I'm based near Bath and have a 57 estate with the factory fitted sports suspension - great round corners, rattles your teeth out driving to the shops.

Rather than loose alot of money selling up / trading in for a 'normal' Octavia, I was hoping to soften it up a little - can anyone recommend a suspension specialist or their own methods that I could explain to my mechanic ?

Thanks in advance.

Hello!

Personally I would recommend the AP coilovers, very good price and offer comfort as well as great handling! They really do the trick without having to spend big money.

Not only that with the being coilovers you will have the ride height adjustment too

Here is a link to them on our website

50mm Strut - http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/product.php?xProd=10470&xSec=311

55mm Strut - http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/product.php?xProd=10472&xSec=311

At the min you will also get a £25 voucher back and Free Delivery or fitting for £150.00 all in!

Mike

What wheels/tyres are on it? Dropping a wheel size or changing the tyres on the existing wheels (If the ones you have are notably harsh) can make a huge difference to the compliance of the car's ride. On 15" wheels you see the bumps go under the car but don't feel them, on 16s you get a decent bit of feel through the corners and a slightly harsher ride, 17s and 18s are harsh, but give more feedback driven hard.

I'm based near Bath and have a 57 estate with the factory fitted sports suspension - great round corners, rattles your teeth out driving to the shops.

Rather than loose alot of money selling up / trading in for a 'normal' Octavia, I was hoping to soften it up a little - can anyone recommend a suspension specialist or their own methods that I could explain to my mechanic ?

Thanks in advance.

I know what you mean about the ride, its firm but maybe a little harsh on roads that aren't looked after.

What wheels/tyres are on it? Dropping a wheel size or changing the tyres on the existing wheels (If the ones you have are notably harsh) can make a huge difference to the compliance of the car's ride. On 15" wheels you see the bumps go under the car but don't feel them, on 16s you get a decent bit of feel through the corners and a slightly harsher ride, 17s and 18s are harsh, but give more feedback driven hard.

As the OP has posted they are running an Octavia with Factory Fit Sports Suspension they will have 17" Pagasus Alloy Wheels.

Personally I would buy a set of 16" wheels 1st with the following fitment 5x112 (i think) and try them, with changing from a 225/45/17 tyre to a 205/55/16 tyre the ride will be a little more cushioned.

If this method doesn't agree or you just don't like the looks you can put your 17's back on and sell the 16's on and recoup your money from this point you are looking at changing your suspension. This gives you some more options, aftermarket uprated dampers with OEM springs / aftermarket Spring and Damper kit / coilovers

Matthew

Look at changing the springs to something like the H&R version for you car.

The stock sports springs are pretty firm.

If you change the springs the dampers will need changing or revalving to suit, otherwise the damping will be wrong

If you change the springs the dampers will need changing or revalving to suit, otherwise the damping will be wrong

Thanks for your advice Matt - I had a quote from a good vag independent for a suspension swap and at £780 I may aswell sell up for that sort of money.

I'm going to explore the 16" wheels and see if I can find a friendly dealer that'll let me test some smaller wheels -

One thing did come up though - the Vag dealer said the sports suspension came with larger brake discs - do you or anyone know if this will be a problem with the smaller wheels ?

Thanks again

Why not just put standard springs back on?

I think in regard to larger brake discs with sports suspension your dealer was talking rubish.

Thanks for your advice Matt - I had a quote from a good vag independent for a suspension swap and at £780 I may aswell sell up for that sort of money.

I'm going to explore the 16" wheels and see if I can find a friendly dealer that'll let me test some smaller wheels -

One thing did come up though - the Vag dealer said the sports suspension came with larger brake discs - do you or anyone know if this will be a problem with the smaller wheels ?

Thanks again

The sport suspension didn't come with larger brakes, the 2l tdi elegance will have 288mm discs, there are bigger ones 312mm but they came on the vRS, 16" wheels will fit over the standard 288mm & 312mm

Matthew

If your wanting something a little more comfortable then I'd say stick with a good quality springs and shocks kit.

Damian @ DPM Performance

Over the 288mm you can fit 15" and 16" wheels.

If you have upgraded the 288mm set up to 312mm then you need 16" or 17"

The sports suspension option includes:

- Different shocks

- Different springs

- Larger 17" wheels.

