My Octy Mk1 Estate 1.9tdi 110bhp has tired suspension and I would like to replace it with parts suitable for the rough country back-roads. tarmac but potholed and bumpy and mainly single lane which means a higher centre to the road. The car often bottoms out. I have looked on Eurocarparts and they have a selection of Bilstein shocks that are B4 Gas some are listed as +standard chassis, +off road suspension and also + sports suspension. Also some listed as both +standard and +off-road. Also I looked at the springs and they have normal and heavy duty for the estate rears. Can you help me make sense of this and pick a good combination or suggest some other type or make? Is there a kit of parts made especially for this type of road? Preferably around the 300 -350 pounds mark for shocks and springs all round. I did a search and find loads of topics on lowering but nothing on suspension parts for rough road.

Thanks

mark

All I can say is that mine has no real grounding problems at 96K on standard suspension.

I'd like to get it some FSDs to sort out the odd bit of excess heave though.

All I can say is that mine has no real grounding problems at 96K on standard suspension.

I'd like to get it some FSDs to sort out the odd bit of excess heave though.

Can I just replace the springs and do they have to be matched to the shock absorbers? Current shocks are VW 1J0413031N

Edited 19 July, 201015 yr by MarkyD

No , it is the shockers that wear

So if the shockers have worn and then replace lowering springs the ride quality will be pants!!!!

FSD`s are THE things that you want , they can be used with OEM springs or lowering springs

But ALL lowering springs WILL make the ride quality poorer

For better ride quality lowered or not you should be looking at Konu FSD`s

Sarah

No , it is the shockers that wear

So if the shockers have worn and then replace lowering springs the ride quality will be pants!!!!

FSD`s are THE things that you want , they can be used with OEM springs or lowering springs

But ALL lowering springs WILL make the ride quality poorer

For better ride quality lowered or not you should be looking at Konu FSD`s

Sarah

OK thanks I will try and understand how suspension works. There is so much info on lowering or selling parts that lower the car but not much on making a car better for bumpy rubbish roads that I can find. So FSDÅ› with a standard height spring would be a solution and I can use an OEM spring from some other manufacturer as long as it is correct for the car? Is it sensible to change the shockers and springs at the same time ie wear in one means wear in the other or do springs effectively last forever. Car is 145k. I will look at the service records to see if/when any suspension parts have been replaced.

Looks like 2 options

Koni FSD Damper Kit Skoda Octavia Estate 1.6, 1.8, 1.8T, 2.0, 1.9SDi/TDi 06/1998-05/2004 with H.D. suspension FSD Damper Kit (2100-4048)

and

Koni FSD Damper Kit Skoda Octavia Estate 1.8T, 2.0, 1.9SDi, 1.9TDi 06/1998-05/2004 FSD Damper Kit (2100-4019)

Edited 19 July, 201015 yr by MarkyD

OK thanks I will try and understand how suspension works. There is so much info on lowering or selling parts that lower the car but not much on making a car better for bumpy rubbish roads that I can find. So FSDÅ› with a standard height spring would be a solution and I can use an OEM spring from some other manufacturer as long as it is correct for the car? Is it sensible to change the shockers and springs at the same time ie wear in one means wear in the other or do springs effectively last forever. Car is 145k. I will look at the service records to see if/when any suspension parts have been replaced.

Looks like 2 options

Koni FSD Damper Kit Skoda Octavia Estate 1.6, 1.8, 1.8T, 2.0, 1.9SDi/TDi 06/1998-05/2004 with H.D. suspension FSD Damper Kit (2100-4048)

and

Koni FSD Damper Kit Skoda Octavia Estate 1.8T, 2.0, 1.9SDi, 1.9TDi 06/1998-05/2004 FSD Damper Kit (2100-4019)

Hi there,

If you are to replace the suspension then i would do both shock and springs. Certanly if miles are 145k. Springs do not last forever. 60,000 is a good life, but depends on how and where car is being driven. If it is over bumpy roads then the service life will be reduced.

Koni FSD's are the way to go if you want real good support. They work well with standard OEM springs or similar design. These kits don't come cheap though but are top quality. I have used them before. You can also read up the spec on them from the websites that sell them

the 2 options you list are for either a heavy duty set or a standard FSD set.

Perhaps you should consider the 2100-4048 set if you have bumpy road, If you call any Koni dealer or performance centre that stock them they can advise you. DPM is a good place and is a sponser of this site.

Rgds

Mark.

Edited 19 July, 201015 yr by Bowders1

"Can I use a spring from another make of car?" - Not really, unless you want to change the ride height and spring rates, because the free length, compression force, wire thickness, and coil diameter may well all be different.

If you can find a good motor factor (not just a speed shop unless it's someone like AwesomeGTi, who view "meeting the actual customer requirement" as a challenge), they may be able to get you a set of higher rate standard ride height springs made up, but those will rapidly kill 150_000 mile standard dampers.

Try this place they can make standard height springs but stiffer not sure but think it's around £150 for a set My link

From what I paid the last time I had custom springs wound, that's about the sort of price I'd expect now.