex bushes put on mine. But I believe the vRS bar is actually 20mm so those should be ok?

Thanks for all your comments guys. I've just changed the bushes. 20 mins each side. What are Haynes and co. on?

Thanks for all your comments guys. I've just changed the bushes. 20 mins each side. What are Haynes and co. on?

Oh cool, not too long to do. I was looking at doing the bushes for the ARB while I was doing my turbo, but it looked like the bolts were not easily accessible because of the drive shaft being in the way.

Did you have to lower the assembly carrier to get around this problem?

Edited 17 July, 201411 yr by Chris Berry

From memory, though maybe less on the ones with firmer spings, you can reach the top bolts by either compressing the suspension on that side and the bottom bolts by jacking up the suspension on that side, or the other way round - a long time ago and best forgotten as it was winter!!

 

Plus maybe use 3/8" drive and wobble extensions.

Edited 18 July, 201411 yr by rum4mo

The drive shaft is partially in the way of one of the bolts on the off side bush. It just meant using a spanner instead of a ratchet wrench.

Fair enough, cheers for that.