Phil_Mack

Just been picking this up several months after the event, but to throw my two penn'orth on the table, I've had some transformational changes to previously sloppy joe saloons by installing some inexpensive gas pressure dampers from KYB. I put their Excel G dampers (standard twin-tube) into my Mk2 Octavia 2.0 TDi with the small 205/55-16 wheel/tyre, 15 yrs ago, and it really made a huge difference to the stability and secure handling of that car. It was at approx. 40k mls, I seem to remember, and I'd bought the car new. It was on 140k mls when I sold it to a neighbour, and they hadn't deteriorated to any noticeable degree in that 100k mls of long distance daily commuting on motorway / country B roads. Before that, I'd used them on a Mk2 2.0 VVTi Avensis, and they made a stunning difference to that wobbly jelly of a car, doing the same 200+ mile daily commutes for approx. 80k miles in the year & a half I had it for. And before that... I'd put a set of cheap gas-pressure Monroe shocks on a horribly-squishy but mint 5-cyl. Passat 2.0 to great effect, which is why I carried on the tradition. These were all "standard replacement" black twin-tube replacement units but gas-pressurised, like B4's, with no worries about insurance acceptance. If you don't fancy B6's or are refused insurance for them (unlikely), just go with the "standard replacement" B4's (or even KYB Excel G's) and there will be considerable improvement to controllability AND ride comfort, and no legal worries. Also, they are a LOT cheaper... 🤑