Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today?

Niall · 13-06-2007, 12:56

Driving from our head office to a sattelitte office today the front left corner (from the drivers seat) of the car made a "metallic" noise when turning left at a junction onto a minor road. The noise has also been made when driving along rough tracks today as I am required to do from time to time.

I had a look behind the front wheels and something has snapped! I think it's part of the anti-roll bar?

I have attached pictures.

Is this super serious? i.e. don't go anywhere, get trailered home now
- or with a bit of gentle driving will I get home and to my local independent garage, both of which are 60 miles away? (the car is driveable but the snapped part clacks together, and more importantly is it SAFE?)

I await your response with baited breath (while clutching my AA card!)

Thanks,

Niall

gadgetman · 13-06-2007, 13:02

I wouldn't drive it any further.

Get it recovered to a garage and looked at. Not only could you do a lot of damage, but also be putting your life at risk.

**TaviaRS** · 13-06-2007, 13:03

I'd probably drive it but I know the right answer is to get it recovered.....

Niall · 13-06-2007, 15:46

Rang the local garage and described the snapped part, they reckon it should be OK to drive. Apparently most people snap the linkage and don't even realise till the garage finds it at service time!

The part's on order so should get fitted first thing tomorrow. In the meantime, gently does it......

Thanks everyone for you replies,

Niall

KenONeill · 13-06-2007, 15:51

ARB link problems aren't normally spotted until service or MoT time. If they are, it's usually because of the increase in noise with suspension movement, or in understeer.

cheezemonkhai · 14-06-2007, 13:16

Looks like the linkage snapped as stated.

As per Tavia, I'd drive it but be very much more careful about how i did so, knowing it will corner badly. Again though the correct answer is probably trailer it as if you had to do a sudden manoeuvre you might come unstuck.

Niall · 14-06-2007, 14:54

Well I drove home last night at sensible speeds without a problem. Also, having described the part to the garage over the phone yesterday, "......it's like an elongated figure of eight with a 90 degree twist...." I popped in on the way to work this morning to see when I should bring the car in to get it sorted as I knew they were busy.
Barely 15 mins later and with a wallet £30 lighter all was well again and the visits I had tentatively cancelled yesterday were on again.

A big thumbs up

for Tinto Garage in Symington!

Niall

KenONeill · 14-06-2007, 15:40

If you're (un)happy about service from a specific Skoda dealership, why not say so in the "reviews" section? If you already posted there, sorry I spoke.

Niall · 14-06-2007, 16:14

Tinto Garage is a local independent so won't be in the reviews section. For anyone living near Symington in Lanrkshire (Biggar, Thankerton, Abington, etc) they are mint, but if you live in the area you probably knew that already.....

Since the car left warranty some time ago I haven't been back to a Skoda Dealer, the logistics of geography combined with additional cost for the same work just doesn't add up. Nothing against the dealers per se, they're just too far away.

Niall

KenONeill · 14-06-2007, 16:38

Oh, that Tinto! I was thinking of the one in Gourock.

Niall · 14-06-2007, 16:46

Yep, that Tinto!!

Niall

13-06-2007, 13:02	#2
gadgetman Go Gadget Octy! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,367 Thanks: 126 Thanked 80 Times in 73 Posts	Re: Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today? I wouldn't drive it any further. Get it recovered to a garage and looked at. Not only could you do a lot of damage, but also be putting your life at risk.

13-06-2007, 13:03	#3
TaviaRS Dinosaur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North of the Watford Gap Posts: 14,917 Thanks: 19 Thanked 42 Times in 38 Posts	Re: Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today? I'd probably drive it but I know the right answer is to get it recovered..... __________________ A jolly sensible Mercedes E class saloon in a rather fetching bluey grey colour. No it isn't fast, no it isn't modded, and yes, it will still eat your Fabia for breakfast. Official mobile chicane for Briskoda trackdays

13-06-2007, 15:46	#4
Niall Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 108 Thanks: 7 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today? Rang the local garage and described the snapped part, they reckon it should be OK to drive. Apparently most people snap the linkage and don't even realise till the garage finds it at service time! The part's on order so should get fitted first thing tomorrow. In the meantime, gently does it...... Thanks everyone for you replies, Niall

13-06-2007, 15:51	#5
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 9,322 Thanks: 43 Thanked 433 Times in 426 Posts	Re: Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today? ARB link problems aren't normally spotted until service or MoT time. If they are, it's usually because of the increase in noise with suspension movement, or in understeer.

14-06-2007, 13:16	#6
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13,715 Thanks: 74 Thanked 335 Times in 309 Posts	Re: Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today? Looks like the linkage snapped as stated. As per Tavia, I'd drive it but be very much more careful about how i did so, knowing it will corner badly. Again though the correct answer is probably trailer it as if you had to do a sudden manoeuvre you might come unstuck. __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

14-06-2007, 14:54	#7
Niall Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 108 Thanks: 7 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today? Well I drove home last night at sensible speeds without a problem. Also, having described the part to the garage over the phone yesterday, "......it's like an elongated figure of eight with a 90 degree twist...." I popped in on the way to work this morning to see when I should bring the car in to get it sorted as I knew they were busy. Barely 15 mins later and with a wallet £30 lighter all was well again and the visits I had tentatively cancelled yesterday were on again. A big thumbs up for Tinto Garage in Symington! Niall

14-06-2007, 15:40	#8
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 9,322 Thanks: 43 Thanked 433 Times in 426 Posts	Re: Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today? If you're (un)happy about service from a specific Skoda dealership, why not say so in the "reviews" section? If you already posted there, sorry I spoke.

14-06-2007, 16:14	#9
Niall Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 108 Thanks: 7 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today? Tinto Garage is a local independent so won't be in the reviews section. For anyone living near Symington in Lanrkshire (Biggar, Thankerton, Abington, etc) they are mint, but if you live in the area you probably knew that already..... Since the car left warranty some time ago I haven't been back to a Skoda Dealer, the logistics of geography combined with additional cost for the same work just doesn't add up. Nothing against the dealers per se, they're just too far away. Niall

14-06-2007, 16:38	#10
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 9,322 Thanks: 43 Thanked 433 Times in 426 Posts	Re: Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today? Oh, that Tinto! I was thinking of the one in Gourock.

14-06-2007, 16:46	#11
Niall Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 108 Thanks: 7 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Ummm..... URGENT Help Please!! Can I drive home today? Yep, that Tinto!! Niall

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