Technical Are ARB bushes and service parts different if the steering is on the left?

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Technical Are ARB bushes and service parts different if the steering is on the left?

pest410

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Hi everyone, I'm new here, hope you can help!

Just came back from the mechanic who told me that he couldn't get new anti-roll bar parts today for my 2000 Punto Mk2 because the steering is on the left and the parts he got don't fit. Result is he'll have to get them from Fiat next week which will make the repair much more expensive.

Is this true? This refers to 4 parts (the 2 bushes + the links to the wheels at both ends, don't know the name). They look exactly the same to me left to right so I don't understand why they would be different in a Euro vs UK car?

Additionally they also told me the service parts (oil filter etc) will also need to come from Fiat for the same reason. I've done several services in the UK and never heard such a thing and my services were never more expensive due to being a euro car...

The whole thing sounds fishy to me so I hope you can help me and clarify if I'm being ripped off here or just paranoid!

Many thanks in advance!

(btw, the parts do need replacing since it was marked in the last MOT done elsewhere already)
 
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Hi everyone, I'm new here, hope you can help!

Just came back from the mechanic who told me that he couldn't get new anti-roll bar parts today for my 2000 Punto Mk2 because the steering is on the left and the parts he got don't fit. Result is he'll have to get them from Fiat next week which will make the repair much more expensive.

Is this true? This refers to 4 parts (the 2 bushes + the links to the wheels at both ends, don't know the name). They look exactly the same to me left to right so I don't understand why they would be different in a Euro vs UK car?

Additionally they also told me the service parts (oil filter etc) will also need to come from Fiat for the same reason. I've done several services in the UK and never heard such a thing and my services were never more expensive due to being a euro car...

The whole thing sounds fishy to me so I hope you can help me and clarify if I'm being ripped off here or just paranoid!

Many thanks in advance!

(btw, the parts do need replacing since it was marked in the last MOT done elsewhere already)

He is talking Ballcocks and trying to rip you off big time. ! a total con artist and idiot. (y)
Change your alleged mechanic asap.

All the parts you mentioned are exactly the same.;)
 
Additionally they also told me the service parts (oil filter etc) will also need to come from Fiat for the same reason.

i had a good chuckle over that one, can you tell us which garage said that?
I think 'Garage' is overdoing it a bit lol :rolleyes: :D
Another kwik fit special rip off and bodge it merchant, too many of the idiots about unfortunately. (y)
 
Thanks for the help guys. I spoke to the guy on the phone just now and the tune has changed, how odd...

He said he never said anything about the service parts needing to come from Fiat (which is true, the kid that works there told me that after the guy had left to his office), but he also denied ever giving the steering side justification for the ARB parts having to come from Fiat. He gave me some other justification now for not being able to find bushes cheap. To be honest, I didn't understand what the justification was on the phone due to his thick accent, but he's clear now that he won't touch the car until he tells me the final cost and that I won't accept an expensive repair because I just can't justify it for the little use I give the car.

He did give that justification though, he's clearly backtracking now but I'm 100% sure he said it and the 2 kids working there joined him.

Btw, the costs before this 'story' were:
MOT + service = £120
Replacement of 4 parts of the ARB, a part of the exhaust (a long time problem barely passing emissions test in the last MOTs) and 2 new tyres (they do need replacement) = £120

Reasonable?

Now let's see if that goes up with the 'need' for bushes from Fiat.
 
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Don't be supprised if he tells you the whole antiroll bar needs to be replaced, this is what fiat did/originally intended.

So you can buy the outer roll bar bushes but a lot of placed will only supply inner bushes with a new roll bar, they are available separately but sounds like your garage may take this route
 
Don't be supprised if he tells you the whole antiroll bar needs to be replaced, this is what fiat did/originally intended.

So you can buy the outer roll bar bushes but a lot of placed will only supply inner bushes with a new roll bar, they are available separately but sounds like your garage may take this route

Thank you, maybe that's what he told me the 2nd time around in his mangled English. Who knows...
 
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