[SK-RS3]

Cheers guys thankfully my mates using his garage so all tools their to get things done because I'm about as mechanically minded as a carrot

[SK-RS3]

ARB ordered ! Has anybody upgraded the drop links when doing the 034 change

[Duke3D]

I've had a set in the garage for over six months but they have not been fitted yet.

 

I have a set of coil-overs coming soon which once fitted will drop the rear ride height so I will fit the drops then to adjust the ARB pre-load correctly.

[SK-RS3]

What drop links did you go for .
I'm guessing it's not a major need otherwise suppose they would be on already haha

[Duke3D]

I've got the 034 items: 

 sway-bar-end-links-motorsport-rear-adjustable-audi-8p-8j-tt-a3-volkswagen-mkv-mkvi-jetta-gti-r32-rabbit-034-402-4001-1.jpg   43.75K   7 downloads

 

Not essential really but some advantages:

Stronger, more articulation on the joints, adjustable for length so you can get the pre-load right.

 

But most importantly:

 

They look good: 

 

Not that you can actually see them though: 

[red14]

Back to the topic, how often should one lubricate the 034 ARB. Mine has been on a few months now and I was reminded of it when I was under the car last week. I really should have painted it before it went on. Nothing says more about a careful owner than the state of his (or her) undercarriage...

 

(in agreement with Duke3D above!)

[Duke3D]

Good question Red. Mine's been on 18 months and I haven't re-lubed. It's well overdue and I do have some squeaking from the back although I am fairly sure it's my top mounts packing up. New ones waiting to be fitted.

 

Dunno, but I suppose once a year re-lube. Treat it like a yearly service.

 

Superlube is what is supplied with the bar and it's worked OK for me so I have a tube ready and waiting in the garage.

[JayRS3]

Good question Red. Mine's been on 18 months and I haven't re-lubed. It's well overdue and I do have some squeaking from the back although I am fairly sure it's my top mounts packing up. New ones waiting to be fitted.

Dunno, but I suppose once a year re-lube. Treat it like a yearly service.

Superlube is what is supplied with the bar and it's worked OK for me so I have a tube ready and waiting in the garage.

I take it you only need to coat the black bushes inside and outside? Any recommendation on the original instructions on quantity or just smother them as I haven't got them (bought 2nd hand)

[Duke3D]

The ARB brackets have grease nipples Jay. just use these to stop you having to drop the brackets and bushes off the car 

[JayRS3]

The ARB brackets have grease nipples Jay. just use these to stop you having to drop the brackets and bushes off the car

I've got to get under the car anyway for an oil change so was going to do the ARB too. I've bought a tube of that super lube so not sure how I'd get it from the tube into the grease nipples. If it's only an annual thing I don't mind doing it the "hard" way even though it's 4 bolts

[JayRS3]

Got under the car today and checked the condition of the bushes, dismounted the brackets. The bushes were bone dry since installing it in April. Re greased with super lube inside and out of the bushes and re assembled. Maybe annual is slightly too long for the maintenance on these.

Edited by JayRS3, 19 September 2016 - 04:15 PM.

[SK-RS3]

Well weren't kinding about the flimsy oem ARB the 034 looks and feels so much sturdier only had a little road test so far .
Will report back more when I've had a chance to eat up some fast back roads

[Duke3D]

Got under the car today and checked the condition of the bushes, dismounted the brackets. The bushes were bone dry since installing it in April. Re greased with super lube inside and out of the bushes and re assembled. Maybe annual is slightly too long for the maintenance on these.

 

Stripped my ARB brackets down today Jay based on your findings. I haven't re-lubed mine since I fitted it 18 months ago. Whoops, time flies when your having fun. Really hadn't even thought about them even though I had the lube in the garage.

 

Yup mine were drier than a 7 year old cream cracker on a warm day. Luckily the bushes appear to have survived so lubed them up and re-fitted.

 

Un-surprisingly the squeaking I got from the back suspension when going over speed bumps etc that I thought was the shock top mounts has stopped. 

 

One thing I will change apart from lubing more often is to make up some covers for the grease nipples as they get covered in crap and need a good clean before you can use them.

[JayRS3]

Stripped my ARB brackets down today Jay based on your findings. I haven't re-lubed mine since I fitted it 18 months ago. Whoops, time flies when your having fun. Really hadn't even thought about them even though I had the lube in the garage.

Yup mine were drier than a 7 year old cream cracker on a warm day. Luckily the bushes appear to have survived so lubed them up and re-fitted.

Un-surprisingly the squeaking I got from the back suspension when going over speed bumps etc that I thought was the shock top mounts has stopped.

One thing I will change apart from lubing more often is to make up some covers for the grease nipples as they get covered in crap and need a good clean before you can use them.

Pleased to hear. I may have some spare grease nipple covers if you'd like me to send them to you? I've yet to try them on mine yet but if they'll fit I'm happy to send you a pair.

[Duke3D]

Pleased to hear. I may have some spare grease nipple covers if you'd like me to send them to you? I've yet to try them on mine yet but if they'll fit I'm happy to send you a pair.

Thanks for the offer Jay but I found some in a box of bits and bobs so I'm sorted.

[SK-RS3]

I've found since doing the read ARB slow cornering much better but fast Corning the car tries to kick out alittle is this normal or am I pushing it to hard ?

[JayRS3]

No she definitely doesn't kick out, unless we're talking ridiculous speeds round corners. Maybe due to some other factors like tyres? Or what setting did you go for the ARB (soft/stiffest)?

[Duke3D]

Do you have any other suspension mods?

Is it the back trying to step out?

Other factors can reduce overall traction. Worn tyres, worn shocks, alignment out etc.

Generally I found the standard springs do a fairly good job but if you try hard enough you can exceed any limits.

I fitted some Eibach front springs and they have really upset the balance of the car as they are too soft and compression rate doesn't match the original rears. At the moment I am getting the rear trying to step out if I push too hard which didn't happen with the original fronts.

Soon to be removed and coil overs fitted should resolve this.

[SK-RS3]

Tyres still have plenty of meat left on them ( goodyears )
Maybe I pushed harder then I used to without noticing it's a bend I do every morning on a national speed road just found it odd because never did it before.
I think I have it on the stiffer setting the second hole down towards end of the metal right ?

[SK-RS3]

Do you have any other suspension mods?

Is it the back trying to step out?

Other factors can reduce overall traction. Worn tyres, worn shocks, alignment out etc.

Generally I found the standard springs do a fairly good job but if you try hard enough you can exceed any limits.

I fitted some Eibach front springs and they have really upset the balance of the car as they are too soft and compression rate doesn't match the original rears. At the moment I am getting the rear trying to step out if I push too hard which didn't happen with the original fronts.

Soon to be removed and coil overs fitted should resolve this.

What coilovers are you fitting id like to do mine but never upgraded suspension on a motor so not sure where to start