Because I'm running out of things to change on my VRS to stop my car front knocking around at the front, I've decided to change the front shocks, bump stops, top bearing & strut mounts.

The car is 11 years old & done 130k, so it could do with being done anyway.

 

Firstly, I'm want to replace the suspension with OEM parts & don’t want to lower the car because I want to keep it as it is (factory standard), so what’s the difference between these two bump stops?

 

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=182

 

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=181

 

Obviously, one is sold & the other isn’t, but which one is standard (or better)?

 

I'm going to get these other parts:

 

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1452

 

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2588

 

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Skoda_Fabia_1.9_2004/p/car-parts/suspension-and-steering/suspension/shock-absorber/?635440170&1&6a2a2a2b8f23ef0837ac549e3f0d8b01b8168347&000925

 

Are these ok or does anyone recommend better shocks etc?

 

Current springs on my car look ok, so I'm not bothering to replace them.

 

Secondly, how easy is it to replace the parts on the driveway? I have axle stands.

 

Does anyone have a guide on the method of replacing the shocks, I've looked online & can’t find a walkthrough or procedure.

 

Thanks.

you can get lemforder top mounts with bearing off ebay for £50 for a pair.

also after having just changed the suspension on my se which has 135k on it,

I would say front bumpstops may be a waste of money as mine were still perfect.

 

also get some drop links as there probably no chance of you getting them off without damaging them.

 

and you will need some spring compressors.

 

other parts that may be knocking ball joints and track rod ends.

Track rod joints and drop links are only 6 months old and I've fitted new ARB bushes last month.

What would the Lemforder mounts and bearing other over the ones I've listed?

Having done it before I don't think I would bother doing it again TBH.

Just to much of a faff and nothing worse that having issues as a result (as I did when we rushed to complete on the last leg as it was getting on and ended up getting the bumps the wrong way round on that one, that alone cost me £50 in wasted investigation time by a not-good garage scheme garage not including our own time spent on it).

The parts are the expensive bit, whats the labour, £150 or so ?

 

Much better to take somewhere you can trust, that does it all the time and you can take back if you have any noises or issues etc.

That said its not the hardest of jobs but a little time consuming. Spring compressors essential.

I've got access to a garage at weekend and all the tools (father in law is a mechanic), i was just wondering if it was a fairly straightforward job in the drive.

Yep more or less but you might want to make sure you aren't planning to use it to go anywhere in a hurry !

 

The fronts are worth the price of someone doing them TBH.....the rears are not as they practically fall out they are so easy to replace lol

 

All used to be on the fabia-vrs site for the lowering but it disappeared, even the site archives seem to have gone....I can't post up due to copyright?? but could PM you a copy of the text