Another thread just got me thinking. Those of us with the vRS estate do not get the rear triangular braces that the hatchback was fitted with. There is some speculation that they are not needed since the boot lid forms the same function but I'm not convinced.

So, could anyone with the hatch back have a look at how the braces are attached to the body work? Many of the interior panels are common between the estate and hatch so the braces might be quite easy to fit to an estate.

The vagcat page below (you'll need ot log in to vagcat) shows the part numbers. It looks like strengthening plates are attached to the internal panels and then the struts bolt to these. So, are these sptrengthening plates welded in place or bolted on?

If someone can take tens mins to check this out, I'd be very grateful.

Cheers,

iep

I don't remember any strengthening plates. I looked to me like the bars were held by captive nuts straight into the bodywork. The fastening points are covered by carpet in the hatch vRS; you have to remove the bars to lift the carpet, so I doubt you'll have many takers.

I took mine out when I had a bad water leak & I took some photo's at the time which might help you:

On second thoughts, in my pic's it does look like there are a couple of thin plates on the crossbar where the lower strut mounts.

Looks like they're a permanent fixture though.

i posted this in the other 'rear brace' post

From what i remember, the bars have 2 bolts either end and the bolt goes into a threaded body in the bodywork, (this is more than likely reinforced) you could bypass this im sure if not present by using decent nuts and bolts and drilling a few holes in the right place (and perhaps a thin spreader plate)?

Any plates are def welded not bolted in place. I have had mine out several times and would have seen if the plates the bars bolt to were bolted in too.

i posted this in the other 'rear brace' post

From what i remember, the bars have 2 bolts either end and the bolt goes into a threaded body in the bodywork, (this is more than likely reinforced) you could bypass this im sure if not present by using decent nuts and bolts and drilling a few holes in the right place (and perhaps a thin spreader plate)?

Any plates are def welded not bolted in place. I have had mine out several times and would have seen if the plates the bars bolt to were bolted in too.

Pretty much but I think it's three bolts each end.

I don't remember any strengthening plates. I looked to me like the bars were held by captive nuts straight into the bodywork. The fastening points are covered by carpet in the hatch vRS; you have to remove the bars to lift the carpet, so I doubt you'll have many takers.

I took mine out when I had a bad water leak & I took some photo's at the time which might help you:

Hey my car doesnt have those!!! . they look nice!, do you have the part numbers? id like to see if my local skoda dealer can provide them

The braces are available with the reinforcing plates that go underneath them.

7 1U6803329 backrest, complete left / RS

(7) 1U6803330 backrest, complete right / RS

8 1U0804547 reinforcement plate left / RS

(8) 1U0804548 reinforcement plate right / RS

9 1U0804207 reinforcement plate / RS

10 N 90896201 fillister head bolt with multi-point socket head M8X20-SP /

11 N 90972901 rivetted cap nut / F >> 1U-3-686 021* / F >> 1U-38670 663* / RS

(11) N 90589902

Not sure on prices, sorry.

Hope that helps

Interesting to see they are listed as backrests and not stabilising/bracing

Wonder if they will fit a 4x4 estate? Probably not I'm thinking.

The braces are available with the reinforcing plates that go underneath them.

7 1U6803329 backrest, complete left / RS

(7) 1U6803330 backrest, complete right / RS

8 1U0804547 reinforcement plate left / RS

(8) 1U0804548 reinforcement plate right / RS

9 1U0804207 reinforcement plate / RS

10 N 90896201 fillister head bolt with multi-point socket head M8X20-SP /

11 N 90972901 rivetted cap nut / F >> 1U-3-686 021* / F >> 1U-38670 663* / RS

(11) N 90589902

Not sure on prices, sorry.

Hope that helps

Thanks mate!!!..... ill call my dealer and see if he's got em

I found all the part numbers on VagCat but what concerns me is whether it is possible to install them on anything other than the vRS hatch. Does the vRS hatch have extra holes drilled and/or captive bolts installed to take these?

Cheers,

iep

If I had my way, I'd remove the flipping things, as they get in the way quite regularly when moving large objects - which I seem to do quite a bit. It annoys me that this solution is such an obvious bolt on and a bit of a bodge. Why not just make the car strong enough in the first place?

iep, as i said in my last post, they bolt into the body via a captive nut/body.

the plates shown in the diagram above are as far as i remember already welded in place as when i have taken the bars off the plates have not come free.

If you didnt want to weld plates in place you could fabricate some spreader plates and use some decent nuts/bolts drilled in the required location to bypass the fixed captive nuts.

Wise words skinnyman. I do have to lug stuff around quite a bit. Maybe I should leave well alone.

iep

Maybe I should leave well alone.

Presumably you bought the estate RS because you valued the additional practicality of the estate over the very slight performance gain of the hatch?

So, yes. Don't fix what aint broke.