Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes

Andy Pursey · 04-04-2007, 12:34

When I was out in the car (Mk1 vRS) the other day a 'clonking' sound started (abruptly) coming from the front end of the car every time I drove over a bump/edge of a mini roundabout/manhole cover/road surface repair etc.

I popped into the local dealer, took him down the road to demonstrate the problem. After a bit of thought and looking under the car on the ramp he diagnosed the anti-roll bar bushes as being the problem. He said there was evidence of the bush moving in the retaining bracket.

Now I don't really understand how that can start all of a sudden unless the right hand side, (which I couldn't see on the ramp) has been dislocated or the bracket broken.

Apparently the bushes aren't available seperately so it'll cost me a new bar and labour, at a total of approx £175 (here in Hertfordshire).

Is that right? Has anyone had just the bushes replaced or know whether they are available? I'm not too keen to upgrade because I think the front suspension is marginally too hard as it is, so would be looking for a standard spec replacement.

Any info much appreciated.

Beretta · 04-04-2007, 12:41

Change them for Powerflex bushes, then there is no need to buy a new front ARB, just tightens up the front slightly with no real alteration to the standard ride quality.

Lummox · 04-04-2007, 12:45

They are available seperately and are modified and come with new brackets. But if the protective coating on the anti roll bar has come off then there will be corrosion inside the bush and the bar becomes a fraction smaller. At this point we usually recomend a new bar as well.

Morley · 04-04-2007, 13:13

Powerflex list suitable bushes for the front anti-rollbar. They aren't necessarily harder or stiffer than standard - have a read of the website or give them a call.

Front Anti Roll Bar Mount
2 per car (each) PFF85-411-233 23mm 12.95

Front Anti Roll
Bar Link Bush Kit
2 per car (each) PFF85-4124 15.95

FRONT KIT WITHOUT ROLL BAR MOUNTS 67.80
FRONT KIT WITH ROLL BAR MOUNTS 125.60

REAR KIT 47.90

All prices are plus VAT of course

Powerflex Uprated Suspension Bushes - car polyurethane suspension bush, bump stops & exhaust mounts. Bushes: wishbone, anti-roll bar mount, track control arm, beam mount, TCA, shocks, dampers, springs

Other manufactures (Superflex or Polybush?) offer both standard hardness and uprated kits although I'm not sure they offer them for the Skoda.

musky · 04-04-2007, 14:00

Just had mine done on 4x4. I was hoping for just bushes but had the old style bar with inserts(?)(2002 car) that were knackered so needed whole bar £160 fitted. Also came on fairly suddenly.

nitrovrs · 04-04-2007, 20:52

What year is you're car? some earlier vrs' had plastic bushes over the bar in which case (i think) a new bar will be required

.
Mine went all of a sudden over a speed bump and it was the plastic bushes...(same as you describe) still it was a good excuse for the now installed r32 arb...

51octytdi · 04-04-2007, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Pursey

Apparently the bushes aren't available seperately so it'll cost me a new bar and labour, at a total of approx £175 (here in Hertfordshire).

Is that right? Has anyone had just the bushes replaced or know whether they are available? I'm not too keen to upgrade because I think the front suspension is marginally too hard as it is, so would be looking for a standard spec replacement.

I had the same symptoms. ARB bushes were diagnosed as faulty, which required a whole new ARB. My local ex-dealer (Albar) said it was quite common and that the bushes had worn away the bar (which given what Lummox said above, now sounds a lot more plausible).

New bar, bushes and fitting, £145 all in (£58 labour, £65 parts). Clunking noise gone, and the car was noticeably less, well, sloppy.

J

rhys57 · 05-04-2007, 08:00

Had mine done at the steeler no knocking now.

mluton · 05-04-2007, 08:27

Where are the bushes located, i have a knocking over small bumps, could be this ?

Will it damage the car if i wait to get them done ?

Andy Pursey · 05-04-2007, 12:31

Thanks for that info - It is a 2002 car (71k). There is some evidence of corrosion of the bar around the vicinity of the bush so I'm tempted to agree with Lummox that maybe a new bar is the way to go as replacement bushes that don't fit perfectly seems like throwing good money after bad. It just looked like a rubber bush [thanks for that tip-off Musky/Nitrovrs] (couldn't see a plastic sleeve on the anti-roll bar but at the time I didn't know I was looking for anything else).

