Hi, Hope somebody can help me with this, I have read the previous four pages and I'm a little unsure which of the problems I may be suffering from.

I have a 54 plate 04 Fabia VRS, with a nasty knocking ( more metal over metal ) sound when steering, usually when passing aound 60 - 70 % full lock, so usually at low (parking) speed. Because of the age of the car I'm not sure if I have the ARB bush problem, or some other fault.

Skoda have replaced O/S/F Track arm, both drop links, PAS steering rack and wheel bushes both sides, but have now given the car back with "assurances" that everything is tight and secure, and not to worry about the noise (D M Keith Bradford by the way). The cynic in me thinks they were humouring me until the car was out of warranty (it is now).

I'm strugling to see which of your helpful tips I should be following, as I have no mechanical knowledge, just a string of receipts... And I'm starting to worry, surely the Dealer should know whats wrong !

Other than this, great cars, and once this is sorted I look forward to many more years of ownership.

Seeing as four days have gone by, I thought I'd just post to let you know that some people are listening! Broken ARB issue, I'd hope that by the time your car was built that if VRS were ever built with these duff ARBs, then your car would be fitted with the later type. A short non technical guide as to whither the ARB is "old type" - look at the pictures at the beginning of this thread, especially the "collar" - look at both sides - do they look identical and are the collars tight up against the clamping brackets, the one in the picture has moved along from its clamping bracket so is u/s, also if you have a small magnet, touch the collar with it - if the ARB is older type the magnet will not stick to it as its plastic - if new type the magnet will stick to it as its steel. For piece of mind you might need to get an independant VAG specialist to check it out for you.

Thanks rum4mo could you, or do you know anybody who might be able to recommend a VAG Specialist in the Bradford / West Yorkshire area ?

I dont get a knocking when cornering, but i do get one when braking, could this be this problem?

All my bushes have gone thanks to a bodged re-asembelly (my mechanic suspetcs the front assemeblly was dropped, torqued up with the wheels hanging down, and then re positioned.. idiots)..anyways.

I get the knocking when breaking hevily as the ARB thunks backwards.. then, as I pull off it thunks back against the front....

Could be your bushes.. either way, a thunk whilst breaking needs looking into! If it's your first car with ABS it could be your not familer with the sound as it forced the pedal, and brakes to back off, if it's only under heavy breaking.. would sound similer to the ABS self check "thunk" as you first pull of when you start the car.

Thanks rum4mo could you, or do you know anybody who might be able to recommend a VAG Specialist in the Bradford / West Yorkshire area ?

Sorry but I'm from the land of kilts and haggis - but I'm sure someone else will step in with the necessary information - I think this site should create a list area by area.

Bushes okay, even the TCA rear ones?!? Your car must be very new or low mileage, anyway broken road springs seems to be very common as well - hope you changed both sides!

I Changed one i found the other one broken at the top Sat getting the spring Mon

I am A cheapo

This is a common fault with early Fabias, Polos, and Ibiza's

The front anti roll bars on these earlier cars were fitted with plastic collar on either side to stop the roll bar from moving side to side in its bushes.

However the design was flawed. If the anti roll bar started to corode underneath the bush the resulting expansion due to rust caused the collar to crack and fall off.

VW Groups answer as I understand it is / was to design an anti roll bar with either integral or seperate (cant remember now) metal collars. This is why you anti roll bar will have been replaced along with the bushes which will have been distorted as the anti roll bar was forced horizontally with suspension movement

Regards

Gavin

P.S. I believe my wifes car is just about to fail its MOT on this very point!!!

This is a common fault with early Fabias, Polos, and Ibiza's

The front anti roll bars on these earlier cars were fitted with plastic collar on either side to stop the roll bar from moving side to side in its bushes.

However the design was flawed. If the anti roll bar started to corode underneath the bush the resulting expansion due to rust caused the collar to crack and fall off.

VW Groups answer as I understand it is / was to design an anti roll bar with either integral or seperate (cant remember now) metal collars. This is why you anti roll bar will have been replaced along with the bushes which will have been distorted as the anti roll bar was forced horizontally with suspension movement

Regards

Gavin

P.S. I believe my wifes car is just about to fail its MOT on this very point!!!

I have not checked earlier postings on this thread, but all this has been covered many times before. In fact for your information, when the ARB is changed to "new" type, different sized bushes are required as the ARB is now "smaller" at the clamping point because part of the plastic stops are no longer there as the stops are steel. I think that all you need to know about these early problems can be found on this forum or on the "ask a tech" forum. Also I hope that you have checked up on some of the other areas of concern, ie TCA rear bushes and ARB drop links.

Looked again to see where that noise was coming from front ARB bushes are ok rubber stops r still there but the Drivers side looks diffrent from pas and some kind person on here said to check the back ones I DONT have one on the back:eek:

Looked again to see where that noise was coming from front ARB bushes are ok rubber stops r still there but the Drivers side looks diffrent from pas and some kind person on here said to check the back ones I DONT have one on the back:eek:

No no no, if it was me, I was referring to the (front) TCA rear bushes - the big voided things that are located in the consoles - the rear locating/swivelling pin of the TCA is located in these things and they can rip.

Oh, and the driver's side and passenger's side should look the same - if not the plastic stop/collar (if that variant of ARB is still fitted) has failed. If I were you, I'd grab the ARB after it bends - near the junction with the droplink, and pull-push it, there should be very little movement possible - if there is movement, your ARB has failed because it is probably still the original version.

Cheers i did all that Friday had the 4 wheels of just to check every thing because as i was doing the disks i found the hex bolts on the calipers finger tight

Just a quicky to add to this thread I read ages ago when I had a suspicious knocking noise coming from the front end of my car, took it to the garage thinking it would be need the anti roll bar replacing and it turned out theres a rubber stopper on both sides of the bonet that makes a knocking noise if not greased.

Are there also front wishbone bushes (front TCA front bushes) from Seat Ibiza Cupra which can be fitted also instead of my originals vRS ones?

HORAYYYYYY ! !

Fixed at last, and in warranty, despite running out in Decemeber. Got my car back yesterday after leaving at the dealer for 3 weeks.

Nearside suspension strut insert. Very sneaky apparently, (it must be, they have had it five times)

Top tip for main dealers, if you want work actually completing...

Get a courtesy car from them and refuse to give it back until the work is complete. Worked for me ! !

Thanks for all the advice

Dan