Hi guys,

I just got the bad news that my Fabia vrs ('03 plate) failed its MOT because of a suspension problem.

I really don't understand all the technical bits, but I've done a bit of reading on here and it very much sounds like its the bushes?

There was a sort of bumping/creaking noise coming from under the car - hard to place, but for a while I thought it was something loose in the boot.

Well anyway, the garage said that something had completely corroded away on one arm, and the other was hanging loose. He isn't totally sure how hard it'll be to fix (not done this on a Skoda before) and he's getting a quote for me once he's estimated parts etc.

I know it's impossible to say, but do any of you know *roughly* how long this should take a mechanic, and how much parts *should* cost?

Is it a fairly simple repair, or could it be a case that the fault has caused all other kinds of damage to the car?

I'm insanely worried right now because everything we have money wise is going towards our wedding next year - more so because the OH was made redundant and is now struggling with self-employment. If this is going to cost a LOT, I'm gonna have to take the car off the road for a year and beg lifts to work!

:'(

Any chance this could cost under £300? (that way I can offset what I was about to pay in car insurance over 12 months, and use the money I had aside for that to pay the garage instead!) lol

Cars eh!

Edited 27 October, 201015 yr by thelioncub

Appears like you need the front console bushes Im guessing it will be done with the parts for about £150

Well anyway, the garage said that something had completely corroded away on one arm, and the other was hanging loose. He isn't totally sure how hard it'll be to fix (not done this on a Skoda before) and he's getting a quote for me once he's estimated parts etc.

If I was you I'd take it to someone who knows what they're doing...

Where do u live ? I know a man who knows a man and he does mot tests for £80 and they usually pass lol

Sure it'll be less than £300 lol prob nearer £100, can u trust this garage it might be worth going elsewhere for a re test

Appears like you need the front console bushes Im guessing it will be done with the parts for about £150

I really hope you are right!

How many hours do you think it'd take? I think the average hourly rate where I am is about £80

£80 an hour FFs it's £35 here, perhaps get someone on here near u to have a look as a homer

Where do u live ? I know a man who knows a man and he does mot tests for £80 and they usually pass lol

Sure it'll be less than £300 lol prob nearer £100, can u trust this garage it might be worth going elsewhere for a re test

I live in Teddington, Middx. Seems like the most expensive place in the UK sometimes!

The thing is I do trust this garage - been going there since I was 18 and had my first car - an 18 year old girl, with a 10 year old car, and he didn't use it as an excuse to rip me off - might have had something to do with the fact I worked for WhatCar? - haha.

But yeah.. It's not so much that I think they'll take me for a ride with costs. It's that I'd like to know more about how long it *should* take - especially when he doesn't seem overly sure himself.

Just means that if he turns around and quotes a ridiculous amount, then I know it'd be worth taking elsewhere and paying for the MOT twice.

Oh your a girl, if I was you I'd expect lots of offers on here to fix ur car for free forever lol.

Doesn't sound good that he doesn't know how long it'll take :(

New Skoda suspension (alloy) console approx £72.00 each with a new bush already fitted.

Labour 2 hours (one hour per side) my garage £40.00 per hour.

I paid about £230 ish 2 years ago.

That seems about the worst scenario with the console, anything more will cost more.

I asked for old consoles back for fitting new bushes in them in preparation next time, as it's the car's trait to

knock them out 4/5 year periods.

Edited 27 October, 201015 yr by giandougl

Oh your a girl, if I was you I'd expect lots of offers on here to fix ur car for free forever lol.

haha. I wish. And while they are at it, can they also fix my rear passenger door which stopped working this month too. I can't open it at all!

Not having much luck with cars right now!

I am a bit nervous by the fact the garage isn't too sure, but then I don't necessarily think it'll mean they do a bad job... I hope!

I guess they just don't know the cost of and specific parts needed.

If something has corroded and come apart I would think it's the anti roll bar.

haha. I wish. And while they are at it, can they also fix my rear passenger door which stopped working this month too. I can't open it at all!

Not having much luck with cars right now!

I am a bit nervous by the fact the garage isn't too sure, but then I don't necessarily think it'll mean they do a bad job... I hope!

