Hi all, I'm back again with some more questions I should know the answers to considering how much time I spend looking at this forum .

Anyway, I've finally ordered the new suspension kit (family commitments dictated that I went for the cheaper option – a Koni STR.T kit) but apart from the shocks and springs, what else do I need to provide the garage with, to do the job properly?

I've been told new bumpstops are a must but what size and where do I get them? I want to get the best out of the new kit so any advice much appreciated. Do I need anything else apart from bumpstops?

It's a 53 plate Octavia 1.8T 20v hatchback if that helps.

Cheers

if I was you Id get the wishbone bushes done(superpro?) the ARB bushes and new top mounts is what ive been told

hope this helps mate

:iagree:

Thanks guys. I'd already got those in mind but that's a different job for another time I think. I already asked Jabba if they could be done while the suspension was off but it makes no difference apparently. Bushes is still another few hours labour – unless anyone knows different, in which case I would get them done at the same time. I'm doing all the mods by stealth so I have to be careful

What about bump stops though? Do I need shortened ones to go with the shortened dampers?

Id like to know that too. I gettin some weitec Hicon GT coilovers, do I need new bumpstops too?

Thanks guys. I'd already got those in mind but that's a different job for another time I think. I already asked Jabba if they could be done while the suspension was off but it makes no difference apparently. Bushes is still another few hours labour – unless anyone knows different, in which case I would get them done at the same time. I'm doing all the mods by stealth so I have to be careful

What about bump stops though? Do I need shortened ones to go with the shortened dampers?

I did my own wishbone bushes and it took about 15 minutes a side with no specialist tools or knowledge, arb bushes are a little tighter to get at but is 1 bolt per side for the clamps and with a spanner rather than a socket are easy enough to do

HTH

cheers for the info LEX its helped me there

I did my own wishbone bushes and it took about 15 minutes a side with no specialist tools or knowledge, arb bushes are a little tighter to get at but is 1 bolt per side for the clamps and with a spanner rather than a socket are easy enough to do

HTH

Cheers Lex, that's interesting – why was I told it was another 2-hour job then? :confused: Didn't you have to get the tracking/alignment done after though?

I'll ask around a few garages and see what they say. I'll deffo get them done if it's a quickie job. It's going to be a rough first ride with new stiffer suspension, wishbone and dog-mount bushes. Wonder if SWMBO will notice?

I havent had the tracking done and have not had any unusual tyre wear and it drives straight and true when on a flat surface with no hands on the wheel.

As for the 2 hours labour it may be they are quoting you for original bushes which would require pressing out/in and may take longer or they may be including allignment/tracking in that which would add to the time.

I destroyed originals with a drill and tapped them out and the poly bushes pretty much slide in easily without the crush tubes in place although the front bush is a bit of a pig so I used a long M12 bolt, nut and 2 large washers and wound it up which pushed the bush into place

Thanks again.

Still on the subject, which bushes should I get for the dog bone mount? I see Superpro do the rounded-rectangle type dog bone bush:

Buy VAG - Lower Engine Support Bracket Bushes - Street by PRI Racing Ltd. buy online

But then there is also this round one:

Jabba Sport - Motor Sport

Powerflex only seem to do the rounded-rectangle one. Do you need both from Superpro or will just the rectangle suffice. Decisions, decisions …

Also, did you notice the ride was a lot harsher – loads of vibration etc after you'd fitted them?

I might have a crack at fitting them me self. Just a bit worried about not being able to get the old ones out and being left with bits of wishbone everywhere and a jacked-up car :eek:

If I was you Id get the one part first. the large rectangle part. I got the powerflex one as it was a bit cheaper.

euro performance.

let it bed in a bit then get the small round one from superPRO,

thats what I gonna do.

can someone clarify the size of the std ARB??? 19mm or 21mm

Ok for the dogbone I went for powerflex 2 piece bush and it vibrated a little for 1000 miles or so but the ability to put the power down was worth it.

I then fitted the superpro round dogbone bush and OMG the vibration on tick over was very harsh with loads of steering wheel shake, again driving along it settled but was still much louder than stock, for a long while I regretted it but after about 4000 miles it has now bedded in and is quiet and really helps traction and gear change over stock, I love it but it is a test of endurance for a long while.

Arb is 19mm on VRS and 21mm on other octi's HTH

cheers

does anyone hknow y it is smaller on the vRS than normal ones?

cheers

does anyone hknow y it is smaller on the vRS than normal ones?

As I understand it the bigger the anti roll bar the more understeer you get and as the VRS has more power and is FWD it has a natural tendancy to understeer so reducing the diameter counters this to an extent though not entirely which is why an uprated rear arb is a popular mod as it helps counter this considerably HTH

cheers again mate.

will it be worth gettin a 21 mm ARB from skoda? to go with the 22mm adj rear ARB

how easy are they to fit in the drive with a few stands and jacks?

also were can you get new top mpounts and bearings from?

also were can you get new top mpounts and bearings from?

GSF

Not far from you.

Or the dealer up the road

cheers again mate.

will it be worth gettin a 21 mm ARB from skoda? to go with the 22mm adj rear ARB

how easy are they to fit in the drive with a few stands and jacks?

TBH I wouldn't bother but others have gone to the Golf Mk4 R32 bar and seem happy.

As for fitting you need to drop the subframe to remove the old bar and refit the new, I got my standard ARB fitted by an indi because I didn't feel confident I could do it myself :(

so I take it all i need is standard new mounts and bearings? not some fancy ones?

cheers fatty

been a while

Ok for the dogbone I went for powerflex 2 piece bush and it vibrated a little for 1000 miles or so but the ability to put the power down was worth it.

I then fitted the superpro round dogbone bush and OMG the vibration on tick over was very harsh with loads of steering wheel shake, again driving along it settled but was still much louder than stock, for a long while I regretted it but after about 4000 miles it has now bedded in and is quiet and really helps traction and gear change over stock, I love it but it is a test of endurance for a long while.

Thanks again Lex (and Claytarget). Think I'll take the advice and do the rectangle one first and see how it goes. Dog bone seems to be a fairly easy job so I can always come back to the other bush. Don't want to draw SWMBO's unwanted attention to the mods by rattling her teeth Don't want my teeth rattling either come to think of it :eek:

Just as an addition to the topic, (and maybe other Briskodians can help here as well) which bushes are harder, Powerflex or Superpro? In other words, which bush will give the most vibration?

I suspect the results will be 50/50

Superpro 2 piece dogbone bushes come in 3 levels of firmness, diesel engine (softest), street petrol (Firm) and racing (Firmest) where as powerflex only sell the one for all models