Fabia: How to fit a Jabba 23mm Anti Roll Bar

[Tom_vRS]

I bought the bar second hand and it looked a little tatty, so I had a scour on www.yell.com for local powder coaters. I got the bar shot blasted and recoated in "semi-gloss black" for the princely sum of £25.



Firstly - sorry all the photos were taken after fitting.

I booked the morning off to get Jabba to fit the ARB and 312mm brakes, but unfortunately they had a mechanic off sick, so instead of wasting the morning I had a go at fitting it myself. You'll need to lay on the floor, and I found the hardboard spare wheel cover great for laying on... Admire the "action" shots... and yes I am single





HOW TO FIT IT IN 10 STEPS...

1) Jack the car up, preferrably with a trolly or bottle jack. I only had access to the Skoda jack, so after 5mins of dismantling the boot I jacked up the car at the proper point (indicated on the sill with an indentation, ensuring the jack sat over the lip as it should.



2) Support the car on an axle stand. Note, this should NOT be put on the rear beam or it will cause damage to the beam and the car will not be as stable as it should be. Also be careful not to squash brake lines etc.



I only felt it necessary to jack the one side up as it gave enough clearance to get under the car.

3) Its clear where the ARB goes, simply unbolt the lower damper mount with a 16mm socket and 16mm spanner, offer up the ARB (orientated the right way around ), and put the bolt back in and tighten finger tight.



4) Do the same on the other side...



5) Now you need to shape the clips to the rear beam. I was luck in that they had already been fitted to a vRS before... However, it just needs a bit of patience, and you are aiming for a kind of diamond shape. I wanted the nut to be easily accessible behind the beam. Get the shape as good as you can without swearing.

6) Slide the bush onto the bar, and offer up the "V" shaped metal bit that protects the bush. Put the clip over the beam to support the ARB, and fiddle about with the nuts and bolts, taking care to ensure the bolt sits in the groove in the clip, and the washer is on the right way around. Position the clip quite close to the bend in the bar. Tighten up the clip with the one nut (13mm). You will notice the clip shaping itself quite tight against the beam. When happy, put on the securing nut. Use 2 13mm spanners to tighten the nuts against each other.





7) Do the same with the second clip at the other end of the bar...

8) Tighten up the lower damper securing nuts.

9) Jack the car up, remove the axle stand, remove the jack, pack it away etc, admiring your handy work.







10) Go for a drive. I guarantee the first bend taken at "spirited" pace will leave you with a smile on your face!

I am a bit of a numpty, but feel fairly competant doing such simple tasks - give it a go, but don't stretch yourself beyond your abilities.

NB - you may find the bar quite heavy, and may benefit from an extra pair of hands to support the bar.

[VRStu]

Deffo looks better in black, might have to get mine painted.

Nice guide mate.

[CzechPlease]

Let me know if this is a dumb question...but I always thought that it was necessary to fit ARBs with the suspension fully loaded, ie on ramps, not jackstands, as otherwise the bar has weird pre-loading issues. This is from my former life as a Scoob driver...is it different on the rear of the Fab and other FWD cars?

[Lummox]

Originally Posted by CzechPlease

Let me know if this is a dumb question...but I always thought that it was necessary to fit ARBs with the suspension fully loaded, ie on ramps, not jackstands, as otherwise the bar has weird pre-loading issues. This is from my former life as a Scoob driver...is it different on the rear of the Fab and other FWD cars?

On this type yes it is possible, good point.

All you would need to do it slacken off the 16mm bolts and re tighten with the car on a flat.

[Neo_VR]

Originally Posted by CzechPlease

Let me know if this is a dumb question...but I always thought that it was necessary to fit ARBs with the suspension fully loaded, ie on ramps, not jackstands, as otherwise the bar has weird pre-loading issues. This is from my former life as a Scoob driver...is it different on the rear of the Fab and other FWD cars?

It can be an issue on cars with independent suspension.. but as long as the rear beam is straight.. its no problem

good guide by tomtom... and if he can fit it..... anyone can

[Lummox]

Originally Posted by Neo_VR

but as long as the rear beam is straight.. its no problem
:

But is the beam straight if the car is jacked up on one side, answer is NO.

Very small twist but it will be there.

Diference is with front ARB's though is they are fully pivoted, as is the Neuspeed rear one on the Octavia.

[fabman]

great guide but i bet i would draw blood on my knuckles if i did it myself, have to wait for one to come up for sale i guess.....

[WW_VRS]

Thanks for the guide & it looks ace in black. Hmm wondering now about the colour of the front strut - I need to paint it -

When Stu fitted mine we jacked up both sides, the only problem with the rear ARB is that it DOES hit the suspension, which is rather annoying as it causes noises SWMBO notices

[VRStu]

I wonder if this is where it's knocking -



Perhaps there may be a little bit of adjustment in it.

[Lummox]

Bit of rubber tubing in between the bar and the spring cup would sort it I would have thought.

[Tom_vRS]

I did think about the slight twist, but figured it would be so slight it is negligible... The hole in the bar where it bolts to the suspension is very snug, so no room for play. As for the clips, there is a little give in the bush, and a shiny bush against a clean rear beam will soon move to where it wants to move... the clips solely hold the bar off of the floor, they dont do anything structurally etc...

Cheers for the comments...

[devonutopia]

Easy enough to loosen off, wiggle a bit, and retighten.

I did prefer the "watch in curious style from Jabba's viewing window" fitting method, whilst two guys worked under my car.

Black is good. Mine's black - nice shade of underseal black too.

[Tom_vRS]

Originally Posted by devonutopia

Easy enough to loosen off, wiggle a bit, and retighten.

I did prefer the "watch in curious style from Jabba's viewing window" fitting method, whilst two guys worked under my car.

Black is good. Mine's black - nice shade of underseal black too.

Nice to see Jabba chose the same place to put the clips and the same orientation as me!

[Tom_vRS]

Originally Posted by VRStu

I wonder if this is where it's knocking -

Perhaps there may be a little bit of adjustment in it.

No adjustment available I'm afraid, but not heard a knocking yet. Maybe a bigger bush at the beam would be the answer? A bit of rubber tubing would dull any noise for sure, but would perhaps wear out quite quickly?

I'll keep an eye on the bar, see if the coating wears off in these locations...

[navarino]

Nice guide - very clear pictures. Quick question, are you on standard suspension? If so does the reduction in roll at the rear affect the sensation of lift on the front inside wheel as you turn in?

[Tom_vRS]

Originally Posted by navarino

Nice guide - very clear pictures. Quick question, are you on standard suspension? If so does the reduction in roll at the rear affect the sensation of lift on the front inside wheel as you turn in?

I'm on Eibach springs so can't comment really. But it will make a slight difference yes.

[walkie]

Excellent guide Good photo's even though a couple look like a tragic accident

[navarino]

I'm on Eibach springs so can't comment really. But it will make a slight difference yes.
__________________

Cheers, might be irrelevant if Chris Knott give me an affordable quote on Walkies car and no one beats me to it!(if you are reading Walkie I've sent a pm )

[Tom_vRS]

Originally Posted by navarino

Cheers, might be irrelevant if Chris Knott give me an affordable quote on Walkies car and no one beats me to it!(if you are reading Walkie I've sent a pm )

Good luck with it mate - its a good one.

[homeruk187]

I'm an office bod so unless it has a mouse i'm pretty much fooooked. How much woudl it cost for the bar and rough price for a mechanic to fit. I know its a difficult one but there are plenty of local garages in merseyside amd I know the ones taht dont rip you off.

My VRS is 7 days old and I know we have got good times ahead