I'm intending to replace the ARB mounting bushes with Powerflex ASAP (-It's got worse lately, so I'm hoping that there's no damage to the bar itself.....). I just need to measure the ARB diameter first.

Which other, easily accessed, bushings could sharpen the steering 'feel' if replaced with polyutherane ones?

-Don't get me wrong, it's no worse than other VAG cars on the same platform, but the steering feel, combined with the low geared rack, is the only slight negative about the vRS. Admittedly, when pressing on it's less noticeable than on slow twisties.

Dogbone mount for the engine

Wishbone bushes make a big difference along with the rear beam bushes (these are a pain in th ebackside! :grumpy: )

How would the dog-bone mount improve steering? Does it just generally stiffen the front-end under acceleration?

how many wishbone bushes are there? 2 on each side?

Yep, two on each side. It stops the engine shifting about quite as much. It does move front to rear but can also shift laterally as well (but not by as much). Easy to fit too.

I may have some Powerflex ARB bushes spare, depends how much of a rush you are in. May also have some steering ones too. I'll have a look to see if they are up and mine or down at my parents'. If I have them you are more than welcome to them as they are of no use to me.

Yep' date=' two on each side. It stops the engine shifting about quite as much. It does move front to rear but can also shift laterally as well (but not by as much). Easy to fit too.

I may have some Powerflex ARB bushes spare, depends how much of a rush you are in. May also have some steering ones too. I'll have a look to see if they are up and mine or down at my parents'. If I have them you are more than welcome to them as they are of no use to me.[/quote']

Thanks for the offer. I'll need to measure the ARB diameter first. There are various sizes, even on the vRS, allegedly. I need to sort the ARB out very soon, but it'll have to be next week now. Other bushes would be gratefully received.

I've measured the ARB (at the straight section between the bushings and the connection to the strut -the only place I could get with the calipers without lifting the car) to be ~19mm. Does this sound correct for a 52 reg vRS?

Mine 19mm on my VRS 52 plate.

Dont think powerflex d uprated bushes for 19mm,think they only do 21 and 23mm.

Going to change my front and put Golf R32 23mm bar on to go with 28mm rear bar as there is a little to much oversteer now.

Having read their website, it seems that you may be right about the lack of 19mm powerflex bushes...

Have you got rear arb fitted?

My boss has got 55plate mk1 vrs and had a drive in mine last week,he cun't believe what a difference the rear bar makes.

Will worth fitting,but if your going to leave front bar standard and just change the bushes,i would go for 25mm rear bar.

The rear ARB does makes a big difference

Couple that with some Koni FSDs, Powerflex bushes all round and an uprated front ARB and the effect is :D :eek: :eek:

I've no aftermarket rear ARB fitted as I can't justify the extra insurance. I can imagine that it would make a difference though as the rear end does roll a bit compared to my old Focus.

You could always uprate your front ARB (19mm)to the front ARB from a newer MKI VRS (21 or 23mm I forget which)

There's a possibility that the the ARB bush is already >19mm. I measured the bar, but there appears to be a 'shim' around the underneath the bushing.

I meant uprate the bar to a bigger size that you can get the bushes for.

You could even go up to an R32 ARB , but doing that would sky your insurance.

A new ARB for the VRs would be just standard as it came froma vrs