What are my options with regard to upgrading the front ARB and fitting a rear one.

As i understand it the front one is a pig to fit so what costs are involved for fitting??

Do i need to upgrade any bushes at the same time?

no one else done this mod then

no one else done this mod then

Not too sure about your Elegance, but on my Octy vRS I have powerflex bushes on the standard front ARB, and a Neuspeed 28mm adjustable rear ARB, and together with Eibachs, really tightens up the handling.

I am told there is quite a bt of work to change the front ARB, but the Golf R32 front ARB seems to be the cheapest option.

Not too sure about your Elegance' date=' but on my Octy vRS I have powerflex bushes on the standard front ARB, and a Neuspeed 28mm adjustable rear ARB, and together with Eibachs, really tightens up the handling.

I am told there is quite a bt of work to change the front ARB, but the Golf R32 front ARB seems to be the cheapest option.[/quote']

what is the thickness of the standard front ARB on the vRS.???

Not too sure if its 21 or 23mm.

Standard front Octy vRS ARB is 21mm thick.

The R32 Golf is 23mm thick.

The Neuspeed Audi TT Front ARB which fits the Octy is 25mm.

The front is difficult to fit as you have to have the lower subframe dropped down to remove the ARB to enable fitment of the new ARB.

i have the Neuspeed 25mm Front ARB and the 28mm rear ARB fitted and they have tightened the handling up considerable.

Beretta's is firmer than mine due to the Eibach lowered springs but its not to firm.

They are a well worth the cash for a dramatic improvement to the Octy handling.

I would go for the rear ARB first then decide what to spend your cash on.

what is the thickness of the standard front ARB on the vRS.???

Not a vRS but I measured my Elegance front arb at 23mm, i.e. same as the later vRS!

Personally I think the last thing an Elegance needs is any further stiffening of the front ARB, it understeers plenty as it is! I'd like to fit a rear ARB to neutralise the handling but have held back due to the increased premium quoted by my insurer.

I was thinking 23mm ARB at front is ok, but would like to have something at rear.

What year is your elegance?

Also i was told R32 wouldn't fit my TDI elegance, not sure if this applies to your 1.8T elegance too.

Before you splash the cash on a new front ARB, do for the rear ARB firstly, probably the 25mm on standard suspension. It is a DIY fit so long as you can jack the back of the car completely off the ground on axle stands. The Neuspeed kit has 3 positions for attaching the link to the trailing arm shock mount so you can adjust the apparent stiffness anyhow. Mine runs standard bushes all round, standard front ARB, and 25mm rear ARB and H&R coil overs and to be honest it turns in sufficient for my liking.

I was thinking 23mm ARB at front is ok' date=' but would like to have something at rear.

What year is your elegance?

[/quote']

Mine's an 02, April I think.

I didn't think the R32 ARB would fit non RS models due to the different suspension layout.....I'm sure someone can confirm either way.

The Neuspeed adjustable ARB is very good...a bit of a bitch to fit though particular the beam hangers.

Rob has VRS struts on his Elegance so the R32 ARB should fit. Try asking in "ask-a-tech" though as Ross knows the ins and outs of what models can use which ARB's.

With standard Elegance suspension the VRS/R32/S3 ARB wont fit.

Nuespeed do an uprated adjustable ARB for the Elegance (non GTi MK4 Golf)

I wouldnt do just the rear on an Elegance because the difference between front and rear would be huge in comparison to the VRS (which has a thicker front bar as standard)

From Skoda tech documentation I happen to have:

RS one are 23mm (f) and 21.7mm ®

Elegance are 21mm and 18.7mm respectively

Means the new 25mm ones will be over twice as stiff at the front and more than 3 times as stiff at the rear

HTH

Am I being dim? I thought there was no rear ARB on the Octavia - or do you specifically mean the Octy II?

Ok so basically muchos confusion here then.

The elegance may or may not have a rear ARB :S

I was wondering if it would be bad to put a front and rear arb of the same stiffness, eg 23 and 23 or would it be better to go 23/25mm(f) 21/23mm®

To clarify The MKI Octavia Elegance has no rear ARB.

To clarify [b']The MKI Octavia Elegance has no rear ARB.[/b]

Ok thats good, would also explain why I couldn't find it earlier when looking

So would it be a good thing to match the front and rear, eg 23mm & 23mm or to have the front stiffer than the rear?

Thanks

I dont know - you're better off waiting for someone like Jon "TaviaRS" to answer that one

Well i've got the Neuspeed 28mm rear one and the 25mm front one and they transformed the body control.

As already stated here go for the rear ARB first then if you feel you need more control on the front change that.

Well i've got the Neuspeed 28mm rear one and the 25mm front one and they transformed the body control.

As already stated here go for the rear ARB first then if you feel you need more control on the front change that.

On an Elegance ?

To clarify [b']The MKI Octavia Elegance has no rear ARB.[/b]

Urm, yes it does. It is welded inside the beam which is a C section. You cannot remove it.

HTH

My friend's L&K has front and rear 25mm Eibach ARBs IIRC

Right then. I have an Elegance with vRS springs and dampers all round so what would be my best option to go with then????

I was originally going to just do the rear on its own but some people have said it may not be the way to go so i am very confused now:confused:

What i am trying to achieve is a faster more responsive turn into corners with less body roll, not that i find body roll too much of an issue anyway.

I have a VRs and have just had fitted a 25mm rear Neuspeed ARB. I have it on the middle setting and it has reduced body roll noticably, car corners much flatter now. I have only had it a few days so I'm not sure if I'll change the front ARB yet.

Right then. I have an Elegance with vRS springs and dampers all round so what would be my best option to go with then????

I was originally going to just do the rear on its own but some people have said it may not be the way to go so i am very confused now:confused:

What i am trying to achieve is a faster more responsive turn into corners with less body roll' date=' not that i find body roll too much of an issue anyway.[/quote']

Do rear first. Front is already stiffer than rear hence understeer...if I've got this round the right way this time.