Edited 23 August, 201015 yr by cheezemonkhai

Just gotta say as a warning - I don't have the sports suspension and only have 16" wheels and have to say that I wish I had specced the sports suspension! The car lollops all over the place around country lanes and probably isn't that much more comfortable around town, certainly compared with our Scout with its 17" wheels and stiffer setup it isn't really noticeable around town. Compared with the Focus I used to drive (that interestingly didn't have sports suspension and still had 16" wheels) this car is significantly worse. Maybe you should test drive a car without the sports suspension before investing any money in making the changes in case you don't like it?

Just gotta say as a warning - I don't have the sports suspension and only have 16" wheels and have to say that I wish I had specced the sports suspension! The car lollops all over the place around country lanes and probably isn't that much more comfortable around town, certainly compared with our Scout with its 17" wheels and stiffer setup it isn't really noticeable around town. Compared with the Focus I used to drive (that interestingly didn't have sports suspension and still had 16" wheels) this car is significantly worse. Maybe you should test drive a car without the sports suspension before investing any money in making the changes in case you don't like it?

Yes off to my friendly mechanic to see if I can borrow some 16" wheels for a while - thanks to all for your advice - I don't want a lollopy car either , just a little less 'jiggling' would be nice .

M

Just gotta say as a warning - I don't have the sports suspension and only have 16" wheels and have to say that I wish I had specced the sports suspension! The car lollops all over the place around country lanes and probably isn't that much more comfortable around town, certainly compared with our Scout with its 17" wheels and stiffer setup it isn't really noticeable around town. Compared with the Focus I used to drive (that interestingly didn't have sports suspension and still had 16" wheels) this car is significantly worse. Maybe you should test drive a car without the sports suspension before investing any money in making the changes in case you don't like it?

Why don't you two swap cars?

Yes off to my friendly mechanic to see if I can borrow some 16" wheels for a while - thanks to all for your advice - I don't want a lollopy car either , just a little less 'jiggling' would be nice .

M

Hi there, I've discovered your post and am experiencing the same issues as yourself (i.e. ride = too firm) on my Octavia Elegance Estate. It too has factory fitted sports suspension and 17" Pegasus alloys.

I wondered what your feedback was on switching to the 16" wheels? Did it make much difference?

Cheers,

Dave

Heres a bit of a twist for you,

My car failed its MOT last week so I've bought Bilstein dampers to replace the Skoda ones and kept the Skoda Sport Spring as Massive thumbs up for improved ride

The ride still feels firm but much comfier on badly maintained roads

Heres a bit of a twist for you,

My car failed its MOT last week so I've bought Bilstein dampers to replace the Skoda ones and kept the Skoda Sport Spring as Massive thumbs up for improved ride

The ride still feels firm but much comfier on badly maintained roads

I wonderd when someone was going to suggest improved dampers! KONI FSDs do a similar job (a bit cheaper than Bilstiens)

I wonderd when someone was going to suggest improved dampers! KONI FSDs do a similar job (a bit cheaper than Bilstiens)

I had FSD and took them off - I really didn't like them.

N.b. Bilstein B4 are cheaper than FSD - like half the price IIRC..

Bilstein fronts £43ea Rears £38ea including vat & delivery Eurocarparts

Edited 24 September, 201015 yr by matt@theforce

Hello!

Personally I would recommend the AP coilovers, very good price and offer comfort as well as great handling! They really do the trick without having to spend big money.

Not only that with the being coilovers you will have the ride height adjustment too

Here is a link to them on our website

50mm Strut - http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/product.php?xProd=10470&xSec=311

55mm Strut - http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/product.php?xProd=10472&xSec=311

At the min you will also get a £25 voucher back and Free Delivery or fitting for £150.00 all in!

Mike

Don't think I've ever heard coilovers described as "comfortable" but this is interesting.........

Are AP coilovers really so ? onto 98K now on originals, so needing new ones soon !

Somermatt - Have been able to try some 16 inch wheels yet? If so how did you get on.

If you fancy selling your 17ins can you let me know please as I am on the look out for a set.

Would a pre FL Octy 2 Elegance have sports suspension if it was fitted with 17's ? I test drove one this week and the ride seemed fine, there was very little body roll in the corners too. I don't like the look of the 16's on the Elegance, the gap is too big below the wheel arch.

How much worse would the ride be with the 18's on a VRS ?

Edited 24 September, 201015 yr by Ultima

How much worse would the ride be with the 18's on a VRS ?

The vrs uses different springs and dampers to the sport pack so the ride is likely to be quite different.

The vrs uses different springs and dampers to the sport pack so the ride is likely to be quite different.

Do u mean the VRS has a rock hard ride?