Front ARB snapped?! -Any recommended VAG specialists in/near Portsmouth?

[Rawsharc]

Hi all,

I have a 1.2 S and as of yesterday the front driverside suspension area started making some really bad clunking noises over certain bumps.
Had it looked at today and apparently the ARB has broken ive searched the forum and the net and now kind of understand what the ARB does, but im still slightly confused!

The job sheet readout is as follows;
Investigate knocking noise from front suspension
it is safe, found fault to be with broken anti roll bar unit, requires roll bar and bushes.

Parts required;
S6Q0411305AL N/STK Stabiliser 1 at £38.20
S6Q0411314N N/STK Rubber Mou 2 at 3.24 ea

Can anyone explain to me what the parts actually are and where i need to look under the car to see what they mean by "broken"! Im assuming (hoping) the bushes mentioned here are different to the bushes that hold the wishbone in? i recently had mine upgraded to cupra (solid) ones and i dont want new ones already!

Oh and the quoted price from a SEAT stealer....£278.37 all up

Cheers

 

[pete34a]

I just had the same issue on my Sport tdi130. Apparently on older models the ARB had a design flaw. The shoulder that the ARB bushes locate against are prone to breaking. This causes the ARB to move sideways and rubs on the subframe, causing the knocking noise.

From the prices quted, I'm guessing:

- S6Q0411305AL N/STK Stabiliser is the new ARB
- S6Q0411314N N/STK Rubber Mou are the new ARB bushes

ARB bushes are different to the wishbone bushes that you've had replaced for cupra versions. They hold the ARB in place and allow it to rotate. You'll probably want to include new droplinks too (about £40 for the pair) as you're having work done already - shouldn't cost any more labour time.

The parts prices look reasonable, but the total quote sounds expensive! I was charged 2 hours labour at an independent specialist (Europerformance, South Wales). I think the total (inc. parts) was about £180

 

[Rawsharc]

Thanks for the info, its a 52 plate so i guess it falls into the older model category What do the droplinks do and after fixing does a 4 wheel alignment need to be done?

Do you think il be able to see the break without ramps and if so where do i need to look?

Cheers

 

[pete34a]

Yeah, mine is a 52 plate too - def an old model! I also had the steering sensor issue common on older cars

The new ARB should have metal shoulders welded on, not plastic as they'll be on your car.

The drop links connect either end of the ARB to the suspension struts. I think they're prone to failure too so might be worth changing them at the same time.

You might be able to see the problem without a ramp. If you look behing the wheel you'll see the ARB (an 18mm diameter steel bar) curling round and passing under the subframe. The ARB bush should be visible, mounted to the underside of the subrame. If you can get you're hand in you'll feel a gap between the bush and whatever's left of the ARB shoulder.

I'm afraid you will need to get the wheel alignment done too

By the way, my CV boots also split during this work as the driveshafts were left hanging, putting extra pressure on the boots. This wasn't noticed at the time and grease pissed out everywhere when I drove it home!! Get them to check the CV boots after they've done the work as they're probably old and brittle on your car too.

 

[Rawsharc]

Hmm it sounds like its getting more and more expensive! At least its driveable at the moment! Cheers for your help.

 

[pete34a]

Call a VAG specialist, stay away from stealers! Should get it done for <£200

The car is drivable but the wheel alignment will be way off because of the ARB issue. I drove mine for a few hundred miles and the tyre wear was noticably uneven.

I'd get it done ASAP mate, then you won't end up buying new tyres as well!!!!

 

[Rawsharc]

Im probably going to take it to an ex franchise that i normally go to, but its currently 125 miles away as im at Uni! the earlierst I can take it back is next friday!!!!

Unless anyone knows of a VAG specialist near Portsmouth?

 

[pete34a]

Tyre wear shouldn't be too bad if you're only doing 125 miles.

 

[triple9tommy]

Im probably going to take it to an ex franchise that i normally go to, but its currently 125 miles away as im at Uni! the earlierst I can take it back is next friday!!!!

Unless anyone knows of a VAG specialist near Portsmouth?

JKM
wwwDOTjkmDOTorgDOTuk
Looking at them for some future work


Been advised these are pretty good too mate
Independant VW Servicing in Chandlers Ford are good too ive heard [Southampton]

 

[Rawsharc]

jkm it is! ran her up there a moment ago and shes now in for friday! was told i didnt need new drop bars so thats £40 saved!

really nice up there and the best bit......its only going to cost £140ish.

Kings Seat at £270+

 

[Gooner_Mike]

JKM are a quality bunch! Defo recommended...

 

[RUM4MO]

jkm it is! ran her up there a moment ago and shes now in for friday! was told i didnt need new drop bars so thats £40 saved!

really nice up there and the best bit......its only going to cost £140ish.

Kings Seat at £270+

I'd check up that they know what this job entails and that a four wheel re-alignment is included in that price - I'd also reckon (gut feeling) that they will not have an alignment bench so that is why you have not been quoted for the job to include that. If you are handy with a few tools, you could fit two jubilee clips on each side of the bar to stop the ARB walking left <> right and hitting the consoles. I would not expect much in the way of uneven tyre wear when the ARB is u/s unless you really rag it around - the ARB is only there to transfer weight to keep the wheels on the road and cut back on roll.

Edit, I think that the advice to change the drop links was good advice - saves doing that job in the near future - once again are these fixers saving you money or wasting your time, but maybe you are giving them the impression that you only want the bear minimum of work done - which leads back to just fitting some jubilee clips if you don't really want to spend money and sort this out!

 

[Rawsharc]

I'd check up that they know what this job entails and that a four wheel re-alignment is included in that price - I'd also reckon (gut feeling) that they will not have an alignment bench so that is why you have not been quoted for the job to include that. If you are handy with a few tools, you could fit two jubilee clips on each side of the bar to stop the ARB walking left <> right and hitting the consoles. I would not expect much in the way of uneven tyre wear when the ARB is u/s unless you really rag it around - the ARB is only there to transfer weight to keep the wheels on the road and cut back on roll.

Edit, I think that the advice to change the drop links was good advice - saves doing that job in the near future - once again are these fixers saving you money or wasting your time, but maybe you are giving them the impression that you only want the bear minimum of work done - which leads back to just fitting some jubilee clips if you don't really want to spend money and sort this out!

Cheers for the suggestion, the original price quoted from them was for dropping the sub-frame, changing the bar and bushes and realignment/tracking at about an hour or so labour. The price included the cost of the genuine VAG bits required so as far as i can see the price is true! JKM seem to get some really good writeups on here so hopfully it will be all ok.
I agree the drop links advice is good, however the mech who came and looked at the problem gave them a good tug/test and reckons they are fine.