Suspension wear - Front end

[Georgel]

Hi guys

My 05 plate Tdi FR seems to have developed a tendency to weave all over the road. I do get random clunks from time to time as well. Can any of you suggest typical items that tend to wear on the front suspension of these cars?

I'm guessing its an ARB bush, but I need to check as the suspension feels very bobby. Perhaps a broken spring or shagged damper. Are these symptons unheard of and just bad luck, or are they traits of the Ibiza?

Cheers
G

 

[Adam R]

you would know about a broken spring as they normally go in a big way.
could be a buggered shock.

whats the age / milage of the car? how has it been driver etc etc.

jack the car up and take the wheel off, then inspect the area. also brab everything and see if it moves around. nothing sould be easy to move.

 

[Georgel]

Its not quite 3 1/2 years old. Its done 55k, 40 of which in my ownership. I have done one track day about a year ago. The car is driven fairly hard. The chasis definately gets a work out, more so than the engine I would say. I'll jack it up and have a look later.

 

[Altech]

I'd 90% say that your problem lies with your ARB. I had exactly the same problems as you.

Standard Ibiza ARB have plastic retainers which clamp round the bar at each side of the ARB bushes. After time the plastic retainers perish and fall off, which then allows the ARB too much movement. It also makes it knock against the wishbone bush housing on the drivers side. I have replaced mine with an revised Fabia vRS ARB and new bushes. The new bar has metal retainers instead of plastic so they won't perish. The new bar is also thicker which stiffens up the front end

Unfortunately that's not the end of it! If your ARB is in a bad way then it's more than likely that your wishbone bushes are shot too. These bushes are the large circle ones that sit inside their own bush housing at the back of the wishbone. Standard Ibiza wishbone bushes are voided and allow to much movement even when brand new. After time all this movement causes them to split. I've upgraded mine to solid Cupra bushes, which are a direct replacement.

Since changing all these parts on my car I noticed a huge difference, no more knocking and also the car doesn't wave about at high speed!

The parts don't cost too much (roughly £70) but if your unable to fit them yourself then it'll cost you quite a bit in labour to get them fitted at a garage.

Recently my car has developed another knock from the front end and I believe it's the drop links. Oh well coilovers and shortened drop links will sort that out

 

[Georgel]

Thanks for the indepth reply mate. I don't think I will be going for a thicker front ARB though. I'd rather the rear was stiffer than the front. I want less understeer if anything. I will however replace the bushes. Are the Cupra ones you've fitted a main dealer part? I see powerflex do replacement bushes, maybe they are worth the £30?

 

[Altech]

I think powerflex only manufacture the smaller front bush of the wishbone. The front rear Cupra wishbone bush only costs about 6 quid each from Seat...well worth it.

You can get a normal revised Fabia ARB with metal retainers if you don't want to go for the thicker vRS one.

 

[Georgel]

Thanks again. So I need to go to the skoda and the seat dealer next week then.

 

[Georgel]

Hi Chaps.

I've managed to take a look and both rear wishbone bushes are split. In fact its started to affect the tyre wear on the front. I've had a look and powerflex do them for £19.95 each. I'll see what discount they can give. I would assume these will be better than the Cupra ones as well.

 

[Altech]

I'm sure I read somwhere that powerflex only manufacture an insert that you press into your existing bush. People have fitted these before and they can fall out.

Most people use the powerflex front wishbone bush and the Cupra front rear wishbone bush.

 

[Georgel]

I couldn't see any plastic insert? The bush looked like one piece to me? I've fitted powerflex bushes before and they tend to replace all inserts. Have you got any names off the top of your head who have had theirs fall out?

 

[Altech]

Nope can't remember any names. I just remember reading a thread a few months back. He had the inserts placed into the existing bush and one of them fell out whilst he was driving.

 

[RUM4MO]

I'd agree that the Powerflex rear bushes for the TCA are just inserts - I think their site only shows typical shapes of bushes. Also you would need to change your voided bushes to new voided bushes then fit in the inserts to stop the new voided bushes splitting again.

Or, follow best practise and just get Cupra solid bushes fitted - job done.

Now ARB, can you move the ARB from side to side - if so you have the older ARB with the plastic end stops and one or both have split and have escaped - if you test with end stops with a magnet you will discover if they are plastic or metal. If they are plastic then they will fail soon if not already. You don't need to go to a Skoda dealer to get a new style ARB all three marques use the same range of three 18mm, 19mm, 20mm ARBs. Smaller engines use option PR-0AQ (18mm), next there is PR-0AR (19mm) then VRS GTI and Cupra get PR-0AS (20mm). If you plan to fit this ARB yourself, remember to buy new mounting bushes to suit the newer ARB as they now need to be smaller due to the plastic sleeve part having "gone". Both these jobs, if they need doing, should be done at the same time as the car will need a full four wheel re-alignment to true the front to the rear and set the camber and toe-ing. Maybe also take a look on www.briskoda.net for further info and pictures of what a failed old style ARB looks like - and for advice on fitting new Cupra TCA rear bushes - its all in there somewhere.

 

[Georgel]

Ok i'll go for the Cupra rear wishbone bushes. Do you know when the ARB ones were changed from plastic to metal? I am really not sure I need a bigger front ARB on the ibiza tbh. I'd prefer to keep as much rear steer as possible. Do we have anyone who can offer a discount on genuine parts?

 

[RUM4MO]

If I was a betting man (still have my "free" HBOS shares!!), I'd say the newer ARBs would be getting fitted during 2004 and definately by the time the 2005MY cars were being built - which is factory output from August 2004 onwards. I can't help on the discount though - sorry. The parts lists say when the change was made - ie chassis number. Remember you can always call into your local Seat dealer's parts place and ask for a "CAR DATA" printout for your car - gives all the "PR" of all the options fitted. While you are there ask about the ARB and they can tell from your VIN if the car would have been built with the old style or new style ARB.

 

[Georgel]

My car is a May 05 so it should be fine then. I'll ring my main dealer for a price on the bushes.

Cheers bud.

 

[Georgel]

Right I've got the Cupra bushes fitted now. The front end is firmed up, but I can't help feeling the problem has just been masked slightly. The ARB bushes are ok. The dealer mentioned Consol bushes?? Does anyone know what they are?

 

[george130]

I have a feeling they mean the wishbone bushes...

It's from this guide on briskoda:

http://briskoda.net/technical-guides/fabia-wishbone-bush-replacement-diy-guide/101781/

 

[Georgel]

Thanks George, but I've done those ones.

 

[RUM4MO]

I have a feeling they mean the wishbone bushes...

It's from this guide on briskoda:

http://briskoda.net/technical-guides/fabia-wishbone-bush-replacement-diy-guide/101781/

Yes these are the bushes - the consoles are the aluminium lumps that they get fitted into - as shown in that picture - so no worry there!

 

[pjpenfold]

Just wondering! Are the ARB bushes a DIY fit or is it a trip to the stealers to get fixed?