B5.5 Anti roll bar links / swaybar links fitted backwards?

[Mad_mike]

Just got my 3rd Passat the other day
Previous 2 were 1998 total bangers but brilliant cars that enticed me to stick with Passats

This one is a 2002 B5.5 with AWX engine
When I was picking it up, the guy who was selling it told me when he brought it for the National Road Test, that the tester mentioned something about some suspension links being fitted the wrong way around and he said that maybe I should get somebody to check it just in case.
Anyway, I was looking at the car earlier and took a few pics, and from what I can see, the anti roll bar links are in fact facing the wrong way alright

Just wondering if this will cause any issues, or is there any great urgency in changing them around as I plan to try do some bits that need doing as soon as I get a chance

Would appreciate any advice, and also, confirmation if they are in fact fitted the wrong way round!

swaylink.jpg
Found above picture on the internet. The open part seems to be facing the front of the car


swaylink2smfacingrear.jpg
This is the photo of my own car taken from the front and facing rearwards

[zollaf]

wow, who would have thought you could get them wrong. funnily enough i have just fitted new ones to an a4 today, front and back. never even thoght which way round they go, just fitted the as the old ones came off. but, what difference does it make ? well none really, as long as they are not fouling on anything during their travel, they are still connecting the anti roll bar to the arm whichever way they face. i would leave them alone myself, or change them, depending on the mood. maybe do it when you do something else up front. incidentaly, if you do change them, swop them to the other side so the bushes are still working in the right plane or they may just fail early.

[Mad_mike]

Yeah. I was looking at them earlier and from what I can see, it doesn't technically matter which way they face
As you said, as long as they aren't fouling etc, I don't really see that it's an issue, but just said I would ask here in case somebody has a particular horror story which I have not envisaged!!
Otherwise, I think I will just leave them at the bottom of my to do list

[zollaf]

tell the tester that actually yours are right and every other car in the land is wrong.

[Mad_mike]

Hahaha. You never know! Maybe that's the case!

[Doctle Odd]

You could have brought it to Kells for NCT, they failed me on perished brake hoses, they were fitted new last October, easy money for the batsards

[Mad_mike]

Seriously?? How the hell can they say they are perished when only fitted a few months!
It's just a money racket alright

[Doctle Odd]

The appeals process is nonsense, the moron that tested the car was fresh in from east of the Urals very poor English.

[Mad_mike]

So, just as a follow up, in case somebody else ever finds this thread with the same issue, it would appear that fitting the links the wrong way around, DOES cause issues and fouling!
Took these pics today when I got a chance to have a closer look. Going to try change them around tomorrow

controldamage.jpg
A close up of where it is damaging the control arm

arb.jpg


arb2.jpg


arb3.jpg