Hello, could anyone tell me what is the difference between the standard octavia mark 2 suspension and the mark 2 VRS. ?

Is it just different springs, or are the dampers different as well , or even other bits of the suspension ?

Interestingly my local Skoda dealer was unable to help !

 

Cheers Bob

i know the vrs springs are 15mm lower than standard not sure about the shocks

The dampers will also be stiffer to control the lower springs.

Cheers - Not so sure they really got the ride sorted on the Mark 2 VRS -  any tried and tested options for improving the ride at speed ??

differences will probaby be springs dampers anti roll bars and maybe bushes also.

 

improved ride? better quality dampers is the answer.

Generally, stiffer springs need stiffer dampers.

Technical explanation: with stiffer springs, an inch of suspension travel stores more energy.  So damper has to dissapate / absorb more energy per inch of suspension travel.

the front shocks are 55mm not 50mm

Thanks for all this -

 

is it probably correct to say that  - a good set of dampers either Bilstein or Koni - will make a noticable improvement in choppy high speed ride ?? cheers Bob

Just put H&R -50mm full kit on along with a Whiteline RARB. Much better ride.

Bilstein b6 for stock springs and b8 for lowering springs are nice upgrades as they are firm at low speed but the ride gets better as you go faster.

Cheers for the advice - 

According to this:

http://www.motorsportworld.co.uk/frame-detail.asp?PAGE=/bilstein-suspension.htm

B4 = more-or-less same as normal, standard, original Skoda dampers, just very slightly stiffer and (supposedly) better quality, even though (if bought from this supplier) actually slightly cheaper than the standard dampers from Skoda.

B6 = uprated (stiffer) but same length, so suitable for standard or slightly lower springs

B8 = similarly uprated but shorter, so suitable for even lower springs

I am in the process of having a set of B4 Bilstein dampers fitted to my 4x4 Octavis estate to replace the original and (at 107,000 miles) rather tired original dampers, keeping the original springs but with new suspension bushes.  Not to make the car handle better or be more "sporty", just to make the ride more settled and therefore more comfortable.  I will let you know how I get on.


 

Thanks - it sounds like you are after what I want - just a slightly more settled ride - I would be very interested to know how you get on. I hope the new dampers work for you. Cheers Bob

Just collected car today and driven it 80 miles or so on dual carriageway / A roads / country lanes / rocky farm track.

No huge difference - new Bilstein B4s front and rear not noticeably stiffer than slightly tired original Skoda dampers.  It's been a few weeks since I drove it with the old dampers so maybe I'd forgotton exactly what the original dampers felt like.  I've noticed greater differences after changing to different tyres or even correcting wildly wrong tyre pressures.

Biggest improvement is due to replacing the front suspension lower wishbone bushes which has cured the "clunk" from the suspension when hitting potholes.  When I hit a severe bump now the car now just goes "thud".  Before it used to judder and go "bonkitty-bonk" quite loudly.  The new, solid, Audi rubbers are probably not much firmer than the original, perforated Skoda ones, but should last longer.

On the rocky farm track (the ultimate test) I had to slow down almost to walking pace before.  Now I can drive along it at 30 mph.  The ride is still very bumpy (does not compare with my old, 200,000 mile Citroen BX with its glorious hydraulic suspension) but the car no longer feels as though it is about to fall apart.  I assume this is mainly becasue of the new suspension bushes, but it may be that the new dampers help as well.

Hope this helps.  Certainly, if you're definitely going to have to replace your dampers but dont want a noticeably stiffer ride, Bilsten B4s will do what you want.  And if purchased from the place I linked to (MSW / Motorsportworld) they will probably be slightly cheaper than standard Skoda ones anyway.

[Next thing will be to get some new good-quality summer tyres + alloy wheels (around £100 per corner, from MyTyres) to replace my excellent Continental TS850 winter tyres on the original but corroded alloys.  However that is a different story ...]