bushes and wishbone

[darkman]

My 1.9 tdi sport just had it's 60,000 mile service. Recommended work is to replace bushes and I think arb on front as they are failing and causing uneven tyre wear on inner edge. The technician showed me under the car. Price quoted is £600. Any thoughts or suggestions from experience greatly appreciated.

[Lordnikon]

I hope thats VW prices !!!

Had quotes of £180 to supply and fit the front bushes and ARB from a local independant

[ihpj]

If it is a VW price - get a quote from a local VW Indy and then go back to VW to price match based on their Service Price Match offer. That way you will get best of both worlds!

[darkman]

That is VW prices yes. I would get a discount as I signed up to the servicing agreement so it will end up about £560. Can anyone recommend a good independent VW specialist in the Cheshire area? Cheers

[RUM4MO]

If round about M-K is not too far for you to travel to save a lot of money, then I'd check out www.unit18.co.uk - email them for a price etc - you would need to factor in a full four wheel re-alignment afterwards though. I'm sure that you should be able to trace an independant VAG specialist nearer to you though. Remember that you should really get the independant places to fit the Seat Ibiza Cupra solid TCA bushes and not just the normal voided ones even although VW would like to think that they have been "made better" - buy the TCA bushes from a Seat dealer remember its the solid Cupra ones you want the p/n starts with 6LL. Check on www.seatcupra.net and www.briskoda.net for info use "bushes" as the search word.

[darkman]

Thanks for your good advice. Yes I will try the local Seat dealer. I will just try a few places for quotes. Cheers

[RUM4MO]

One other thing, you mentioned ARB - did they mean ARB mounting bushes had failed or ARB had failed - exactly what age is your car as there was a problem with the earlier ARBs as they had plastic end stops moulded on to them - probably just retained by the heavy layer of paint - through time and twisting (the ARB is meant to twist), the paint cracks > lets water in > ARB rusts and so expands > plastic stops or collars break free > ARB starts banging off the aluminium consoles as it "walks" from side to side. They might have meant the drop links that connect the ARB to the struts - they also are a known weakness and would cause knocking. After any serious front suspension work I'd always think that you'd need four wheel realignment as maybe any abnormal tyre wear is due more to mis-alignment - even after the split bushes are replaced.

[darkman]

Yes the arb does need replacing they said, although there is no knocking at all just the uneven tyre wear. The car was new in April 2002 so it is a very early 9n and no work has been done on the bushes or arb. The coiled spring was replaced after snapping at 3 years old

[RUM4MO]

Ah well at that time, it would definately have been the ARB with the plastic end stops that would have been fitted at the factory, its lasted well! My wife's 2003MY Polo, built late August 2002 needed a new ARB over two years ago at about 35,000 miles - then the road spring snapped at half height! The new bushes will sort the uneven tyre wear - a bit.

[darkman]

Yes it has lasted well considering!!! It doesn't owe me anything

[RUM4MO]

Yes it has lasted well considering!!! It doesn't owe me anything

Yes but how many cars have you had that needed a new ARB? Normally they would survive the life of the car - if they didn't have these plastic stops,