I'm just about to change the rear shocks on my Fabia VRS, sadly one is leaking and I'd rather do the pair to keep a matched set on the back. I've stripped a wheel liner off for a quick reconnoitre and it all looks quite straight forward, basically three bolts and it should fall off.

Are there any special problems that I should look out for?

I've soaked all the nuts/bolts in WD40 in preparation for the strip down and cleaned as much dirt away as possible.

I've even talked my 90KG son into helping me do the job so that I can have his weight in the boot for final torque down (is this totally necessary?)

Any advice and/or info appreciated, thanks.

Absolute piece of **** to do the rears.

Jack up

Remove arch liner

Undo two top mount bolts.

Undo shock bottom bolt

Compress shock and remove from car

Clamp shock in vice, remove top plastic cover, undo strut top nut, then remove bump stop and cover.

Probably wise to fit new bump stops as they perish.

Put everything else back on the new shocks, then bolt new stock to top mount.

Fitting is simply the reverse of the above

Torque settings on thread below

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/165720-fabia-nut-and-bolt-tightening-torques/page__p__2314024#entry2314024

Thanks mate, new nuts and bolts ordered from TPS, job will be done on Saturday after work.

Cheers.

I like to give them a couple of full strokes in the verticle position before fitting

I like to give them a couple of full strokes in the verticle position before fitting

Did that before I fitted them last night! and you were right softscoop it was the proverbial piece of ****. I took it real easy and did both in just over two hours, decided I couldn't wait for Saturday, and just went for it.