Advice needed on knocking from front suspension (mk4 fr tdi)

g8rvn · Aug 16, 2008

So would I be right in saying a dealer would be charging about £200 to replace a front ARB?
Mines gone and need it replacing but would a Seat dealer be able to/want to order the Fabia VRS bar and fit that instead?
I'm unsure if those cost any more though?

RUM4MO · Aug 16, 2008

I think that there are only three sizes, 18mm 19mm 21mm - so I would have thought that the 21mm would be what the Cupra and VRS uses - in other words a Cupra one might be what you are after. In my opinion, Seat would not fit the wrong ARB to your car - not in their interests, have you checked up what happens if you uprate the front ARB and leave everything else as is? These cars are set up to be "safe" and predictable if you want to change that you will probably need to go to a VAG indep specialist.

g8rvn · Aug 17, 2008

ah okay then, I just thought a slightly stiffer ARB would tighten the front end up a little?
But as you said, i'm not sure a dealer would "knowingly" fit the wrong part.
Would wheel alignment be charged on top of the ~£200 or would it be included?
I've never really dealt with any dealers before so i'm not that wise to thier pricing tricks

RUM4MO · Aug 17, 2008

g8rvn said:
ah okay then, I just thought a slightly stiffer ARB would tighten the front end up a little?
But as you said, i'm not sure a dealer would "knowingly" fit the wrong part.
Would wheel alignment be charged on top of the ~£200 or would it be included?
I've never really dealt with any dealers before so i'm not that wise to thier pricing tricks

I think that £200 will include the four wheel realignment - but I would give this job to your local VAG indep specialist as they should have the latest alignment jig and know how to use it!

Edit, if you are getting this work done it will not cost much more to get the Cupra TCA rear bushes fitted as well - still I'd try and find your nearest idependant VAG specialist though for both these jobs.

g8rvn · Aug 19, 2008

okay thanks for your help, i'll start getting a few quotes. I've got the best part of 6 months till the MOT anyway to sort it

ettlz · Aug 20, 2008

List of failed Bushes:

George W.;
George H. W.;
Those in my front console.

Joking aside, I've just come back from a service. Kudos to Meadens for diagnosing what was causing all the noise and rattling and longitudinal wheel shifts. Here's what they found:

both my front wishbone bushes have split;
the offside drop-link has play;
the offside track rod end is fouling on the roll-bar; and
the offside wheel arch liners are out of shape.

Back some time either this week or next when they've got those bits in and have it fixed!

Crafoo · Aug 20, 2008

ettlz said:
Here's what they found:

both my front wishbone bushes have split;

the offside drop-link has play;

the offside track rod end is fouling on the roll-bar; and

the offside wheel arch liners are out of shape.

Back some time either this week or next when they've got those bits in and have it fixed!

Some interesting finds there, I might get mine up on the axle stands and have a butchers myself, no point my local dealer doing it, they couldn't find their asses with both hands :w4nk:. I've been told the bushes on mine are fine, but I think I'm going to have a look for myself because everyone mentions they are rubbish. The track rod end sounds like a good one too, it could be the noise I have been hearing in mine for god knows how long. Excellent post mate, very helpful :clap:

ettlz · Aug 20, 2008

Crafoo said:
no point my local dealer doing it, they couldn't find their asses with both hands :w4nk:. I've been told the bushes on mine are fine

Crafoo · Aug 21, 2008

ettlz · Aug 21, 2008

Crafoo said:
Some interesting finds there

Yeah, the Ibiza's always been a right jolly hoot to drive (certainly a lot more lively than its Czech and German half-sisters) but recently, I have to say, it's been more of a blast!

Gazb · Aug 21, 2008

Personnally I've always thought there's too much 'slack' in the front wishbone's and steering etc. of both my FR and Cupra but I don't think there's alot can be done about it.

And if anyone knows a good VAG Independant Specialist in Northern Ireland let me know as I really should get the camber sorted on my Cupra.

sweetlittle · Aug 22, 2008

i seem to have a problem like this too but it's less of a knocking and more of a like 'oooh' kinda noise....impossible to explain....
boyfriend it going to look at it this weekend - but he is yet to hear it as it doesn't seem to do it when he gets in the car....

FR3000 · Aug 25, 2008

ettlz said:
List of failed Bushes:

George W.;

George H. W.;

Those in my front console.

Joking aside, I've just come back from a service. Kudos to Meadens for diagnosing what was causing all the noise and rattling and longitudinal wheel shifts. Here's what they found:

both my front wishbone bushes have split;

the offside drop-link has play;

the offside track rod end is fouling on the roll-bar; and

the offside wheel arch liners are out of shape.

Back some time either this week or next when they've got those bits in and have it fixed!

So you've found the (rather sizeable) problem. I had mine serviced by a friend of a friend at the weekend, good guy; knows his stuff. He checked all round under the car. put a breaker bar up againsts the suspension and all was fine apart from slight bit of slack in bushes on the roll bar drop links. Anyhow I'll run it for a while to see if they loosen anymore then change them out if that's the problem. From what I'm hearing it may worth just kitting it out with a new set of bushes in other places.

sweetlittle · Sep 19, 2008

i found out what's wrong with mine - the roll bar has moved and his hitting off the subframe... needs new d bushes or something apparantly....
knocked bar back into place which helped for about 10 miles....must have loosened it more and the noise is terrible now... just as well i'm getting a new car lol!

CHR15B · Sep 19, 2008

sweetlittle said:
i found out what's wrong with mine - the roll bar has moved and his hitting off the subframe... needs new d bushes or something apparantly....
knocked bar back into place which helped for about 10 miles....must have loosened it more and the noise is terrible now... just as well i'm getting a new car lol!

Yeah I have that problem at the moment now... but my ARB is in a right state so I've got a new one waiting to go on.

sweetlittle · Sep 19, 2008

I go and get my new car tomorrow - goooooodbyeeeeee annoying noises!! (hopefully!!!)

josh263uk · Sep 21, 2008

Although I only have a Formula Sport I had a knocking from the front suspension (approx milage 10000) It happened on rough ground and usually when turning. Took it to the dealers and had new anti roll bar bushes and a new anti roll bar. However its now on 14500 miles and the same is happeneing again, so looks like a trip to the dealers again.

bald_eagle · Sep 21, 2008

had big knocking from front of my 130tdi sport,had a look and it turned out to need 2 new drop links,

cheap and easy to fit and cured the knocking completly

noticed while i had the wheels off that the rear wishbone bushes were looking a bit tired,now thats a surprise..................

.

CHR15B · Sep 21, 2008

I'm getting a new vRS ARB & Bushes fitted on Wednesday - hopefully that's gonnna get rid of mines.

Marc_4 · Sep 21, 2008

Mine knocked at full lock, new bushes and ARB sorted it out though

Was something to do with the ARB being the wrong shape or something :S

Advice needed on knocking from front suspension (mk4 fr tdi)

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Fake it till u make it!!

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Fake it till u make it!!

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Fake it till u make it!!

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