Interesting....hard to differentiate between the effect of the brace and the ARB but here are my pros/cons so far with guesses as to the primary cause. Hope this helps someone.

PROS

1) Improved balance under braking (brace)
2) Improved balance under acceleration (brace)
3) Improved turn in and cornering speed (ARB)
4) Improved reaction to potholes (brace)

CONS

1) Brace rubs on downpipe (causes squeeking)
2) Rear ARB is a bit noisy occasionally (creaks/rattles)
3) A bit twitchy at high speed over rough surfaces (ARB)
4) A bit twitchy on cornering (ARB)
5) Heavier steering (???)

All in all I think I'll keep the brace but have the ARB put back to normal.

W

if the brace is rubbing on the downpipe, move the downpipe.

Just undo the V-Band adapter (and maybe the rear mount) - push it up a bit and tighten it all back up again.

I have a 3" DP and it doesn't touch my brace

If the rear is twitchy, its likely to be your shocks, not the rear ARB

Handling-wise, the uprated rear ARB was the single most effective cure of understeer on my car, but the rest of the car needs to be able to cope with it

Hi Nigel,

Thanks for the tip with the brace.

I have brand new Bilsteins and standard springs ...

Cheers

Scott

I agree with you Nigel. I have the Bilstein/Eibach combo and the 22 mm rear ARB. The car has less understeer now and feels so much better

So standard springs and billies are not up to the job?

Perhaps I should have gone for the 22mm version?

Scott

Watch out for rear ARB creaks/rattles, as I wrote in my guide it's easy to forget the mount for the brake valve easily scratches the tank if you're not careful assembling it all.

per have you got our can you get a pic of were it would hit the tank mate plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

thanks freddan ill take a look at the week end,iv not got anything makeing any creaks/rattles but think it would be better to be safe than sorry,

You´re welcome

UPDATE:

Front brace and Rear ARB now no longer clonking etc. Makes the car feel much more planted, and much better over bad roads.

Cheers

Scott

Also running billies/eibach, brace and 24mm rear ARB - the difference over standard is amazing

Like Nigel says, uprated rear ARB has really dialled out the understeer on my car

Overall it just feels planted round corners with little body roll - makes the gf's golf feel like a ship!

Hi, where is the best place to purchase the arb from & what is part number please?

http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/

Afraid I dont know the part number though.

personally i recommend the 22mm bar over the 24mm.

The 24mm can catch you out if you are too hard in corners, with quite a twitchy rear end.

the 22mm is a good balance of keeping the car predictable and still a high level of reducing the understeer and bodyroll.