Anyone fitted one DIY? Looks and sounds (Mr Haynes + Dealer) like a tricky job if you haven't got a ramp.

51octytdi · 05-04-2007, 14:07

You can clearly see the bush, the bracket around it and the bar running through it in the second shot.

J

mluton · 05-04-2007, 14:10

Thank you for the picks.

mluton · 05-04-2007, 14:15

Are the beauties ?

eBay.co.uk: Skoda Octavia Anti-Roll Bar Bush and Bracket 19mm NEW! (item 150108143552 end time 08-Apr-07 09:41:30 BST)

51octytdi · 05-04-2007, 14:40

My bar wasn't 19mm. I think you can use that Option Code lookup tool (http://igorweb.org/equidec/), or whip out your micrometer

J

pdhealy · 05-04-2007, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by 51octytdi

My bar wasn't 19mm. I think you can use that Option Code lookup tool (http://igorweb.org/equidec/), or whip out your micrometer

J

That link doesn't seem to work

51octytdi · 05-04-2007, 18:12

Stupid brackets.

VW Group Option Codes Decoder

J

kblackburn · 06-04-2007, 09:56

Just replace my front antiroll bar bushes and brackets, standard 2001 tdi, cost
bushes £3.50 each modified brackets £5.00 each from local vw dealers, front end quite as before.

mluton · 06-04-2007, 10:20

Ive looked at my front bushes last night and cant see any wear or corrotion.

Its knocks on and off, mainly over smaller bump. Ill get this looked at a garage as soon as i get a chance.

Steevie Wonder · 07-04-2007, 11:01

Superflex do a set of poly bushes suitable for the vRS 19mm arb....

Part no. SPF 2593/20K - Anti roll bar mounting bracket bushes (set of 2 @ £9.97)
Part no. SPF 2127/K - Anti roll bar link bushes (set of 4 @ £19.42)

Superflex cantact no. (01749) 671 404

duke of hazzard · 08-10-2007, 10:29

sorry to drag up an old thread but i thought better do this than post my own topic, i think this is the same problem as mine. When either wheel runs over an imperfection in the road i get a clunking,(whichever side runs over the pothole clunks) when both wheels go over a speedbump i dont get a noise (you'd think if it were suspension it'd clunk on both sides over a speed bump). Anyone reckon its anything other than an anti roll bar related issue? and can a half decent home mechanic do the replacement

(i was told when the timing belt was done that the mechanic noticed a crack in the sleeve on the ARB but that was a while ago and its never clunked before)

mluton · 08-10-2007, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke of hazzard

sorry to drag up an old thread but i thought better do this than post my own topic, i think this is the same problem as mine. When either wheel runs over an imperfection in the road i get a clunking,(whichever side runs over the pothole clunks) when both wheels go over a speedbump i dont get a noise (you'd think if it were suspension it'd clunk on both sides over a speed bump). Anyone reckon its anything other than an anti roll bar related issue? and can a half decent home mechanic do the replacement

(i was told when the timing belt was done that the mechanic noticed a crack in the sleeve on the ARB but that was a while ago and its never clunked before)

It could also be broken radiator mounts, had this myself.

Open the bonnet, grab your radiator (cold) and give it a shake (side to side) see if you can recreate the noise.

To check ARB, i grabbed the front of my car and pulled it up as hard as i could and pushed it down and it creaked. i had skoda do mine £143 IIRC. (New bar, bushes, fitting and VAT)

HTH

Steve Blanchard · 09-10-2007, 15:58

Hi

I have had the same fault with my Octavia 1.9tdi for about a year. my local independent checked the front bushes and you can see the ARB move - eek. Apparently it is a common problem and my independent says Skoda should have recalled the cars, as the bushes are wearing very quickly.
Initially when I saw him he said that if I have plastic bush's then the ARB has to be replaced. But speaking to him a few months ago, when he re filled the aircon, he said they do not need to replace the ARB if you had plastic bushes, apparently the just loosen the ARB so it drops down and then use a tool to insert the new rubber bush. Simple and a big saving!

