I have a standard Elegance PD140 , 16inch wheels, and am wanting to improve both ride comfort and handling if thats possible. I would appreciate suggestions as to the best way forward. Ride is important as I have a bad back but I also like pressing on a bit. I am thinking options include ARBs, but not sure if I would need Front and/or Rear or the effect on comfort. Also better shocks and/or lower springs, not more than 10-15mm. Would Polly bushes affect ride comfort??. Complex question I am sure but searching does not give me the right answers. Has anyone made changes to the setup on their PD140 good or bad feedback would be appreciated.

Both at once is probably difficult.

Poly bushes will probably cause more noise before they affect the ride.

You might look at Koni FSDs, since they're effectively variable rate dampers.

Oh and you might want to look at an aftermarket seat, and getting it positioned just so, rather than on the ratchet track fore and aft.

If you want to improve the handling on the road without changing the comfort, then in my opinion you need to ignore bushes and springs and instead do your anti roll bars. ARBs have made the biggest difference of all the suspension mods on my car. by having less body roll your wheel geometry will stay at its optimum position for longer, and understeer will be hugely reduced.

poly bushes will improve the steering response and directness, and although cheap to buy cost alot for labour and fitting.

I have a 06 L&K PD140/170 which is basically the same car as you.

Three of the 4 shocks were knackered at 84000 miles, so I replaced them with Koni FSD's. much better comfort and road holding better too. I was hoping for even better comfort, but I understand the early FSD's were a little softer, but didn't last very long maybe 25,000 miles. these ones I believe are firmer than the old FSD's but they do work.

My spare tyre I carry around my waist doesn't wobble as much as it did on bumpy roads now LOL!

Just need to sort out the suspension squelches which the dealer can't find anything wrong with. (rain makes the noise go away!)

Mike

Rockhopper, your suspension is suffering from dry bushes. Find which corner(s) the noise comes from, and put a few drops of brake fluid on the bushes at that corner.

Rockhopper, your suspension is suffering from dry bushes. Find which corner(s) the noise comes from, and put a few drops of brake fluid on the bushes at that corner.

Thanks

The best compromise in your situation would imho be an uprated rear Antiroll Bar, it made a huge difference to the standard ARB I Had on my old PD140DSG. That was on 17's with the Skoda sports suspension also, but the reduced body roll was more than noticeable.

Thanks everyone. I will look into a rear ARB and FSDs ............... Just found the price for FSDs - they will have to wait till well after Christmas. Just measured the standard RARB and it is 20mm, Whiteline do both a 22mm non adjustable and a 24mm adjustable RARB, with a £50 price difference. Am tempted to go for the 22mm as it will still look standard - with no drop bars, which also look as though they reduce ground clearance - and this is the only suspension mod I will doing for a while. Car also has a Skoda extended warrantee for 2 years so looking standard could be important if I need to claim. Comments appreciated, remember this for a PD140 not VRS.

Edited 27 November, 200916 yr by Octavia5
more input

you wont require drop links with either bar. personally id go fro the adjustable whiteline, as you can have it set to however you want it. eay to adjust as well, you just need a spanner

I was watching one of the wheeler dealer shows and Edd did something to a golf by fitting bars between the front/ rear suspension to stiffen it up what could these bars have been and could they be fitted to a skoda??? thats if they are not already fitted

If you want to buy some PowerFlex poly bushes soon, you may have some difficulty in getting them http://briskoda.development.scalr.net/forums/showthread. :eek:

I was watching one of the wheeler dealer shows and Edd did something to a golf by fitting bars between the front/ rear suspension to stiffen it up what could these bars have been and could they be fitted to a skoda??? thats if they are not already fitted

Hard to tell from that description. but they might be braces, if they were between the damper tops, and pivots on the front wishbones.

you wont require drop links with either bar. personally id go fro the adjustable whiteline, as you can have it set to however you want it. eay to adjust as well, you just need a spanner

Thanks Simon, will contact Sarah and see if she can do me a good price

U may want to try coilover, Sach and KW V3 are pretty good.