Need New Anti Roll Bar

[Adrenaline]

Hi

My car was making strange thudding noises just under footwell when going over bumps...must have been the pothole i went over this weekend.
got it checked out and the anti roll bar had moved to the passenger side.
got this moved back in place but it seems i need a new anti roll bar...the end bit that holds the anti roll bar in place is cracked....any ideas if this comes with the roll bar?

how much does it the anti roll bar cost?

[Skipton01]

It seems that arb and bushes are a frequently changed part on the A2 - I had mine replaced last year under warranty, after only 25k miles!

I never saw the invoice price, but would imagine that it'll be in the £250 bracket, fitted.

Although the A2 chassis is unique, ie not shared with any other VW/Audi model, it may be possible to fit something like a Polo arb. Robin commented on the possibility of this last year when I had my springs replaced.

Cheers,

Mike

[Adrenaline]

Its not the bushes from what i was told the whole anti roll bar needs replacing because the end bits that hold the roll bar in place has split and so the roll bar has moved...i wouldnt get it fitted from audi...local garage will do me

[spike]

Hi Adrenaline
There is some info on rolbar prices in the attached link.
http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4818&highlight=roll

Cheers Spike

[shao_khan]

Mine was being done today under warrenty. they quoted roll bar - 1.5hrs plus parts - 4 wheel allignment 4hrs - what do they do in 4hrs????????

Yours
18hrs with no A2

[shao_khan]

So its still in havign the work done :(

[tdiman]

Mine was being done today under warrenty. they quoted roll bar - 1.5hrs plus parts - 4 wheel allignment 4hrs - what do they do in 4hrs????????

Yours
18hrs with no A2

pay for the fancy showrooms I would suspect, that and drink a lot of coffee

seriously though you actually had far more than just 4 wheel alignment done, they would have to set up the whole chassis on the car adjusting as they go before they could even start to check the suspension alignment

I saw eggbert being done at the body shop, it's quite a lengthy process to get it right.

[shao_khan]

Cool, cheers - didnt know that.

Still no news :( Last time there was no news my TT was having its 9th dash pod and they didnt want to ring me.

Yours worried of MK.

[Dave Armes]

Hi All

FYI
After just changing my cam belt Iv'e just been crawling about underneath my A2 investigating a banging noise on the passanger side everytime I went over rough roads. Found the problem which is the Anti Roll Bar (ARB). And guess what!!!!!! The ARB is slipping sideways in it's brackets upto 2 inches to the near side which then causes the ARB to hit the underneath of the chassis which is of course is the cause of the banging noise. This is a really bad design!!! There should be collars on the ARB to stop the sideways movement. I managed to push the ARB and bushes back into there repective brackets and made a clamp to stop the sideways movement and it's now fine. So I ask myself " are all these ARB changes we see Audi carrying out on A2's really required??? So if you get a banging on the front passanger side then first check that the ARB hasn't slipped sideways. Could save you a few hundred quid!!

[Colin]

Sounds like you managed to provide a fix Dave where Audi can't or dont want to dealership margins have to be preserved. So excactly what did you manaufactuer this clamp from its going to possibly save others some serious money.

[Adrenaline]

Hi All

FYI
After just changing my cam belt Iv'e just been crawling about underneath my A2 investigating a banging noise on the passanger side everytime I went over rough roads. Found the problem which is the Anti Roll Bar (ARB). And guess what!!!!!! The ARB is slipping sideways in it's brackets upto 2 inches to the near side which then causes the ARB to hit the underneath of the chassis which is of course is the cause of the banging noise. This is a really bad design!!! There should be collars on the ARB to stop the sideways movement. I managed to push the ARB and bushes back into there repective brackets and made a clamp to stop the sideways movement and it's now fine. So I ask myself " are all these ARB changes we see Audi carrying out on A2's really required??? So if you get a banging on the front passanger side then first check that the ARB hasn't slipped sideways. Could save you a few hundred quid!!

thats exactly whats happened to my car...the reason is the metak brackets or sleeves that hold the ARB are split and was banging against the chassis...
now its makin a kind of squeeky/creaking noise on passenger side

[Dave Armes]

Hi Adrenaline,

I had the same problem previously,try some Teflon spray around the ABR bushes. Had another close inspection of the bushes and brackets on the ARB and are fine. Phew!!! had enough fun changing the cam belt, didn't really fancy another session of repairs just yet!!

[Adrenaline]

with mine its not the bushes its the actual sleeves that hold the arb or i dont know they come with the arb one is split so the ARB has slid and moved around 2 inches to passenger side

[Adrenaline]

Hi

Got the roll bar today but it doesnt seem to have the sleeves or collar bits with it....just wondering whether the design was changed

[Havank]

could you make a picture of it and post it here, so we can see what the current one looks like??

[Adrenaline]

it looks the same i dont know if the collar/sleeves are part of the body or roll bar

[spike]

Hi Adrenaline
Touch wood, the roll bar on my 2001 car is still ok but i'm aware they changes the design. The old bar which is now obsolete, had integral bushes while the later version has replacable bushes. There is more good reading on this subject in the attached link
http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4630&highlight=roll

Cheers Spike

Correction The old roll bar had plastic sleeves which located the rubber bushes. Although I have not seen parts first hand, it appears its the failure of these plastic sleeves which cause the roll bar to move sideways. While this style of roll bar is obsolete, the rubber bushes are still available as a service part.
The new roll bar does not have the plastic sleeves but uses similar style rubber bushes with a different bore size.
Any more accurate info would be gratefully received.

[Adrenaline]

yea its the plastic sleeve that has actually split...really is poor design and im
having to replace the whole bar...wonder if the new design lasts any longer
my car is also a 2001

[Mark Brigg]

The bushes and the roll bar are sold seperately. If only the sleeves have gone it makes no sense to buy the whole lot.

Had my roll bar and bushes changed earlier this year. Got the parts via VAG parts - excellent service - and got them fitted by my local VW dealer. Saved some money and pleased with the result.

[Dave Armes]

Hi Colin,
This is what I done, though I would think you could buy a small clamp from the shop for a few pence to do this job. Just the same as a jubilee clip except a little stronger. My ARB was sliding towards the off side so I put the clamp on the outside of the ARB on the nearside. A clamp each side would be ideal but will see how it goes.

Cut a strip of stainless steel 2 cm wide x 3mm in thickness. Get yourself a piece of steel tube/Rod the same dia as the Anti Roll Bar.Make the steel strip long enough to wrap around the Bar with enough on each end to drill a hole for an M6 locknut and bolt for clamping it to the ARB. Wrap the steel strip around the steel tube and stick the ends in a vice and clamp leaving enough space between the drill holes so when you tighten the M6 locknut and bolt it will grip the bar/Rod Take the clamp off the tube/Rod open it up a bit to allow you to slip it over the ARB then make sure your ARB is in its correct position. Insert the M6 bolt throughthe holes and tighten the bolt to about 30 Nm * PLEASE NOTE The steering arm and track rod end is very near the ARB so make sure the clamp is not in a position to catch the steering when you turn the steering wheel. Check before driving off.

[Adrenaline]

had the roll bar and the bushes replaced today it cost me £140
i dont know whether that is cheap its the first time i've had this problem

[Colin]

Dave,

Thanks for the info, very usefull.