Soft Touch Passenger Grab handles?

[Spannaz]

Don't know if everyone else already knew of this handy (no pun intended!) upgrade for the standard non-damped interior passenger grab handles, but I thought that I would share the info just in case.. It struck me that my old Bora 150 PD had much nicer level of sophistication in this area, so I compared the internals of the mechanisms and identified that whilst the Octavia ones were nicer being black to match my headlining, they didn't have a "damper" device inside, but looked like they could incorporate one (don't even know if you can get black damped handles, but even if you can, I bet they are more than £4.50 for the four of them !!!).

 

So a bit of creative eBay searching in "worldwide" (as opposed to.co.uk) and sure enough, you can buy the damper units but only from China (where I suspect the original units were made anyway.   I know we all slag of Chinese parts from time to time, but where else can you buy the internals of a mechanism without buying the whole part from (in this case) Skoda!

 

And they were only £4.52 with free postage (for the set of 4), and arrived in about 10 days.

 

Thought that I may as well do a fitting guide: the first one took me about 20 minutes to remove, pull apart, re-assemble with the new part and re-fit to the car, the second, about 10 minutes, the third about 5 and the last one in even less time!

 

The result is a nicer device, with a more "quality" feel.   I suppose that this is one of those minor "savings" that VAG make over the VW and Audi brands..

 

Anyway, hope this proves useful to someone.

 

Items purchased here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151151376426?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[brad1.8T]

I did mine about 5 years back.  I'd actually forgotten I'd done it!.

 

It's a good mod

[john999boy]

Nice find Spannaz. I'll be ordering some shortly.

Edit: only 4 sets left now. You snooze you lose!

[KBPhoto]

That's a good find. Thank you.

And thanks for the guide. Were the pins glued / sealed in at all or is it just a good push to get them out?

Just checked my Yeti and it looks like they'll fit.

Only three sets left now...

Worked out at £4.66 according to PayPal invoice. Still good value though.

[Kenny R]

Thanks for that find, only one set left now.

[Spannaz]

That's a good find. Thank you.

And thanks for the guide. Were the pins glued / sealed in at all or is it just a good push to get them out?

Just checked my Yeti and it looks like they'll fit.

Only three sets left now...

Worked out at £4.66 according to PayPal invoice. Still good value though.

the pins are just a push fit - I used a set of small thin needle nosed pliers to get mine out, but if you take your time it's actually quite easy. I thought it prudent to start on one of the rear ones first in case I made a mess of it!

[Spannaz]

Thanks for that find, only one set left now.

Haha - this is China - they will have another million sets on the shelf waiting to be listed!

[Plantman]

Presume you only need 4 items, rather than needing 8. So this would mean only 1 damper in each handle?

[Spannaz]

Presume you only need 4 items, rather than needing 8. So this would mean only 1 damper in each handle?

That's correct - 1 damper per handle, but they come in a pack of 4 anyway.

[Gizmo]

I have moved this (but left a link in this sub forum) as this is a useful guide for others. 

[ethel]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

Despite my signature, this is such a cheap & easy mod that it seems daft not to do it..

 

D.

[Spannaz]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

Despite my signature, this is such a cheap & easy mod that it seems daft not to do it..

 

D.

I think you may need a new footer!

[ethel]

I think you may need a new footer!

Yes indeed - I'll wait until I've uprated my handles first though..

[Spannaz]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

Despite my signature, this is such a cheap & easy mod that it seems daft not to do it..

 

D.

Particularly on the VRS, seems a bit tight of Skoda not to have done this in the first place!

[ethel]

All helps maintain the VW Group hierarchy - as a matter of interest do Seats get such luxury items as soft-return grab handles I wonder..?

[Spannaz]

All helps maintain the VW Group hierarchy - as a matter of interest do Seats get such luxury items as soft-return grab handles I wonder..?

Surely they are beneath us in the hierarchy?

Edited 28 July, 2015 by Spannaz

[ethel]

Let the flame wars begin..

[john999boy]

Mine will unfortunately be up for grabs - when they arrive!

That's what happens when you return from your holidays and then realise that the intended car already has them fitted. Good old VW.

[Gizmo]

Mine will unfortunately be up for grabs - when they arrive!

That's what happens when you return from your holidays and then realise that the intended car already has them fitted. Good old VW.

 

 

Send them down to me when you get them John I was about to order a set of them!!

[langers2k]

Mine arrived yesterday but the damping is too strong, at least on both front handles as I haven't done the rears. They get about halfway closed and stop unless I push them closed.

 

Also, unlike this image, the groove labelled 2 only extends on one side of the mount rather than both. Anyone else had this?

 

[KBPhoto]

Mine arrived yesterday. Will be looking at fitting them today. Fingers crossed...

[Plantman]

Mine have arrived today so will have a go at fitting them this eve!

 

Interesting points you make. If you give them a good work out by opening and closing do they loosen up a bit?

[Plantman]

Mine arrived yesterday but the damping is too strong, at least on both front handles as I haven't done the rears. They get about halfway closed and stop unless I push them closed.

 

Also, unlike this image, the groove labelled 2 only extends on one side of the mount rather than both. Anyone else had this?

 

handles.JPG

 

How do you mean? Going by the picture it looks as if the grove should only be on one side....or do you mean that in the round picture the cut out only extends to one side on that side of hole?

The dampers themselves have tabs that extend either side.

 

I will check mine later and report back.  Guessing you could either cut one side of the tabs from the dampers, or better still make a grove in the handle.

[langers2k]

How do you mean? Going by the picture it looks as if the grove should only be on one side....or do you mean that in the round picture the cut out only extends to one side on that side of hole?

The dampers themselves have tabs that extend either side.

 

I will check mine later and report back.  Guessing you could either cut one side of the tabs from the dampers, or better still make a grove in the handle.

 

The cut only extends to one side of the hole so I removed one of the tabs from the damper otherwise they wouldn't have fit.

 

I did try working the drivers side for a minute or so and it didn't seem to make much difference.

[Plantman]

Mmmm,  bit naff.  Mine feel pretty stiff (oooerr) but considering I've not installed them in to the handle yet I don't know if that is normal or not.

 

Is there a way you could increase the spring tension? Perhaps give it an extra turn before putting it back together?

 

Spannaz, were yours ok? 

Brad, how about yours?