Arb Bushes Advisory From Mot

[pike_1.9cti 0]

Hey all,

 

My CTi went through its MOT a couple of days ago with advisories about both front ARB bushes being detoriated.

 

First question, what symptoms would associated with driving a car with knackered ARB bushes? (Only asking cos i think there is a few problems in the steering/suspension and im trying to run through a process of elimination)

 

Second how hard would it be to fit on my driveway? (penny pinching)

 

cheers Ben

[welshpug 1,657]

depends if you're still running track control arms or gti type Wishbones.

 

the former relies on the ARB to locate the ARM, and would give similar symptoms to a worn balljoint or wishbone bushes.

 

a single nut and a pair of bushes each side so a pretty straightforward job.

 

part number for bushes is 3523 49, which IIRC would be for a side (i.e 2 bushes)

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

You normally need to drop the front subframe to fit new arb bushes & iirc they are held in place by a U shaped clamp which is held to the subframe by two nuts.

 

They don't allow much movement so I doubt you'd really notice them being deteriorated under normal driving, if they were that bad to allow much movement then it'd be a failure pont rather than an advisory imo.

 

Fitting is easy on a drive, all you need is a set of axle stands for under the jacking points on the cills & a 16mm socket to undo the subframe mounting bolts so the back of the subframe can drop enough to allow the clamps to be lifted out of the way & slide the old bushes out / new bushes in then tighten everything back up.

 

Easy.

 

Graham.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

If your car still has the XS arb / subframe & wishbone set up the bushes you need are oneof the ones listed;

• 5094 36 02 BAR BEARING DIAM 20
  
• 5094 37 02 DIAM 22
  
• 5094 40 02 1 POS DIAM 23
  

Depending on the size of the arb fitted.

 

But if it has the GTi set up you need;

• 5094 42 01 BAR BEARING LEFT
  
• 5094 43 01 RIGHT
  

 

3523.49 is the bush that fits into the XS / base model lower wishbone & as the MOT tester advised about the ARB bushes you need to clarify which it is you need to look at replacing.

 

Either way none of them are expensive from Pug so its no big shake.

 

Graham.