Hi Guys,

I went down yesterday and fitted my new TCA, outer g-laderseite TCA bushes, ARB Blocks, New Rear Engine Mount and tried the lower front ged bar - to find that the holes aren't lining up...

I did think to re-drill the chassis holes so that they are slightly bigger but didn't have a drill here - and thought i'd see if anyone here has done this before to fit their lower brace bar?

I don't see it being a problem as long as I drill the hole bigger, paint and leave them for a day or so and then fit the brace bar?

I had this problem with mine mate, but instead of redrilling the holes, i got mine up on a lift, got one bolt in, then moved things about a bit with a crow bar til the other fit

How far away is the hole?

Is literally 1/2cm out or so - just enough for the bolts to not line up....

Sounds quite hard using a crow bar to shift things around...?

mine went straight on. strange that yours would be so far out. is it a Ged one or one of andy's replicas? mine was a replica. but fit perfect.

Edited 15 July, 200719 yr by supercharged spaniel

possible bent chassis leg? has it ever been in a front ender? mine was about 1mm out but bolted up fine

i think it may be your chassis dave.

i took my cross member off the polo - wen i went to put in on again it was miles out!!!!

hahahaha - think polos are just a bit shiity and require this mod before they bend! not after.

i used a jack on its side with a few bits of wood to put mine right again

mine has had a knock on the front and was about 3mm out, once the car was up on the air, it wasnt that hard to move the slightly wonky chassis leg just enough to get the bolt to fit

if you think about it, will be even tighter now because the chassis leg is trying to get back to where it was before

mine was the same, made the mistake of hopin if i got the nut started it would sort itself lol but it just buggered the bolt. still need to sort that out actually.

what is the hole spacing on the ged/andy bars just to see if my chassis is out.. i made my brace in situ so no idea if it is out..

Mine fit the mk3 but not with my intercooler in place.

apparently none of them fit G40s....i think

^

Thats not right, mine fit with the standard intercooler.

It also fit my friends G40's.

Ged used to own a G40 and built one originally for that IIRC.

Dave i had the same problem as you...was very close but it was slightly out...So i just drilled wider holes in the brace itself and it went on fine then.

Dave i had the same problem as you...was very close but it was slightly out...So i just drilled wider holes in the brace itself and it went on fine then.

I'm getting a drill and bits sorted for tomorrow to sort this out - gonna trim a bit from each to line it up and get it fitted.

Thanks for the replies - very helpful!

Dave

So how do you fit them then? Do you need to get it on a ramp?

I have mine here but haven't bothered to find out how I fit it.

It took me about 10 seconds, just slide under the car, line up the holes and put the bolts through.

Right all of the people on here are the 2nd batch of braces yeah?

I've had 2 other contacts from people with similar problems! Not sure if its the braces as they were all made on the same template as the originals by the same people, and I only had 1 returned by busterg40 - but after lining his first batch brace with a 2nd batch brace the holes line up exactly the same!

How very strange!

Apologies to everyone if it is the brace which is out!!! :(

Right all of the people on here are the 2nd batch of braces yeah?

I've had 2 other contacts from people with similar problems! Not sure if its the braces as they were all made on the same template as the originals by the same people, and I only had 1 returned by busterg40 - but after lining his first batch brace with a 2nd batch brace the holes line up exactly the same!

How very strange!

Apologies to everyone if it is the brace which is out!!! :(

I don't think it is...

I would imagine all the tension of everything else being connected is causing it to sit out slightly.

It really isn't much and is getting done tonight hopefully - will let you know when fitted here!

Dave

Where do these things bolt to?

In between the chassis legs just in front of the ARB...

On the chassis there are 2 holes that are used for this brace bar...

Dave

offered mine up yesterday and it was bout 1mm out nothing bad and went on fine just a test run tho as i must paint it calypso green b4 its fitted 4 good. dont reckon ther is n e thing wrong with the braces i mean mk3's are old now and I'm sure a fair few of them have had a knock or 2 in its lifetime.

Fitted this last night...

I literally only had to slightly bore the n/s hole the tiniest bit bigger and then it bolted straight on...

Looks the tits with the ARB Blocks and Nylon outer TCA bushes - Looks like my front end is done until the PSD subframes are released!

Thanks All

Dave

I've tried fitting them to 3 Polo's. Two it went on fine. The G40 was a little tight so the holes would need modifying. Every Polo will be slightly different as will every strut brace. Nothing a little drilling can't sort.