I see that there are some old threads relating to the problem of the anti-roll bar sleeve inside the bushes coming detached allowing the bar itself to move side to side. My car has recently developed this problem. Does anyone know if the problem was subject to a product recall as I am skint this month after just fitting a new cam belt / pulleys and water pump to my 2001 Fabia 1.9 TDi Elegance Estate, and I dont really want to pay out for a new bar if I can get it free under an old recall that was not done on it early in its life.

Many thanks

Steve

Sorry no idea regarding the recall, however, I too have had this problem and have recently had my local garage weld a couple of washers to the offending anti-roll bar and all seems well so far. Cost me £20...

Oah' also I enquired at skoda and they told me they didn't supply replacement sleeves and I would need to buy a new anti-roll bar to rectify the problem. £45 and my local garage quoted £85 to fit, as the front sub-frame assembly will need to be dropped to change the bar over.

Yeah thats right, we can only supply a new bar, and fitted at a dealer is about 140quid!

I can do a good deal on the part if you want one Steve, come see me, or drop me a text.

Cheers

Didn't this tend to affect the earlier Fabias more than the later ones?

I'm sure I heard they changed the powder coat to be a bit more resilient on the later bars.

Then again it could have been the crack I smoked earlier......

HAHAH.

Is the same on all AFAIK... the crappy plaggy retainer replaced for a metal one...

I have just had my car MOT'd and told that I will need to have a new anti roll bar fitted over the coming months. This is going to cost me £250 at the main dealership. Does anyone have any suggections on how to get this fitted any cheaper?????

Try an independant garage.

Just to confirm... this affects the non-vRS models only?

Usually non VRS.

Hi you'll find that the new anti roll bar supplied has been modified and prevents the bush sleeve from coming out and to replace it would take about a hour and can be done in half an hour once you've done a couple.

Hi you'll find that the new anti roll bar supplied has been modified and prevents the bush sleeve from coming out and to replace it would take about a hour and can be done in half an hour once you've done a couple.

Yes I agree, but you really need to "index" the cross member before dropping it otherwise the suspension bits that hang on to this cross member, ie the TCAs will not end up in the correct position so your tracking etc will be out. By the way, the original ARBs had plastic stops fixed on to them, the later ones have metal stops - the plastic sleeve bit of the stops got split by the bar that it covered rusting - that leaves the ARB free to slide side to side. Along with the new ARB you will need new rubber mounts as the bar at the mounting points is now smaller (no plastic sleeve over it) and quite a few new bolts - if you are going to do the job properly. The VAG dealerships have a set of indexing studs that they can use to avoid the need to do a four wheel alignment after dropping and refitting the cross member. You will save a lot of money doing this job yourself, but it will cost you a lump of money to set up the front suspension afterwards - might be cheaper to get a good local VAG indep specialist to do this work, he will probably need to charge you for a four wheel alignment as he will not have an indexing kit - but total cost should be lower than dealer. I think that this part failure should have been the subject of a recall - that would have wakened up Skoda, VW and Seat - now if they had sold these cars in USA it certainly would have been a recall or a revolt! We are just mugs!

I had this done a few months ago, and admittedly have been driving round without the undertray for while, as all the screwholes have split, but it sounds like the bushes are squeaking like buggery - especailly when they get wet. I'm assuming they shouldn't need lube other than to help them fit - is it likely to be dodgy fitting or an issue with the other suspension parts that might have been damaged whilst the problem with the bar developed & it was knocking about?

Any ideas apprecaited

I had this done a few months ago, and admittedly have been driving round without the undertray for while, as all the screwholes have split, but it sounds like the bushes are squeaking like buggery - especailly when they get wet. I'm assuming they shouldn't need lube other than to help them fit - is it likely to be dodgy fitting or an issue with the other suspension parts that might have been damaged whilst the problem with the bar developed & it was knocking about?

Any ideas apprecaited

What age and model is your Fabia? It sounds like your current problem could be TCA bushes - have they ever been replaced, if your car is a few years old then it could be this that is causing your latest problem - or did someone not fit the correct (smaller) mounting bushes for the new ARB - or maybe now its your droplinks that are the problem. If the TCA bushes are badly torn, when you look at them you will see that the "peg" end of the TCA will be sitting away from the bush centre, or with the car on level ground and handbrake on - plus out of gear - try to move the front wheel violently back and forwards - you should feel the movement and hear "something". Lastly, if you ever need to cross raised kerbs you should get the rubbery squeaking at that time and during power ON/OFF.

