Morning all,

thoughts please!!!

Octy vRS Mk1, 51 plate from new in 2001.

Whilst rushing to work last week, doing about 80, when there was a massive bang from the front offside - and I mean loud!

Turns out to be a coil spring, about 4 inches of it snapped off, found in the cup later on once the car was jacked up.

What's the suggestion chaps/chappettes?

Standard springs or swap out for after market? No interest in lowering it any more than standard, I like the way I can throw it around but I'm not a performance monster.

There is a budget, and it wont stretch to much more than 200, maybe 220?

Fitting is not a problem, that's sorted.

Suggestions please, will need parts by Friday to start work on the Saturday

If you don't want to lower it, I think you're stuck with standard rate, although you may be able to get them from GSF and/or Euro, rather than just from a Skoda dealer.

Whichever way you go, make very sure that the supplier understands the springs are for a vRS, not a "normal" model.

Thanks for that Ken.

I'd seen from various threads that there is a distinct difference, hadn't thought about Euro car parts.

GSF don't stock them for vRS (I tried locally) , not sure about Euro.

Try Skospares - one of mine went "BOING" last week, they have several sets in stock, new for £62 each, used for £20 each (plus VAT & P+P)

In the end, cos I'm lazy, it gets dark early atm, and I don't have a garage to work in, I opted for complete shock / spring set for £45 each.

Supposed to arrive by carrier some time tomorrow.

http://www.skospares.com/contactus.php

Just remember to get a pair and change together.

As an aside, what is the life expectancy of these? I lost one in March 2006 at around 60,000 miles, and one of the (new) replacements went last week at 95,000. I know that the roads have been rough for the last couple of months, but 35k seems a bit low.

Yeah they all seem to be snapping recently! It's getting more and more common.

One of mine went in the summer at about 100k and 7 years.

I didn't want them snapping again, so opted for uprated suspension all round.