Hi folks

This is my first posting here, so please be gentle...

I've had my 55-plate 1.9 TDI Ambient in for its service and MOT today at the local VW garage, as it was significantly cheaper than taking it to the local Skoda dealer.

The car's passed the MOT but I have been strongly advised that both front shocks need replacing as they've had a 'misting' of oil for the last couple of years.

The VW dealer has quoted me £225 fitting per shock, plus £22 for the bearing kit.

This sounds a little on the steep side to me, so I was wanting to know if it was reasonable?

I was also wondering if it's a relatively simple DIY job to replace them, as I know someone who'd be able to do it providing it doesn't require any specialist tools.

I've had a look for a guide on here, but haven't been able to find one as yet...

The car is just a bog-standard 1.9 hatch, but I've been told that there are two different types of shocks, 50mm housing and 55mm housing. Is there an easy way to tell which are fitted to my car other than by measuring them?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

regards

Rob

Interestingly I've just had a quote from the Skoda dealer of £138 fitted per shock, which makes me wonder if the VW garage meant £225 fitted for both. :S

Rob

The shock itself is pretty cheap then there are the optional parts such as top mounts, drop links, and any bushes that you're going to be disturbing anyway.

Depends what tey have included, but I agree that £200+ each side is too much for just shocks.

Hi Bob,

Since it's your first post, let me be the first to say welcome.

I ain't a mechanic, but changing the front shocks would be within the abilities of any half decent mechanic or someone keen on DIY.

I would suggest you have a look at this website myturbodiesel in the USA where there are tutorials on this sort of stuff. That would help you decide whether to have the dealer or your mate tackle it. YouTube is also worth a look.

The article you want is here: strut replacement.

As for tools - a 1/2" socket set, axle stands, and some spring compressers would be a minimum. Spring compressers can be had for 20 quid.

HTH

Joseph

Just have a look at the guide above and see how you feel about tackling it yourself. Its not rocket science and dont really need any understanding of how a car works to undertake it.

Tools wise there are few to get (can get away with using a large flat head screwdriver to spread the bottom of the strut instead of buying the tool, but is easier with it) and then only the 14mm spline bit will be the other piece you wont have in a basic toolkit.

It just depends on whether 2 hours and a little bit of sweat is worth the saving, but one thing £200 a side is taking the pi55!

Also worth thinking about is that if you do it yourself then you have done all the hard work taking it apart, so might aswell swap out the bump stops and bearings while your at it (they will be coming off with the strut). If you ask a garage to do this they will always make a bit on the parts and charge a little more labour for a 2 minute extra job!

To get the size of the strut then give motor factors a ring and give reg plate and will then tell you what u need but im sure that only the vRS come with 55mm struts.

One thing is is you phone one factors (e.g Europarts) then tell them that its a tenna cheaper with someone else (e.g GSF). They all have plenty of play in prices and have to laugh when i ring them and get a quote then say trade and prices are at least 20% less. Then the old man phones (who is a right old cheeky git ) and gets a further 5% off.

Overall its easy for a mechanic to say have a go yourself, but you will know if your up to it from having a glance at the guide above (which is a good one actually)

Edited 19 August, 201114 yr by dainott

Often the parts places and even the dealers don't have info about strut sizes. Relies on a person answering the phone who knows the Octy range. 50mm struts were fitted to the smaller engined cars (no idea why there's the difference). So the vRS petrol and diesel, and the PD140 got the 55mm size. Not sure about the 2.0FSI but that's not being discussed here so not relevant

As such, your 1.9TDI uses the 50mm size.

I would factor perhaps an hour to swap the two units, maybe a bit more depending on how well seized the bolts are!

Worth getting the top mounts changed too, depending on how many miles are on the car.

As for DIY vs. dealer/mechanic, I'd go for the latter personally. Much easier with a set of ramps and the right tools.

Whereabouts are you in the UK?

If you are anywhere near J30 of the M1 I can give you the number of someone who will do you a quality job at the right price. He is my cousin, a time served mechanic with motorsport experience, and he is just in the process of setting up his own workshop again after a few years of working for others.

No fancy frills like courtesy cars, but an honest job done by an honest quality mechanic.

hey i have the same car and changed mine for coilovers last week the shocks can be done yourself takes a while and youl need a helping hand. the shocks are the smaller size the larger ones are for the vrs im told. special tools needed are a m14 spline bit and a hub spreader but i used a claw hammer for that. get new top mounts when/if you change them as mine seemed fine but are banging and rattling now so ill hve to remove the strut again. try this link its the exact same as the 1.9tdi octy 2 shock replacment.

hope this helps you.

Hey guys, thanks very much to all of you for your advice.

I'm not up to tackling the job myself, but to be honest I think I'm happy enough to pay £138 per side to have the work done, given that the parts make up 50% of that cost.

It saves me the hassle and risk of something going wrong...

Cheers!

Rob

I had the Vrs ones done last September. I paid about £325 for both front, but that also included replacement of the top bearing and rubbers. Also you will need to factor in alignment afterwards which can cost £50 + to have it done properly.

the shocks are the smaller size the larger ones are for the vrs im told.

As said, the smaller engined Octavias use the 50mm front strut diameter for the damper, so 1.6 and 1.9TDI. The PD140 and vRS models use the 55mm size.

Hey guys, thanks very much to all of you for your advice.

I'm not up to tackling the job myself, but to be honest I think I'm happy enough to pay £138 per side to have the work done, given that the parts make up 50% of that cost.

What is the cost of each damper for yours?

As said, the smaller engined Octavias use the 50mm front strut diameter for the damper, so 1.6 and 1.9TDI. The PD140 and vRS models use the 55mm size.

What is the cost of each damper for yours?

I wouldn't pay £275 for two new front shocks supply and fit!

Or maybe I am just tight

Agreed. That's why I was just trying to get the breakdown of costs, so I could fathom the labour rate

IIRC I paid £120 for complete fitment of all shocks and springs, from a leading VAG independent

Will 2007 1.9tdi octivia coilovers fit in a 2008 octivia vrs 2.0 tdi. Thanks

3 hours ago, Darrendaly123 said:

Will 2007 1.9tdi octivia coilovers fit in a 2008 octivia vrs 2.0 tdi. Thanks

No, the front shocks will be 50mm for 1.9 tdi whereas a vrs will need 55mm ones