I've a broken front spring on my VRS. I'm going to replace both the fronts but would like some opinions about which way to go:-

OEM Skoda ones - front only - (1J0 411 105 AJ)

or

H&R springs all round - http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/product.php?xProd=13866&xSec=300

I like the ride as it is and don't want it any firmer (although maybe 10% firmer would be OK). So you'd think I should just go with OEM ones, but I'm tempted to get the H&Rs so I can have 4 shiny new springs all round (current suspension has done 80k miles / 10 years) for not much more than the cost of 2 OEM ones. I'm also wondering if the H&R ones will be better quality than the OEM ones that seem break quite a lot!

Guess my real question is how much firmer are the H&Rs than std, and are they well matched to the std VRS dampers? I don't actually want it any lower than standard, I'm just interested in price/performance and ride quality. Thanks!

This is mine on h&r springs!

The ride is good and not crashy but I also have koni fsd shocks! If you have 80k on the clocks then I would be looking at replacing the shocks to, they may seem fine but they would be starting to get past their best! Also the top mounts would best best replaced to as these would have collapsed by now mine with 69k have and my cupra r were well shot by 89k when I replaced them.

Thanks Steve. I was thinking about doing the shocks too but considering the use I get from the car I just can't justify the cost.

I dont suppose you measured the ride heigh before/after? Is 20mm designed to be 20mm lower than std or VRS?

No I didn't as they were on the car when I bought it! However they are designed to be 20mm lower than the vrs, I had a kit for my lcr which was 40/30 split I'm now looking at getting a set of these springs as I want the back of my car raised slighty, that 40/30 split will leave the front as it is but raise the back slightly.

defo would get new shocks, yours will be passed best. You can get weitec Hicon Gt's pretty cheap. You don't have to have it dropped to the deck like some

H&R springs are just as good as OEM springs if not better, They do offer a great ride, firmer than OEM but no where near Coilover firmness.

Although H&R quote -20mm lowering it is more like 15mm max. Because of this minimal lowering they are fine to use with OEM shocks. Although you would get better handling with changing shocks as well as your car has done 80k.

Trouble is if you get something like Koni FSD's which are great with the H&R's you will spend way more than getting coilovers.

Depends what you need though

My front shocks were completely gone when I removed them at 100,000km. Rears were okay though!

i agree with the cost of the konis however they are fantastic, if they weren't on the car when i bought them then i would have got this kit which i have had before and imo just as good. http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/ap-40mm30mm-lowering-springs-shocks-suspension-kitbr-octavia-1u-18-rs-18t-19sdi-19tdi-20-fwd-0297-p-5396.html

I have to agree it makes sense to do the dampers at the same time. I'll give it some thought.

I was of the same opinion about not wanting the car to be to low (area I live is speed hump city)or crabby, however I won a set of H&R's on e-bay for silly money so took the plunge.

I have to say the car rides better than O/E, no banging/crashing etc, plus the car tightens up if you decide to have a spirited drive.

Overall well worth the full price and I wish I'd done it years ago.

I'd try and pick up sandard suspension on eBay. As it isn't in as much demand you could get a steal!!

Thanks everyone. I've ordered the H&R springs but now I keep changing my mind about whether to do the dampers or not. It really makes no financial sense but then at the same time should I pay someone 3 hours labour to swap the springs if in another few months maybe one of the shocks'll start leaking.

Incidentally the spring is broken in 2 places. when the car was jacked up this bit fell out. I'm wondering if as the break is rusty that it's been like this the whole time I've had the car. The other break is about 1/3 of the way down the spring.