Hi guys,

Don't know if this is of any help to anyone, but last week my Fabia started making a quiet knocking noise, coming from the rear of the car (sounded a bit like the rear passenger door), and sounding a lot like a very quiet not-quite-shut boot lid. After a lot of puzzling - I thought it was a door not quite shut - I noticed that the rubber buffer at the top of the shock absorber had perished and split in two, causing the stone guard to become "free" and bounce around.

Parts were around £10 (and they're bright cream - they go black in use, though), and it took me about 2 hours to replace them. Having said that, I was cleaning everything as I did that ... I guess if you don't mind getting dirty, you could do it in about 30 mins - the hardest part was undoing the bolts holding the shock absorber in (they're done up tight), and removing the wheel arch lining without scuffing all the paintwork up.

Hope the info's of use to someone!

Common problem I think - thanks for the info, I reckon mine will need replacing soon too.

Yeah, I'd have thought it would be common-ish (rubber will perish, after all) - it was just something I hadn't thought of. To be honest, it had completely stumped me - I only noticed the shiny bit of metal (shock absorber) when I was removing stones from the tyre, and thought ... "hmm ... shouldn't there be a bit of plastic over that? oh..."

Yeah, I'd have thought it would be common-ish (rubber will perish, after all) - it was just something I hadn't thought of. To be honest, it had completely stumped me - I only noticed the shiny bit of metal (shock absorber) when I was removing stones from the tyre, and thought ... "hmm ... shouldn't there be a bit of plastic over that? oh..."

thanks - that is useful stuff. I have been hearing a noise like a not shut boot for months.

Do you know what the part number is for the rubber buffer and stone guard?

thanks - that is useful stuff. I have been hearing a noise like a not shut boot for months.

No worries - glad it's been of use - was driving me crackers!

Do you know what the part number is for the rubber buffer and stone guard?

Not off the top of my head, but I'll look up the part code for the buffer tonight (so check back tomorrow morning ). I didn't replace the stone guard, as it didn't need it - the buffer "plug-screws" into the end of it, so it can be refitted.

Do you know what the part number is for the rubber buffer?

I looked it up last night - the code's 6Q0512131B - should be a little over £10 each.

Hiya, this is v handy info as I've just bought a Fabia (my first) with this same problem.

The bump stops (as I believe the rubbery bits are called) don't look too perished but the protective bit of plastic tube (is this the stone guard?)is flopping about loose so you can see the shiny strut it should be covering and I wonder if the guard can be fixed back on? If so how?Or do you have to replace the rubbery bits at the same time?

For future refernce, I would like to know if my Fabia is also a Mk1 please? It's a 1.9tdi first registered in September 2001 (51 reg).

Many thanks

Ever been to Portugal?

I looked it up last night - the code's 6Q0512131B - should be a little over £10 each.

Thanks!

Hiya, this is v handy info as I've just bought a Fabia (my first) with this same problem.

Glad it's of help to someone

The bump stops (as I believe the rubbery bits are called) don't look too perished but the protective bit of plastic tube (is this the stone guard?)is flopping about loose so you can see the shiny strut it should be covering and I wonder if the guard can be fixed back on? If so how?Or do you have to replace the rubbery bits at the same time?

The bump stop/buffer (Skoda call them buffers, but bump stop might be a more correct term) can be replaced independently of the stone guard (plastic tube) - the stone guard just screws over the end of the buffer. Note that my buffers didn't look perished, as they'd failed in a perfect ring where the buffer becomes thin (the middle point of the diablo shape), with the rest of the buffer stuck inside the stone guard. I think the stone guards are about half the price of the buffer. Just note that to replace either, you'll need to remove the wheel and wheel arch lining, and take the shock absorber out.

For future refernce, I would like to know if my Fabia is also a Mk1 please? It's a 1.9tdi first registered in September 2001 (51 reg).

Yeah, Mk1 was through to 2007.

Edited 17 April, 201016 yr by martinch