Belcher · 09-10-2007, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke of hazzard

sorry to drag up an old thread but i thought better do this than post my own topic, i think this is the same problem as mine. When either wheel runs over an imperfection in the road i get a clunking,(whichever side runs over the pothole clunks) when both wheels go over a speedbump i dont get a noise (you'd think if it were suspension it'd clunk on both sides over a speed bump). Anyone reckon its anything other than an anti roll bar related issue? and can a half decent home mechanic do the replacement

(i was told when the timing belt was done that the mechanic noticed a crack in the sleeve on the ARB but that was a while ago and its never clunked before)

Mine started as an occasional clunk going over bumps, then going round corners (mostly left!?), then when pulling away, then when taking your foot off the gas, and then all the time !!

It's now in having new driveshafts fitted as the offside one is (as my mechanic put it) shot to f0k

I hope my wallet can take the shock !

Steve Blanchard · 09-10-2007, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belcher

Mine started as an occasional clunk going over bumps, then going round corners (mostly left!?), then when pulling away, then when taking your foot off the gas, and then all the time !!

It's now in having new driveshafts fitted as the offside one is (as my mechanic put it) shot to f0k

I hope my wallet can take the shock !

Always the possibility it is something more serious than 2 plastic/rubber bushes!

duke of hazzard · 10-10-2007, 08:02

well hopefully its the arb, if you grab it and shake it it makes a small clunk but not as loud as the car does.

04-04-2007, 12:34	#1
Andy Pursey Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes When I was out in the car (Mk1 vRS) the other day a 'clonking' sound started (abruptly) coming from the front end of the car every time I drove over a bump/edge of a mini roundabout/manhole cover/road surface repair etc. I popped into the local dealer, took him down the road to demonstrate the problem. After a bit of thought and looking under the car on the ramp he diagnosed the anti-roll bar bushes as being the problem. He said there was evidence of the bush moving in the retaining bracket. Now I don't really understand how that can start all of a sudden unless the right hand side, (which I couldn't see on the ramp) has been dislocated or the bracket broken. Apparently the bushes aren't available seperately so it'll cost me a new bar and labour, at a total of approx £175 (here in Hertfordshire). Is that right? Has anyone had just the bushes replaced or know whether they are available? I'm not too keen to upgrade because I think the front suspension is marginally too hard as it is, so would be looking for a standard spec replacement. Any info much appreciated.

04-04-2007, 12:41	#2
Beretta SMOGUS MAXIMUS Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 2,638 Members Car: Was a modded Octy vRS that now lives with TrevorB33. Current car is Toyota Auris SR180 Images: 3 Thanks: 50 Thanked 75 Times in 72 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Change them for Powerflex bushes, then there is no need to buy a new front ARB, just tightens up the front slightly with no real alteration to the standard ride quality. __________________ Skoda performance was "IMPOSSIBLE", now its Japanese and 177 bhp and 295 lb ft torque of SMOG. Gerry "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE"

04-04-2007, 12:45	#3
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,498 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 761 Times in 639 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes They are available seperately and are modified and come with new brackets. But if the protective coating on the anti roll bar has come off then there will be corrosion inside the bush and the bar becomes a fraction smaller. At this point we usually recomend a new bar as well. __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

04-04-2007, 13:13	#4
Morley Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 95 Members Car: Unmodified Octavia vRS Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Powerflex list suitable bushes for the front anti-rollbar. They aren't necessarily harder or stiffer than standard - have a read of the website or give them a call. Front Anti Roll Bar Mount 2 per car (each) PFF85-411-233 23mm 12.95 Front Anti Roll Bar Link Bush Kit 2 per car (each) PFF85-4124 15.95 FRONT KIT WITHOUT ROLL BAR MOUNTS 67.80 FRONT KIT WITH ROLL BAR MOUNTS 125.60 REAR KIT 47.90 All prices are plus VAT of course Powerflex Uprated Suspension Bushes - car polyurethane suspension bush, bump stops & exhaust mounts. Bushes: wishbone, anti-roll bar mount, track control arm, beam mount, TCA, shocks, dampers, springs Other manufactures (Superflex or Polybush?) offer both standard hardness and uprated kits although I'm not sure they offer them for the Skoda.

04-04-2007, 14:00	#5
musky Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 543 Members Car: MK1 Octavia 4x4 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Just had mine done on 4x4. I was hoping for just bushes but had the old style bar with inserts(?)(2002 car) that were knackered so needed whole bar £160 fitted. Also came on fairly suddenly.

