Hello all.

Having problems with my Fabia VRS with regards to ride quality.

Now, I got the car this time last year, and although I would never by any means describe the ride as "superb", its definitely passable on 90% of road surfaces.

However over the past couple of weeks it feels as though it has got noticably worse.

Where as before the car would ride fairly well on roads I travelled everyday, now it seems to be picking up every tiny little dint on the road, and this is vibrating all the way to the seatbase and even through the steering wheel :thumbdwn:

I have just had the 4 year service. The mechanic told me that the right rear caliper was sticking a little bit, but surely it cant be down to this? I have touched the offending wheel after a 1/2 hour drive and it is not getting any hotter than the other wheel, though there is some stickage there as when I washed the car there was more brake dust on that side.

The car is standard apart from a SEAT strut brace and whiteline ANTI ROLL BAR. The bar has been fitted for around 4-6 months and is on its stiffest setting - it cant be this as this has only come about in the past week.

I have also noticed that my rear suspension has started creaking - especially when the handbrake is applied and when getting in and out of the car.

Help appreciated.

Are you running standard springs and dampers Joel? How many miles has the car done?

Steve

Sorry, meant to say that.

Yes I am running standard springs and dampers. The car has done 41k

OK, and are you on original suspension bushes? With the front of the car jacked up, I'd check for play.

Depending on the life the car's had, and the standard of the roads travelled, it could well be a sign that the dampers and/or bushes are past their best.

Just a thought....

Steve

How would I tell if the bushes are gone? I am still on the original bushes - the crap ones with the "voids"

by jacking it up, grabbing the wheel with both hands and see if you get any movement that shouldnt be there.

I notice you quote ride quality rather than steering/handling issues. I would suspect that

the dampers may have go off.....

I'm having similar issues with poor ride quality. Starting to get a lot of clunking noises from the front and back now.

Its going in for a service next week so I'l get it looked at then!

Mines done 60k btw

I'd be fairly sure that clunking would be suspension bush related, but as you say - get it checked. But if they do need changing, make sure the ones to the rear of the wishbone are replaced with solid Ibiza Cupra ones!

Steve

My mechanic said to me that although he generally rates VAG cars and the engines will go on forever - on the ibiza/polo/fabia range especially he said that the driveshafts and suspension get a bit sloppy after around 60k.

i had my bushes replaced at last mot as they were buggered.

3yr old car with less than 30k on the clock at the time

would they affect the ride quality?

It sounds like your dampers are getting tired. Bas reported his standard ones were knackered a while back. The ride quality is getting harsh on my 04 vrs with 48k but I've got Eibach springs and I think they have killed the OEM dampers.

would they affect the ride quality?

Can you confirm, quality is noticeably worse, as opposed to cornering and steering feel?

If it's the former, I'd say the dampers need replacing.

Steve

If it's buzzing or similar, then maybe look at tyres and wheel bearings. I think, particularly if you've swapped previous front tyres to the rear. No reason than they'll be that much older than the fronts.

Rattling etc would probably be one of FARB droplinks, FARB location collars, front suspension bushes...

J.