Front Anti Roll Bar for an Leon Cupra

[Pabs]

Hi peeps

quick question really.

I have seen FK make a front ARB for the leon when lowering. Neuspeed also do them, but they seem expensive in comparison (FK one is £85+vat)

Anyway:

Do you need to have adjustable drop links as well as the ARB, or does the arb fix any rubbing/hitting problems on its own?

Is the front arb from a golf r32 any different to the standard one on the LC? If not, are there any OE VAG ARB's (all those acronyms lol) that could be used instead?

Finally, the rear ARB seems a piece of cake to install, is it worth doing rear AND front? From what I have read the rear reduces understeer, just thought i'd check to see if people really think its worth the £200 ish.


Cheers guys/gals

 

[m0rk]

the reason I could see you'd want an ARB for a lowered car is the 'loop' that goes over the driveshaft would need to be a different shape to clear all the time.

Neuspeed always seems more expensive, but the quality is top notch

 

[WeeJase]

R32 is thicker pabs,and circa 75 quid with fittings +vat,noted as a good upgrade on the cupra,not sure about the lowering bit.
but i remember bonrath selling adjustable drop links for the mk4 golf some time back

 

[CupraUK]

I think I read somewhere that the S3 one fits the Cupra too and is quite cheap (is this the same as the R32 one?)

 

[WeeJase]

I think I read somewhere that the S3 one fits the Cupra too and is quite cheap (is this the same as the R32 one?)

i think they are one and the same(don't quote me though)

 

[Pabs]

ok thanks for that.

Does anyone know how much the r32 one retails at, roughly?
Thinking about getting one - just didnt know if the OE VAG parts did the same job at a cheaper price?

I would assume that I'd need droplinks as well as the arb to sort out my front end then, and then get a neuspeed arb for the rear (unless there are other cheaper options - £200 for a bar and a few other bits does seem expensive to me)

I know FK suggest drop links if the driveshaft/arb (cant remember which) is larger than 42mm? Does this sound right?

I havent lowered a lot.. about 30mm all round i think.

 

[Pabs]

oh, and what fixings would be required for the front?

 

[paul h]

pabs R32 arb goes under the driveshaft rather than over it so it cures the rubbing.
they also fix to the damper like on the cupra r.i had one fitted to my mk4 golf

 

[cupra R con]

its the worst job i have ever undertaken on the Leon, i wont comment on quality, other than to say i have no problems with my Eibach kit, but just make sure you only do the job once.

 

[Freewheelin']

I have the FK ARB fitted because the standard one was catching the drive shafts on corners, especially the driver's side. Car is on FK Highsports but the ride height was raised (now approx 35mm drop) at the same time as the FK ARB was fitted so although the 'catching' problem is solved can't say how much the FK ARB contributed to this. Guy who fitted it said it was the same diameter as the standard item, so not an upgrade in the sense the Neuspeed ARB is. FK don't make a rear ARB. Can't comment on whether the FK ARB on its own changed the handling - it is better but I think that's more to do with raising the ride height which has allowed the suspension to work better. It was simply too low before. As has been noted elsewhere I think there is a problem with the Highsports in that the spring rates are too soft and cannot deal effectively with uneven surfaces.

I would recommend the FK ARB if your cars lowered 30-35mm and still catching on the drive shafts - unless you want to spend a lot more. If you go for the Neuspeed ARB's you'd probably want to change front and rear and would be (if memory serves me right) around £400 plus fitting. I think its questionable whether the Highsports are good enough to warrant that sort of upgrade.

 

[Pabs]

Well, I am thinking of doing front drop links and then rear ARB, as front might be a bit OTT for me..... Just trying to compare the R32 Front ARB and the FK front ARB, might still do it, but only if I do the rear as well.

Jason has been helping me lots on MSN, so thanks for that matey

 

[J@mes]

sorry but wats this rubbing issue of the drive shafts on the ARB once lowered????

will i get this prob now im lowered 35mm?

how will i know if i have this problem? any noises to watch out for?

thanks

 

[Pabs]

corner hard - if you hear a strange noise then bingo.

I have a certain motorway slip road which basically is >360degree spiral, so its a tight cornering where I can hear it knock.. admittedly i have to drive a little faster (40mph+) than the recommended 30mph to get it to happen, but it means track days and hard cornering will produce knocking.

 

[J@mes]

pabs R32 arb goes under the driveshaft rather than over it so it cures the rubbing.
they also fix to the damper like on the cupra r.i had one fitted to my mk4 golf

does the LCR one go under or over?

think il have to push my car a bit then pabs!

 

[Freewheelin']

Yep.... just find a long left-hand corner which tightens (motorway slip roads are ideal) and build up some lateral g's through the corner. You'll soon hear if you have a problem

 

[paul h]

lcr goes over.
james you will be fine at -35mm you only really gets problems around -50mm

 

[J@mes]

oh right cool

 

[WeeJase]

Well, I am thinking of doing front drop links and then rear ARB, as front might be a bit OTT for me..... Just trying to compare the R32 Front ARB and the FK front ARB, might still do it, but only if I do the rear as well.

Jason has been helping me lots on MSN, so thanks for that matey

np mate,i'm going r32 front with the neuspeed rear i have already,i'd love to be able to lower mine but the driveway dictates otherwise,uprated standard height suspension is what i am looking at (if there is such a thing)if the r32 one goes under the drive shafts then surely this is the way forward with a lowered car?saves buying quite expensive polybushed after market drop links

 

[Pabs]

hmmm ok, so i should only need two arb's.... no drop links....
Or, just do drop links, and if i want later on a rear arb....

 

[Pabs]

ok.
LOADS of research on this one. I just missed out on an R32 ARB on ebay - went for £22!
However, feel lucky i didnt win it - as it wouldnt fit my car. The R32 ARB actually gets connected to the suspension itself, and it won't fit the FK Highsports (only the KW's) as they don't have the bolting point on them.

Right, I've got some pictures below which I found on ukmkiv's - they have helped me understand the problem no-end.

I think I'll try droplinks first - but I need to try and find a supplier of adjustable ones as I can only find VF ones (fixed and expensive) and i hear of Bonrath but don't find suppliers of them.

The front ARB fitting seems a lot of work - and without the confidence/tools to do it myself I'd be looking at 3hrs of labour from a garage, which can make things expensive.