04-04-2007, 20:52	#6
nitrovrs Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ely, Cambridge. Posts: 353 Members Car: Magic black Octavia vrs on '52 plate. Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes What year is you're car? some earlier vrs' had plastic bushes over the bar in which case (i think) a new bar will be required . Mine went all of a sudden over a speed bump and it was the plastic bushes...(same as you describe) still it was a good excuse for the now installed r32 arb... __________________ My other Skoda's a Nissan....

05-04-2007, 08:00	#8
rhys57 Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 268 Members Car: octavia vrs mk1 Thanks: 4 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Had mine done at the steeler no knocking now. __________________ SILVER X5 4.4 SPORT 286BHP. MY OLD OCT VRS 32MPG X5 22 MPG. SOLD JAP INTEGRA TYPE R, DC2, NOW GOT A 4X4 PAJERO......

05-04-2007, 08:27	#9
mluton Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Birmingham Posts: 6,403 Members Car: Red Octavia vRS 1.8T (20v) Thanks: 46 Thanked 227 Times in 202 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Where are the bushes located, i have a knocking over small bumps, could be this ? Will it damage the car if i wait to get them done ? __________________ Support Briskoda----------------------> Red Skoda Octavia V//RS Mods to date: Carbonio CAI Forge 007 DV Aero Wipers Briskoda Stickers KVW100 GB Wheel Inserts RS Tuning Remap Delocked Piper Cat Back Kenwood KDC-W6541U Fli Twin 12" Active Sub Parrot CK3100 *------------------------------------------------*

05-04-2007, 12:31	#10
Andy Pursey Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Thanks for that info - It is a 2002 car (71k). There is some evidence of corrosion of the bar around the vicinity of the bush so I'm tempted to agree with Lummox that maybe a new bar is the way to go as replacement bushes that don't fit perfectly seems like throwing good money after bad. It just looked like a rubber bush [thanks for that tip-off Musky/Nitrovrs] (couldn't see a plastic sleeve on the anti-roll bar but at the time I didn't know I was looking for anything else). Anyone fitted one DIY? Looks and sounds (Mr Haynes + Dealer) like a tricky job if you haven't got a ramp.

05-04-2007, 14:07	#11
51octytdi Mile Muncher Join Date: May 2005 Location: East Midlands, UK Posts: 272 Members Car: Octavia TDi 110 Elegance Hatchback Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes You can clearly see the bush, the bracket around it and the bar running through it in the second shot. J Last edited by 51octytdi; 25-09-2008 at 18:56.

05-04-2007, 14:10	#12
mluton Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Birmingham Posts: 6,403 Members Car: Red Octavia vRS 1.8T (20v) Thanks: 46 Thanked 227 Times in 202 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Thank you for the picks. __________________ Support Briskoda----------------------> Red Skoda Octavia V//RS Mods to date: Carbonio CAI Forge 007 DV Aero Wipers Briskoda Stickers KVW100 GB Wheel Inserts RS Tuning Remap Delocked Piper Cat Back Kenwood KDC-W6541U Fli Twin 12" Active Sub Parrot CK3100 *------------------------------------------------*

05-04-2007, 14:15	#13
mluton Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Birmingham Posts: 6,403 Members Car: Red Octavia vRS 1.8T (20v) Thanks: 46 Thanked 227 Times in 202 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Are the beauties ? eBay.co.uk: Skoda Octavia Anti-Roll Bar Bush and Bracket 19mm NEW! (item 150108143552 end time 08-Apr-07 09:41:30 BST) __________________ Support Briskoda----------------------> Red Skoda Octavia V//RS Mods to date: Carbonio CAI Forge 007 DV Aero Wipers Briskoda Stickers KVW100 GB Wheel Inserts RS Tuning Remap Delocked Piper Cat Back Kenwood KDC-W6541U Fli Twin 12" Active Sub Parrot CK3100 *------------------------------------------------*

05-04-2007, 14:40	#14
51octytdi Mile Muncher Join Date: May 2005 Location: East Midlands, UK Posts: 272 Members Car: Octavia TDi 110 Elegance Hatchback Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes My bar wasn't 19mm. I think you can use that Option Code lookup tool (http://igorweb.org/equidec/), or whip out your micrometer J

05-04-2007, 18:12	#16
51octytdi Mile Muncher Join Date: May 2005 Location: East Midlands, UK Posts: 272 Members Car: Octavia TDi 110 Elegance Hatchback Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Stupid brackets. VW Group Option Codes Decoder J

06-04-2007, 09:56	#17
kblackburn Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: south lakes Posts: 57 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Just replace my front antiroll bar bushes and brackets, standard 2001 tdi, cost bushes £3.50 each modified brackets £5.00 each from local vw dealers, front end quite as before.

