Fitting ARB's

[[Dave B]]

Hi All,

How difficult is it to change the front and rear ARB's on an S3? In the not too distant future I need to change them and would like to have a crack at it myself. If it makes any difference i'm likely to go with either R32 or Neuspeed items as replacements.

Also, do you need any specialist tools?

Cheers,
Dave.

 

[djdougalno1]

front is easier if u drop the sub frame witch isnt to difficult u have to disconect the steering colum inside the car buy the pedals as for the rear easier to remove rear section of the exhaust then its straight forward also if ure going r32 make sure u get the right rubber bushes as they gave me the bushes for my car but r32 arbs was never gona fit so had to get r32 bushes but job as a whole aint to difficult and will save u some pennies give it a go if ure feeling confident

 

[Welly]

I fitted a Whiteline ARB onto my A3. We weren't sure if it was going to fit - and didn't want to drop the sub frame either. So we managed to fit the new one, with the old one in place (not easy I grant you - but possible with some brute force and moving the engine forward) to test and then cut the old one out...

Dropping the frame is easier I agree, but it can be done by other means...

 

[[Dave B]]

Thanks guys - any other comments?

Does anyone have links to a walkthrough or guide?

 

[Welly]

Thanks guys - any other comments?

Does anyone have links to a walkthrough or guide?

I didn't do one at the time mate, I was too busy swearing at the car etc...

It's pretty self explanatory once you get under there to be honest.... I know thats not very helpful

 

[Prawn]

I avoided dropping the subframe for yonks, and even paid someone to fit my front ARB for me a few years back.

I recently was forced to drop the subframe to fit a new steering rack, and was amazed to find it's REALLY easy. The amount needed to drop it to get the ARB out is very minimal, you can actually just undo the bolts, and let it hang off the wishbones. there's enough movement in the telescopic section of the steering rack to get the ARB out without undoing the steering column too.

Much less daunting than i thought it would be

 

[fingermouse]

rear is easy just exhaust heat shield to drop and back box off rear hanger,

front has a hidden nut on passenger side iirc just be careful when lowerinh the sub frame

 

[[Dave B]]

Thanks all, i'm tempted to give it a go myself when the weather starts to pick up. I've recently had the alignment done on the car, will the work on the front mean it needs doing again?

 

[Prawn]

technically, unless you can get the subframe back in the PERFECT place it came off, you'll need some sort of alignment redoing yes.

 

[Welly]

technically, unless you can get the subframe back in the PERFECT place it came off, you'll need some sort of alignment redoing yes.

And in honesty, the chances of that are pretty slim!

 

[Prawn]

yea. damn right.

I was interested to find that on the A3 the camber is equalled out either side by adjustment of the subframe.

The last alignment I had pre rack change, I had 0.7 degrees negative on both sides, and after the rack change, I had 0.6 one side and 0.8 on the other side, obviously down to the frame not being perfectly central.

We slackened off the frame bolts and pushed it over a tad, and it evened out.