Hub Spreader Tool 3424 for MkIV Ibiza..

[TheCraig]

Finished! Thank god for that! It was a doddle once I finally managed to get the spring off! Now theres a dilema - Ive got all the other gear to do the other side (not broken), and the car seems to be sitting level anyway - Do I do it just for the sake of having new springs on both sides, or do I save myself the pain and anguish and just leave it (can get a bit of cash back on the parts i didnt use).... Also, i had left the interior light on since last friday so it was flat as a pancake, had to bump start it!

 

[RUM4MO]

If it was me I'd do the other side then get on with life (it might fail soon as both springs will have corroded by the same ammount and will both be from the same production batch).

Also if you now feel the need to get replace the TCA rear bushes for Cupra ones then get a four wheel alignment done, you can forget about anything going wrong in this area - as long as the ARB is the newer type with the steel stops (I've forgotten what year your car is).

Interior light flattening the battery - that is strange I thought all VAG cars shut down these sort of power users after a certain period - even my daughter's previous Ibixa always did that.

 

[TheCraig]

Also if you now feel the need to get replace the TCA rear bushes for Cupra ones then get a four wheel alignment done, you can forget about anything going wrong in this area - as long as the ARB is the newer type with the steel stops (I've forgotten what year your car is).
.

Its an 03 TDI Sport... Its actually booked in to get the anti roll bar done next thursday, The parts have been waiting at the stealers since monday (havent been able to collect them!)- But its going to my local garage - 75 quid fitted seems reasonable enough to me.

I have till saturday to decide if im doing the othe spring - thats when the spring compressors have to go back.

Any idea what those rear bushes cost?

 

[muddyboots]

If you've got the bits to hand, you've got the tools hired, and you've already managed to do the difficult side - I think it would be daft not to do the other side.

 

[RUM4MO]

The TCA rear bushes are only about £8 each but there is quite a lot of work involved with changing them - some of that work will already need to be done changing the ARB so if you are every going to do this work (and use Cupra bushes), then now is the time to do it and save a fortune on labour and four wheel alignment. I think the bush p/n is on here somewhere - it starts 6LL then the rest is the same (the long number bit) as for your car - you just drop the 6Q0 or something part.

Remember changing the ARB means dropping the crossmember and that is one of the reasons that the four wheel alignment is required.

 

[mixupz]

cant you just change the ARB bushes and the brackets without dropping the crossmember?

 

[RUM4MO]

Well in the real world you might think so, that was why I just bought the new ARB and mounting bushes, put the car up on ramps - then thought OHHHHH!

These cars were not designed to have changing ARBs made easy - its just a pity VAG then fitted crappy ARBs on to them - but look on the bright side, if you are a fixer then you are minted!!

The TCA rear bush changing is a repeat of my first statement above - and there again they just went and used crappy bushes - common theme here? - yes these cars are Skodas at heart!!


Sorry, but I've re-read your posting and you said ARB bushes - if it is only the bushes you are getting changed then that is different - is your ARB okay, ie no cracked plastic end stops? Even 03 cars, well it depends when it was actually made, ended up with the dreaded crappy ARB I think.

 

[mixupz]

Sorry, but I've re-read your posting and you said ARB bushes - if it is only the bushes you are getting changed then that is different - is your ARB okay, ie no cracked plastic end stops? Even 03 cars, well it depends when it was actually made, ended up with the dreaded crappy ARB I think.

I have been suffering from the dreaded squeaking for a while now (ever since i put on coilovers) I have shorter droplinks and cant see any rub marks etc on the inside of the arch or associated areas..My dad is an ex-mechanic but im afraid of all the hard work involved..it looks like my ARB is in fine working order so it may just be that the bushes & the clamps are dead..

so i was just wondering whether i could just replace the clamps and bushes with either new ones (same spec) or upgraded bushes and clamps then change the ARB to the thicker VRs down the line when i can pay a garage for the trouble

 

[TheCraig]

Well as you can probably tell, im not really mechanically minded, and after the carry on ive had with the suspension, I booked the car in to get the arb done. when I went to SEAT for the parts, I asked for the ARB, and all associated bits that need changing. - So I have the ARB, 2 bushes (Are these the TCA bushes you speak of) and 2 clips. They just got me the ones that were right according to the chassis number for my car. So, is there a cupra replacement for the bushes I have just ordered?

The Arb that is currently on my car has the horrible plastic end bits - whats more, i only had half on each side - the top half of both of them were gone! Im assuming the new one will have somthing different to the crap plastic ends on em!

 

[TheCraig]

Spooky

I got nthe feeling somthing wasnt right on my way home from work tonight... so checked the passenger side... lo and behold, the passenger side spring has gone!

At least ive got the gear and some prior knowledge of how to do it!

 

[danmay]

jeez you're unlucky!

 

[RUM4MO]

Well as you can probably tell, im not really mechanically minded, and after the carry on ive had with the suspension, I booked the car in to get the arb done. when I went to SEAT for the parts, I asked for the ARB, and all associated bits that need changing. - So I have the ARB, 2 bushes (Are these the TCA bushes you speak of) and 2 clips. They just got me the ones that were right according to the chassis number for my car. So, is there a cupra replacement for the bushes I have just ordered?

The Arb that is currently on my car has the horrible plastic end bits - whats more, i only had half on each side - the top half of both of them were gone! Im assuming the new one will have somthing different to the crap plastic ends on em!

Right, if you have bought the newer ARB your dealer will have given you the correct mounting bushes and clamps for that new ARB (the bar diameter at the clamping point will now be smaller than it was when the original bar with the plastic stops was fitted). The new TCA bushes either Cupra or non Cupra will be round cylidrical rubber bushes with a hole in the centre - if non Cupra the p/n will be 6QO ****** and have a nylon outer skin and a larger tapered outer at the front end - if Cupra the p/n will be 6LL ****** and have an ouer aluminium skin with just a stepped front end. Either way I would ask you to seriously consider getting the Cupra TCA rear bush - as fitting this would mean that you will only need to get this work done once - and saving money by doing all this work at the same time - not like me getting hammered twice within 12 months - it hurts!! BTW the newer bars have steel stops - so should last a lot longer.

 

[RUM4MO]

I have been suffering from the dreaded squeaking for a while now (ever since i put on coilovers) I have shorter droplinks and cant see any rub marks etc on the inside of the arch or associated areas..My dad is an ex-mechanic but im afraid of all the hard work involved..it looks like my ARB is in fine working order so it may just be that the bushes & the clamps are dead..

so i was just wondering whether i could just replace the clamps and bushes with either new ones (same spec) or upgraded bushes and clamps then change the ARB to the thicker VRs down the line when i can pay a garage for the trouble

Changing the bushes should be okay - just need to compress the suspension to get one bolt and extend it to get the other on each side (I seem to remember), changing the ARB later will always mean dropping the crossmember and the associated costs to set the alignment back up. Anyone trying to improve their car should always get a four wheel alignment carried out after changing running heights etc - if you leave this task out you might as well just leave the new bits in the boot and claim you've got them on (or in) the car.

 

[nedge2k]

Update - the Laser Tools part you need is 3396

Thank you! Couldn't find it on their site as they'd called it "strut nut tool"