07-04-2007, 11:01	#19
Steevie Wonder Silver bullet Join Date: May 2003 Location: Planet Earth...... Posts: 788 Members Car: 345bhp Silver Octavia vRS Thanks: 48 Thanked 40 Times in 38 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Superflex do a set of poly bushes suitable for the vRS 19mm arb.... Part no. SPF 2593/20K - Anti roll bar mounting bracket bushes (set of 2 @ £9.97) Part no. SPF 2127/K - Anti roll bar link bushes (set of 4 @ £19.42) Superflex cantact no. (01749) 671 404 __________________ The silver bulletJabbasport's; IHI Stage 3 vf34, ceramic lined manifold, F.M.I.C, boost controller, Snowperformance methanol injection, ABD Racing ceramic inlet manifold & CAI, K&N monster filter, 02M 6 speed TDi gearbox, Peloquin a.t.b, Sachs SMF & sports clutch, Forge quickshift, APR R1, Blueflame 3" d/p, 100 cell cat, Milltek 2 ¾" system, Samco; i/c, turbo & boost hoses, Bosch 440cc injectors, 3" M.A.F, SuperPro bushes all round + engine mounts, Weitec coilovers, Eibach rear arb, AP Racing 6 pots & 335mm floaters, S3 top & bottom braces, Nomad; turbo, oil pressure, oil temperature & battery gauges.

06-04-2007, 10:20	#18
mluton Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Birmingham Posts: 6,403 Members Car: Red Octavia vRS 1.8T (20v) Thanks: 46 Thanked 227 Times in 202 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Ive looked at my front bushes last night and cant see any wear or corrotion. Its knocks on and off, mainly over smaller bump. Ill get this looked at a garage as soon as i get a chance. __________________ Support Briskoda----------------------> Red Skoda Octavia V//RS Mods to date: Carbonio CAI Forge 007 DV Aero Wipers Briskoda Stickers KVW100 GB Wheel Inserts RS Tuning Remap Delocked Piper Cat Back Kenwood KDC-W6541U Fli Twin 12" Active Sub Parrot CK3100 *------------------------------------------------*

08-10-2007, 10:29	#20
duke of hazzard Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: leeds Posts: 325 Members Car: octavia Vrs Thanks: 10 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes sorry to drag up an old thread but i thought better do this than post my own topic, i think this is the same problem as mine. When either wheel runs over an imperfection in the road i get a clunking,(whichever side runs over the pothole clunks) when both wheels go over a speedbump i dont get a noise (you'd think if it were suspension it'd clunk on both sides over a speed bump). Anyone reckon its anything other than an anti roll bar related issue? and can a half decent home mechanic do the replacement (i was told when the timing belt was done that the mechanic noticed a crack in the sleeve on the ARB but that was a while ago and its never clunked before) __________________ Mods, Colour coded grille, DVD player, Fancy headlights, Whooshy thing, One of them brillo pad filters where the car sucks air in, and windows upgrade on the cpu from ME to Vista!

09-10-2007, 15:58	#22
Steve Blanchard Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 24 Members Car: 2002 Octavia 1.9tdi Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes Hi I have had the same fault with my Octavia 1.9tdi for about a year. my local independent checked the front bushes and you can see the ARB move - eek. Apparently it is a common problem and my independent says Skoda should have recalled the cars, as the bushes are wearing very quickly. Initially when I saw him he said that if I have plastic bush's then the ARB has to be replaced. But speaking to him a few months ago, when he re filled the aircon, he said they do not need to replace the ARB if you had plastic bushes, apparently the just loosen the ARB so it drops down and then use a tool to insert the new rubber bush. Simple and a big saving!

10-10-2007, 08:02	#25
duke of hazzard Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: leeds Posts: 325 Members Car: octavia Vrs Thanks: 10 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Front Anti-Roll Bar Bushes well hopefully its the arb, if you grab it and shake it it makes a small clunk but not as loud as the car does. __________________ Mods, Colour coded grille, DVD player, Fancy headlights, Whooshy thing, One of them brillo pad filters where the car sucks air in, and windows upgrade on the cpu from ME to Vista!

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