Hi All,

Well not much been going on with the wagon lately, Will be early spring before i have the spare cash to move her forward.

I have came across a problem though.....

The last few days when driving the car feels like its wandering from side to side very slightly and feels light at the back. Like if you had a flat tyre on the rear say.

I still have the standard rear anti roll bar and bushes....could this be an issue if worn out?...

Cheers Craig....

I'd start by checking tyre pressures

Bushes rarely wear evenly, so you would normally notice more of a wallowing sensation, rather than wandering, turning one direction or the other

If its got rear wandering (side to side) on flat smooth road surface then incorrect geometry, buckled wheel, worn wheel bearing are a few possible causes

ps

When you lowered the car did you replace the rear tie bars with adjustable ones ?

If not, possible these have snapped/stretched

I'd look at rear axle bushes as well.

I'd start by checking tyre pressures

Bushes rarely wear evenly, so you would normally notice more of a wallowing sensation, rather than wandering, turning one direction or the other

If its got rear wandering (side to side) on flat smooth road surface then incorrect geometry, buckled wheel, worn wheel bearing are a few possible causes

ps

When you lowered the car did you replace the rear tie bars with adjustable ones ?

If not, possible these have snapped/stretched

Hi Snow,

Checked all the tyre pressues and all perfect, I still have the standard rear tie bars fitted.

I noticed it really bad last week when we had some snow and the car was all over whilst driving at like 20mph on a straight snow covered road.

I thought it was the snow but since it has been happening on normall smooth roads, but not all the time?.

Theresalso a knocking noice from the rear which is slowly getting louder and im guessing is related to the swaying movements.

Will have to get it looked at after new year and see what the problem is?....

Cheers Craig

I'd definitely check rear axle bushes if there's a knocking noise.

Will have to get it looked at after new year and see what the problem is?....

Sounds like something not to hang about on

Hi All,

Well after investigation i found that the rear trailing arm bushes were goosed!!.... So i ordered a new RTAB Kit which just arrived this morning.

Should get this fitted this weekend/monday next week.

Cheers Craig...

just read this from start to finish,great car.wanted an estate when i bought my vrs(no joy finding one!) will be following this.local car as well

Hi All,

Well I had the RTAB kit fitted today, not had a chance to take it on the twisties as of the bloody snow lol.

Another note my current elegance interior is a little warn out and the seats provide zero grip whilst Corning any faster than 2mph! There has been a few scary moments of sliding off the drivers seat on the country lanes lol!.

So tonight I picked up a set of the recaro style seats from a MK4 golf GT TDI. They have the blue centres and in really good condition so hope to get them fitted this weekend! Al post some picks then.

Cheers Craig

Hi All,

Small update: My rear adjustable "Neuspeed RS" tie arms have arrived!........ Thanks to Clive @ CNTUNING

Hope to get these fitted this weekend depending on the snow that is!...

Cheers

Craig

Hi All,

Well I had the RTAB kit fitted today, not had a chance to take it on the twisties as of the bloody snow lol.

Another note my current elegance interior is a little warn out and the seats provide zero grip whilst Corning any faster than 2mph! There has been a few scary moments of sliding off the drivers seat on the country lanes lol!.

So tonight I picked up a set of the recaro style seats from a MK4 golf GT TDI. They have the blue centres and in really good condition so hope to get them fitted this weekend! Al post some picks then.

Cheers Craig

I have these seats fitted and they do offer substantial improvement, cornering and comfort

Edited 18 January, 201313 yr by Lofty79

Boom glad they got there safe dude get them on :-)

P.s did you enjoy unwrapping lol

The unwrapping was taken care with a nice sharpe knife lol!

Thanks for the stickers also!

Doubt I will get them fitted this weekend! We have about 5" of snow up here now!

Cheers Craig

Hi All,

Well a bit peeded off the day! I went to fit the seats I bought and got the drivers all out ready to swap over then noticed the multi plug on the bottom the new seat it totally different to my multi plug! And even more who ever removed the golf seats has just cut of the seat belt pretensioners! So basically there fooked! And a nice waste of time and money!

Back to the old elegance seats again! I don't think these golf seats will be worth trying to sell? Ready for the bin I think!

Cheers Craig

Hi All,

Well a bit peeded off the day! I went to fit the seats I bought and got the drivers all out ready to swap over then noticed the multi plug on the bottom the new seat it totally different to my multi plug! And even more who ever removed the golf seats has just cut of the seat belt pretensioners! So basically there fooked! And a nice waste of time and money!

Back to the old elegance seats again! I don't think these golf seats will be worth trying to sell? Ready for the bin I think!

Cheers Craig

If I did fit these and didn't plug anything in would it just be the airbag light that comes on?

If so can you fit some sort of resister to the mutiplug and stop the light coming on? I suppose if you fitted non standard seats you would have this issue.

Any advice would be great before I through the seats out lol!

Cheers Craig

You need to get new male plugs, or swop the female plugs

3 wires, think two should be same colours, so easy

iirc the side airbags can be coded out, but if you've got side airbags its best to use

Hi All,

Just a quick photo of the Wagon looking guilty........... :think:

Craig..

love this!

Hi All,

Well I was peeded of with my seats but after a cool down and a re-think I decided to swap over the airbag and pretensioners from the old seats to the new! Thus all the wires plugging straight in!

It's taking me about 2hrs to do the drivers seat but its all fitted and no light on! Wahoo! Also got the rears all fitted and just the passenger seat left! That's tomorrow's job weather dependent.

I will post the pics tomorrow or Monday!

Cheers Craig

Hi All,

Just a quick photo of the Wagon looking guilty........... :think:

Craig..

very good read looks wicked

and pmsl at that pic

Hi All,

Well I got the passenger seat swapped this morning and only took about 30mins this time as I just got knife and cut open my old seats to get the airbag out rather than stripping down.

All in and no light! Will post pics tomorrow when I get to work!.

Cheers Craig.

Hi All,

A few pics of the new seats.

They are loads better than the standard seats.

The drivers seat looks marked but its just worn a little bit.

Craig

Hi All,

Iv been offered a set of BBS alloys which I think will look awesome on the car... But!!

5x100 - No Problem.

ET35 - No Problem.

Fronts 8.5" Wide - No Problem.

Rears 10" Wide - I think this might be a problem? Anyone ran 10" rims on their octavia?

Any advice would be great before they slip from my grasp!

Chees Craig

10's will be too much, unless you go major tyre stretch, and have some poke, but thats not your style really is it? Itll make the back end somewhat fragile in handling terms as the tyres will be more of a show piece.

My tuppence worth

doesn't sound like a good idea me either