A few weeks ago I took a pic of my rear shock and managed to get this number from it 6Q0 512 011 AB. The label was very dirty and the pic not the best but i'm very sure this is the number on it.

Looking on ETKA this is described as "dropped on 18/09/2003 without replacement". It is labeled on ETKA as "gas filled shock absorber"

The mystery gets deeper because I phoned up my local skoda dealer and got all the current part numbers for springs and shocks. The rear shock part number is 6Q0 513 025 AD. This number is the same on ETKA and labelled as "shock absorber for vRS". That confirms it is the correct part, but it opens a big question mark for me as to what the hell have I got on my rear shocks? :no:

it doesn't seem like the right thing?

Replaced part with newer version? Don't think thats uncommon

Replaced part with newer version? Don't think thats uncommon

but ETKA normally say its been superceded or "replaced by"

just makes me wonder if these shocks perhaps are slightly under-rated. perhaps i worry too much

They probably just changed supplier?