Heads up for new cars - something to look for?

[andyvee]

How new is the car - it is quite stiff to start off with but beds in. If you hit a bump and it is very jarring then the transport blocks are still in.

[tigermad]

How new is the car - it is quite stiff to start off with but beds in. If you hit a bump and it is very jarring then the transport blocks are still in.

A month old. Here's the pic with the saucer thing at the bottom that is preventing me lifting the gaiter more than a few mm.

[trundlenut]

A month old. Here's the pic with the saucer thing at the bottom that is preventing me lifting the gaiter more than a few mm.

image.jpg

Looks OK.

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[meb90]

Yep, the corrugated plastic is the shock absorber piston gaiter. You should be able to lift the bottom up a few centimetres if you put you fingers between the spring coils. 

[tigermad]

Yep, the corrugated plastic is the shock absorber piston gaiter. You should be able to lift the bottom up a few centimetres if you put you fingers between the spring coils.

It will only lift a bit. Don't want to split it. Oh well better just leave it. Thanks for the help :-) Edited 11 July, 2014 by tigermad

[meb90]

Fair enough, no worries. As andyvee says, if you hit a bump and there a knock from the wheel then there may be a problem, but if not then I shouldn't worry. Of course, failing that you could always ask your dealer to check?

[andyvee]

A month old. Here's the pic with the saucer thing at the bottom that is preventing me lifting the gaiter more than a few mm.

image.jpg

The saucer is technically known as the lower spring seat

 

The corrugated bit is quite flexible, you are unlikely to split it. If you lift it up a few mm and can see the stainless steel piston rod right at the bottom going in to the 'saucer' then the spacers have been removed.

[tigermad]

The saucer is technically known as the lower spring seat

 

The corrugated bit is quite flexible, you are unlikely to split it. If you lift it up a few mm and can see the stainless steel piston rod right at the bottom going in to the 'saucer' then the spacers have been removed.

The bit I can see under the sheath isn't stainless steel just black on both sides.

[andyvee]

Plastic or painted steel?

[tigermad]

Plastic like a clippy bit but not like the bits on the photos on this thread.

[andyvee]

Is there enough room to get a piccie??

[tigermad]

It's hard to hold the phone and push the gaiter up. Will try tomorrow.

[andyvee]

That is where having gullible teenage children helps

[tigermad]

That is where having gullible teenage children helps

Only got an unhelpful hubby.

[andyvee]

Starve him - that is how my missus gets me to behave

[tigermad]

Starve him - that is how my missus gets me to behave

Good idea!

[Shermo]

Jacking the car up does make it a lot easier and you'll need to do it to remove them anyway if they are there. I did struggle a bit with the gaiter myself before jacking it up, I think it was sticking on the blocks so had to push it straight up instead of pushing one side.

[SnailUK]

I think I may have this issue too :(

My suspension is rock hard on my vrs tdi, and remembering this thread, I've been checking my front shocks, and there's a 1inch high lump under the drivers side gait or, that isn't present on the passenger side.

Is this similar to what others have seen?

[fabdavrav]

This is an "old problem".....VW UK issued a notice early this year to remind "again" to the dealers when doing a PDI to remove the blocks....................

 

 

Back in 2001 when I got my Fabia the dealers had forgotten to remove the extra metal hooks in the front wishbones to tie the car down.................loads of rattles..................just removed them & walked into the showroom & the salesman had customers at his desk.......so I plonked these hooks down in front of them & said " I don't like these freebies, I didn't order them & they make lots of noise"...................his face.............

[SnailUK]

Well it's official, I definitely had blocks on my shocks. It's a whole different car.

Can't thank the OP enough, would Skoda or I ever have looked for them?

[andyvee]

Skoda should have as part of the PDI!

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[Genoa1893]

Thanks for sharing meb90,

hopefully on Monday I'll drive my long awaited octy, and will have their -> absence <- checked,

 

Stefano

 

Hi all,

 

Just posting this in case you are interested. I had the front wheel of my car off today, but found these underneath the dust gaiter of the shock absorber. I have now taken them out (as they obviously aren't supposed to be there), and the car rides much better. Before the ride could be very clunky, but I am not surprised now as the shock was obviously being restricted. I wouldn't like to think how long it could have been before they were found!

 

[Dalelfc89]

Meb could you just PM me which dealer it was? We're both in Shropshire, I'd be interested to see if it's the same dealer as mine.

 

Cheers

[meb90]

SnailUK and Genoa1893, glad the thread was of use and you have no issues!!

 

Dale, you should have a PM now

[buck890]

im going to check mine tomorrow.