Fitted Cupra ARB.... Big mistake!

[IH786]

Hi

This weekend i decided to fit a Cupra ARB on my PD130 to go with my previously installed Cupra suspension But now i wish i didn't..

Ever since,i have been getting a very loud clunking noise from the driver side, usually when i go over bumps whilst driving. You can also hear it if you bounce the car up and down when stationery.

I've tried both tightening the bolts for the ARB bushes, which were very loose on the driver side, but it made no difference. I then both tightening and loosening them. Does anyone now what the noise could be? I wish i never fitted it now!!!!!!

 

[Smee]

sounds like ur bushes to me... my fiat did this on cobble roads mainly...

Smee

 

[EdButler]

The ARB could be colliding with your Wishbones...? Mine does at nearly full lock - ive just learned to do 5-point turns instead of 3 pointers! It shouldnt do it under everyday driving though - check your ARB bushes like Smee said

 

[IH786]

The ARB could be colliding with your Wishbones...? Mine does at nearly full lock - ive just learned to do 5-point turns instead of 3 pointers! It shouldnt do it under everyday driving though - check your ARB bushes like Smee said

Hmm, i think that might be the case. But the ARB bushes are new, so i don't know how they can be messed up already. Maybe they were defective? Do you think it may be my wishbone bushes?

 

[stoneyfordNI]

did you use new drop links???

 

[m0rk]

Hmm, i think that might be the case. But the ARB bushes are new, so i don't know how they can be messed up already. Maybe they were defective? Do you think it may be my wishbone bushes?

or fitted wrong / by a monkey

 

[IH786]

or fitted wrong / by a monkey

I was the monkey that fitted it I've tried retightending the bush bolts, and then reloosening them, as they were too tight, but it still made no difference.

stoneyfordNI, i reused my old droplinks, do you think that might be the problem? Its driving me crazy

 

[stoneyfordNI]

ermmm probably , i have a fabia vrs bar in mine and i needed different drop links

 

[maxcars1]

or fitted wrong / by a monkey

How could the ARB and bushes be fitted wrong

 

[stoneyfordNI]

upside down

 

[IH786]

I doubt they can be fitted upside down, i thought they only went on one way??

maxcars1 did you have new droplinks fitted? I can understand the need for new ones if you use a Fabia ARB, but i thought they were not required for the Cupra version

 

[stoneyfordNI]

cupra is same as vrs one only mines 1mm thicker

upside down - was taking the excretion

 

[maxcars1]

maxcars1 did you have new droplinks fitted? I can understand the need for new ones if you use a Fabia ARB, but i thought they were not required for the Cupra version

No I didnt as teh droplinks were fitted previously under warranty - they had 7k miles on them. They are not required for the cupra bar as it shares the same pt no droplinks.

 

[IH786]

No I didnt as teh droplinks were fitted previously under warranty - they had 7k miles on them. They are not required for the cupra bar as it shares the same pt no droplinks.

Hmm, that sounds right, my old droplinks fitted onto the Cupra ARB quite easily. The noise is getting worse, or maybe i'm getting more paranoid I'm pretty sure its the ARB, but how can i find out for sure??

 

[Smee]

to be fair if u have only covered 7000 miles since new. then the likelyhood is its nots ur bushes... ud have to be doing something stupid with ur car to run through a set that quick...

if u can dabble with a screw driver and socket set id get it back up in the air and swap back to the original ARB. take for a spin and see if it still does it... at least that way u can rule out / pin point if its the new ARB.

as for is it the wishbone bushes. i dunno on the fiat u didnt by a new bush... u just bought a whole new wish bone with the drop links and everything as a kit.

with out hearing the noise its hard to say what it can be... a simple thing like a stone trapped inbetween the suspension arm and car body (talking about the rear setup or my fiat not looked at the seat yet) made the worst noise id ever heard. clunk clunk then if i went left i got a grinding noise.

good luck mate. hope u sort the problem soon i know how annoying rattles are.. my seat dash is rattling now. i might have to break out the brown bread

smee

 

[Smee]

opps see that was mazicar that done 7k not u.. maybe u should check

Smee

 

[maxcars1]

I would agree with Smee - I dont know what your mileage is buts its worth checking the droplinks, the security of teh ARB bushes again. IN all honesty it could even be your top mounts.

 

[IH786]

The car has done 45k. It was fine before i fitted the ARB. The topmounts came with the Cupra suspension i bought, so they have covered far less miles. I'm guessing its probably the ARB bush.

 

[IH786]

The saga continues!!

I was driving home from work last night on the motorway and the car felt terrible. It was making an awful noise and vibrating loudly. When going around a few corners the car was all over the place. I pulled over thinking a wheel was loose, but they were fine.

Early this morning i decided to take a look under the car. I noticed that the ARB bushes were not flush to the subframe. Although i tightened the bolts, the droplinks were attached, so the ARB bushes had moved. I disconnected the droplinks, and properly fitted the bushes.

Job done, i thought! I took the car for a test drive, but the clattering was still there, and the steering wheel was moving violently side to side. Stupidly i decided to take the car to work. Which involves going down a country lane and a motorway.

I nearly lost control on the country lane, but i still continued onto the motorway. As i pulled onto the M42 traffic jam, a lorry driver told me my passenger rear tyre was flat

I pulled over to the hard shoulder, and put on my spare. Straight away the car felt better But the noise that has started since i fitted the ARB is still there Despite properly fitting the bushes.

I've decided to take a day off work tomorrow to get to the bottom of this, i've really had enough

 

[Smee]

what was the out come on this mate??


Smee