I guess they just don't know the cost of and specific parts needed.

If I didn't live hundreds of miles away and if I had a clue about mechanics I'd come fix it for you lol.

I took my Clio 182 to a garage once that couldn't find my spark plugs that worried me.

is there a Skoda specialist near you?

New Skoda suspension (alloy) console approx £72.00 each with a new bush already fitted.

Labour 2 hours (one hour per side) my garage £40.00 per hour.

I paid about £230 ish 2 years ago.

That seems about the worst scenario with the console, anything more will cost more.

I asked for old consoles back for fitting new bushes in them in preparation next time, as it's the car's trait to

knock them out 4/5 year periods.

I wish I knew what any of that means.. but.. it sounds good.

Even with double the hourly rate here and an increase in parts prices, I reckon this could still come in close to my £300 budget.. plus £50 for the MOT.

Still.. I can just about afford that. I was thinking this was literally going to cost thousands.

Thanks for all the speedy replies.. I'll be able to sleep tonight at least.

I think in the future you need to find a cheaper garage coz £80 an hour is madness

If something has corroded and come apart I would think it's the anti roll bar.

Darn it! And how much is that likely to cost?

He definitely talked about suspension though. I got him to explain it to my dad (who builds cars for fun - but happens to live in Germany) and my dad didn't say anything about the anti roll bar either.

£80 per hour isn't mad. Most London dealers are way over £100+vat

We charge £68+vat iirc which is pretty good around here.

I think in the future you need to find a cheaper garage coz £80 an hour is madness

I think this garage might cost a little bit less per hour.

The £80 per hour I know for definite is the cost a Skoda garage will charge - I used to work at one many years ago (and they've since shut down so I can't go there) and this is what the 'going rate' was. Hence why I'm reluctant to take it to any of our local Skoda dealers!

Darn it! And how much is that likely to cost?

He definitely talked about suspension though. I got him to explain it to my dad (who builds cars for fun - but happens to live in Germany) and my dad didn't say anything about the anti roll bar either.

Not too bad, less than console bushes. But worth doing all at the same time to be honest as it's all in the same area.

Not too bad, less than console bushes. But worth doing all at the same time to be honest as it's all in the same area.

If this is the console bushes, and I did ask them to change the anti roll bar at the same time, would it add much more onto the time it should take?

I do see your point, but right now I need this to be as cheap as possible.

Do anti-roll bars need changing every few years anyway? I seem to remember my last Fabia had a problem noted about the anti-roll bar, but then it got written off and all that became insignificant anyway. :(

I've just had my console bushes done and I had the drop links done at the same time with those meyle HD units that are better quality. I sourced the parts myself from www.vwspares.co.uk and with a pair of Meyle HD drop links and the Cupra console bushes (metal sleeve and solid rubber, more durable) they cost under £50 delivered. I then got a garage near me to replace and fit both sets of parts for under £100. Total cost less than £150 including drop links and it has completely transformed the handling! Shop around and ask for quotes.

Dean

Edited 27 October, 201015 yr by deanyboy1985

thankfully I never owned a car while living in England :(

£80 per hour isn't mad. Most London dealers are way over £100+vat

We charge £68+vat iirc which is pretty good around here.

£100+ and hour ? Foooooking hell !!!!!

Glad I don't live near London with prices like that, think my local Skoda dealer charges about £30 an hour, not sure though.

Seen as it failed it's MOT most places will re-test it for free so the money you were going to put aside for that can go towards the bill of fixing it that is of course if the garage does free re-tests !

If it is just a case of nackered console bushes, bump stops or arb bushes then it shouldn't be too expensive to sort

I'd doubt any main dealer charges £30 per hour. Most independents are more than that around here.

Listers VW in Worcester are £115 per hour IIRC. The VW dealer I worked for had to make £70k a month to break even which isn't unheard of which is why they are higher these days.

Edited 27 October, 201015 yr by Tech1e

I wish I was a woman at times, I might get more replies to my posts lol

My squeaky brake thread is dead lol

Edited 27 October, 201015 yr by Chris182

Clean your own brakes