1.8T ARB Bushes?

[Wookie]

Hi,

From what I've read on here I think my ARB Bushes are worn because my car squeaks at the front when I go over undulating surfaces, but doesn't do it when I go over more severe bumps. Does that sound right? My drivers seat does squeak a bit too but I know its not this cos its definitely coming from outside the car!
However, and this may be just me being paranoid, but my car also seems to knock/clunk a bit too much when I go over a speed bump or small pothole etc?? Are the two related?
I've got a service due in August so if I need to change anything I'd hope to wait till then, so is it just a case of turning the stereo up a bit more?!

Cheers!

Steve

'99 A3 1.8T

P.S. Any rough idea of how much its likely to set me back would be great!

 

[Mo-S3]

Your car is nearly 7 years old now so changing the arb bushes would be best place to start unless they have been changed already. They do wear away causing play that the driver does become accustomed to until they get really bad and start making daft noises.

 

[Wookie]

That was going to be my other question - would I have noticed any change in the way the car handles if they were knackered?

 

[Mo-S3]

Depends on how knackered they are. If they are a gradual knackering then no you probably wouldnt have noticed any difference.

 

[Wookie]

Ok, guess I'll just have to start with the bushes and take it from there. Cheers.

 

[Timbo]

Older non-quattro 1.8Ts also suffer from worn front track control arm bushes and rear beam bushes, which have quite a large effect on the handling but as Raasta says you might not notice as they go gradually.

No idea on the costs for ARB bushes but from memory TCA bushes + rear beam bushes were approx £50-£100 parts and ~5 hrs labour.

 

[Mo-S3]

I would not recommend fitting Powerflex bushes as they are way too hard for cars. Ive had the PF dog bone bush on mine and taken it off. There is a massive conception that the harder the bush the better it will be! Well wrong!! Harder bushes cause more stresses on other components and can cause premature wear on them which can be more expensive on the long run. Im currently working with SuperPro in helping them develop a complete set of bushes for the A3 and S3. A number of thme have been done and are available with a few more left to finalise.
The bushes them selves are not expensive in a sense but its the labour time to remove the old ones and fit new ones which has to be weighed up. Just as well im fitting all my own bushes and on occasions 2 or 3 times for the same bush.

 

[Wookie]

To be honest I was just going to stick with the standard ones as I probably won't be uprating anything else on this car before I change it. I figured it would be the labour that would hike the price, think I'll give the stealer a call and see what the damage will be, its definitely gotta be done though.
Would a garage be able to tell me what I'd need doing pretty easily just by having a look? Or is it more of a process of elimination?

 

[sprout99]

To be honest I was just going to stick with the standard ones as I probably won't be uprating anything else on this car before I change it. I figured it would be the labour that would hike the price, think I'll give the stealer a call and see what the damage will be, its definitely gotta be done though.
Would a garage be able to tell me what I'd need doing pretty easily just by having a look? Or is it more of a process of elimination?

on www.vwspares.co.uk bushes are about 2.50 each.

i've just bought mine and will fit them soon.

 

[Timbo]

I would not recommend fitting Powerflex bushes as they are way too hard for cars. Ive had the PF dog bone bush on mine and taken it off. There is a massive conception that the harder the bush the better it will be! Well wrong!! Harder bushes cause more stresses on other components and can cause premature wear on them which can be more expensive on the long run.

There was a good article on VWVortex a while ago about this (sorry don't have the link to hand), particularly in respect of powerflex rear beam bushes and how they're too stiff to work properly and end up wearing the mount points oval and flopping about.

Would a garage be able to tell me what I'd need doing pretty easily just by having a look? Or is it more of a process of elimination?

A decent dealer or Audi/VW specialist should be able to tell you what needs doing by performing an inspection.

 

[god_thats_quick]

I would say if you've still got the original wishbones these bushes will be the cause of the loose feeling. The creaking is most likely to be ARB / Bushes / drop links - if it's the bushes I think they can be done without dropping the subframe, if the ARB itself is the issue thats a big job so get the bushes / droplinks done at the same time (they're cheap).

I have the powerflex wishbone bushes and the ECS (harder than PF) dogbone mount on my S3 and it has made an improvement, the wishbone bushes gave more feel through the steering and less loose feeling over bumps etc. The dogbone mount made the gearchange better and if they are set to the correct torque and left to bed in I don't even get harsh vibration anymore!

My front ARB has started creaking recently and you can see if you look around the bushes (wheel off) that it's rusted and is the cause of the creaking if you hold it whilst moving the suspension.

For FWD A3s you should NOT replace the rear bushes with powerflex jobbies as this can be dangerous because the suspension setup on the A3 is designed to flex in a direction the poly bushes don't allow.

 

[Wookie]

So if they can change the bushes without dropping the subframe thats the best thing to do first, if they do have to drop it is it a good idea to change the ARB anyway? I don't wanna spend more than I have to but if it could save me a job in the future then its obviously worth it.
Cheers for the advice!

 

[Timbo]

If memory serves doing the rear beam bushes is a bigger job than the front TCAs as they have to remove the entire beam and disconnect the brake lines (at least that's what they did with mine). I don't think the subframe needs to be dropped for the TCAs.

 

[Wookie]

Ok, I'll just hope you're correct so I don't have to spend too much of my hard earned!

 

[Mo-S3]

If just replaced a set of rear bushes for a fwd a3 and the frame does not have to be dropped. It can be lowered just enough so that the new bushes can be removed and the new ones inserted. No disconnection of brakes lines is necessary.

 

[jbw]

My local specialist removed the brake lines when fitting my rear bushes and didn't put them back properly. I believe the work cost around £130 ('99 A3 1.6). Must be up to the monkey holding the spanner whether they remove the lines or not. I'm still looking for another specialist as that one nearly killed me and 4 other people.

 

[sprout99]

If just replaced a set of rear bushes for a fwd a3 and the frame does not have to be dropped. It can be lowered just enough so that the new bushes can be removed and the new ones inserted. No disconnection of brakes lines is necessary.

I just did my front ones the other day without touching sub-frame - taking them off is a doddle
fitting new ones was fiddly. Took about 3 hours in total and a bit of swearing.

 

[Wookie]

Gonna go and see the dealer tomorrow and see what extortionate price they'll want to sort it out for me.