Its a 2001 estate SDI and I don' think the bushes ever have been done. It might be this, especially as it is far more acute with the power engaged/ disengaged. Justa bit co incidental that it happened after the ARB had been fixed. Shall have look when I won't get so wet doing it.

Cheers

I too have anti-roll bar bush problems and have been told need new roll bar. However, the only cosmetic problem is knocking at low speed over bumps and mechanic said it is safe to drive. My questions therefore are:

1. Is this an MOT failure, or will it be by May when it need doing?

2. Is car safe to drive long term without it being done

3. I also have a slight tracking issue - could this be related to rollbar?

4. Is there any possibility of getting replacement bushes from a scrappie (would they bother taking it all apart for just this bit)

Hi

My ARB has been knocking for ages now!!!

It did not fail the last MOT so I hope not

The car I have driven for approx 40k with it knocking , I suppose the only thing it is damaging is the ARB but that is past its best anyway :(

Dont think it would be down to the tracking problem , but could be worth getting a geo set up anyway to get that sorted

If you need a new ARB it may be best to do it all together?

Not worth going to the scrappies for the bushes , as it is common to fail anyway

Hope that helps?

Sarah

My fathers Fabia failed its last MOT on its front anti roll bar last September.

Its one of the first Fabias, April 2000, but had only covered 35k.

Skoda dealer could only fit a new one, which they did for around £180, saying Skoda only supplied the full item.

Found out since Butts will supply individual bushes.

And yes it did chop the front tyres, but not exessively.

Had my anti roll bar snap in july 2003,drove it to the dealer for them to check.Would not let me drive it so they kept the car,just out of warranty and paid £120 for it.But got refunded for it.

pete

I had this problem at 75,000 and found the handing suffered quite a bit.

To keep you going you can remove the bush from the side that is broken, build up the diameter of the ARB with a length of 22mm copper water pipe (split in half) and use a jubilee clip to hold this on and restrain things side to side. You wil need to centre up the ARB first

I carried on like this until I had time to drop the crossmember.

Given the choice now I would [get someone to] weld the washers on and then fit smaller diameter ARB rubber bushes.

I don't think you will have much luck with the warrenty.

Cheers

G,

I had this problem at 75,000 and found the handing suffered quite a bit.

To keep you going you can remove the bush from the side that is broken, build up the diameter of the ARB with a length of 22mm copper water pipe (split in half) and use a jubilee clip to hold this on and restrain things side to side. You wil need to centre up the ARB first

I carried on like this until I had time to drop the crossmember.

Given the choice now I would [get someone to] weld the washers on and then fit smaller diameter ARB rubber bushes.

I don't think you will have much luck with the warrenty.

Cheers G,

Yes, if the split plastic stop is still on the bar, it is best to drag the ARB across so that the intact stop is hard up against the bracket, push the split bush hard up against the other bracket and fit a couple of jubilee clips to hold this split stop in place and a couple to protect against failure of the one that is not split. Then save up for an ARB and get it replaced - dropping and refitting the cross member without the correct indexing studs means you will need to pay for a full four wheel alignment as all the fixing bolt holes are over sized. Running with a "floating" ARB is a mug's game and it will wear quite a lot of aluminium off its new stops - which are the consoles!

I too have anti-roll bar bush problems and have been told need new roll bar.

4. Is there any possibility of getting replacement bushes from a scrappie (would they bother taking it all apart for just this bit)

Usually, with the early cars it is not the rubber mounting bushes that have failed - if they have it is very cheap to buy new ones - it is the plastic ARB stops that break free - so there is nothing that you can get at a scrappy - unless you get a nearly new later style bar that has metal stops - but check colour of paint marking or measure diameter of the bar - you will need this to get the correct bar or to buy new fitting parts to use this bar on your car.

Found out since Butts will supply individual bushes.

What is 'Butts'?

Found out since Butts will supply individual bushes.

What is 'Butts'?

Butts is a Skoda dealer that is willing to trade on the internet - I think.

Anyway, any VAG dealer will supply you with ARB mounting bushes, they only need to know the bar diameter and is it is the original bar with plastic collar/stop (bigger bushes) or later bar with metal stop (no collar so smaller bushes).

Usually non VRS.

Interesting. My VRs was in for its 30K service and first MOT yesterday and they nailed me for the £205 bill to replace the ARB. I queried whether it would pass the MOT without it and it did. I then queried whether my warranty (bought s/hand at the start of this year with 12 months apparently) would cover it. Queue lots of scrambling and a "well, it hasn't been registered as having a warranty" bull.

I feel a long and angry fight with them coming on.

Butts of Bawtry is an independent Skoda spare parts supplier in Bawtry, near Doncaster. Try their website.