Yes Skoda got it wrong and Eibach are correct. Looking at all the pictures on here of lowered Rapids VRSBilly is the only one with the correct springs fitted as he went direct to Eibach to get them. Everybody else incl my dealer used Skoda ones and are all wrong. Well done Skoda for cocking something else up!

If you look at all the pics carefully you'll see what I mean. Mine is 20mm higher at the front to the rear.Eibach list 2 kits and Skoda only list one to which they've gone for the heavier front springs.

The front of the 1.2tsi is 880

The front of the 1.4 & 1.6 is 960

The rears are the same.

Be very cautious if you buy Skoda springs as they will be wrong for the 1.2tsi.

I was given this confirmation from Skodaparts.com who come across this all the time. They now go direct to Eibach for the correct kits.

Skoda don't use Skoda shocks to lower Rapids, the shocks they used on mine are BILSTEINS. They are approved and fitted by Skoda. Personally id rather have them approved and fitted by Skoda for several reasons, they don't mess up your warranty and they are fitted by Skoda mechanics.

DId you have the full Eibach kit then?

 

I was looking at Eibach springs only - the full kit comes with Bilstein dampers but I'm not splashing out on those as well, its like three times the price.

Edited 13 June, 201511 yr by camelspyyder

They only use Eibach springs I don't know about shocks. Eibach told me they supply Skoda the springs for there kit.

Part number is :

ZGB5JA071676

Springs only, they didn't offer anything else and it all seems fine

Ok, I must check again.

I was certain Skoda use Eibach Pro-kit springs which are "engineered to work with the original dampers(shocks)"

Eibach also offer the B12 Pro-kit which includes the same springs and Bilstein gas dampers.

After other peoples experiences I want to ensure I order the correct parts. Clearly Skoda or the dealers cannot be fully trusted to source the right bits.

No don't use Skoda/Seat I would go direct to Eibach. The Pro Kit is £199.

If you got this number on your front springs for a 1.2tsi then they're wrong.

I'm going to check mine now you say it's wrong, but can you explain why it's wrong and why Skoda fit the wrong springs? What problems if any will come of fitting these springs. My car sits nicely front and back, it doesn't look too high at the front, it drives better than it did and Skoda honour the cars manufacturers warranty and a warranty on the springs they fitted.

I've been investigating this with Eibach and Skoda.

The part number in the picture is a recognised number that Eibach supply to Skoda for there spring kit. This part number is for the 1.4dsg and 1.6 diesel models and not for the 1.2tsi. It's a stiffer spring due to the weight of the 1.4 dsg and 1.6 engines being heavier (960) and the 1.2tsi being only 880. The rears are all the same listed. The front springs for the 1.2tsi are softer because the engine is lighter. Like mine I have measured the rear arch gap after fitting and it's 40 mm whereas the front gap is 60mm. It's quite noticeable at certain angles. The rear of mine is pretty planted on the road but the front feels vague and unstable. This is what I'm trying to drum into Skoda UK thick skulls at the moment. There kit is wrong and Eibach are correct. If you have a 1.4 or 1.6 it doesn't matter as the kit will be right. Mine were fitted as a goodwill gesture so I'm trying to get them to fit the right ones. It looks stupid tbh.

skodaparts.com have had this problem too and deal direct with Eibach instead.

my cars a petrol so I'm getting worried. It's going back tomorrow for other issues so I'm going to speak to them.

Btw it does look better you must agree!

my cars a petrol so I'm getting worried. It's going back tomorrow for other issues so I'm going to speak to them.

Please bear with me I'm trying to do this on an iPad, the pics should now show before & after? I think it looks ok?.

The last pic is after the car was lowered and the side pic shows front and rear view after lowering, let me know what you think, I'm not going to try putting anymore pics on using my iPad you will be glad to know

It's difficult to see the side on as you've got the wheel turned. The rear looks ok though. You've stated you got Bilsteins fitted and Eibach springs too?

For some reason I thought they told me the were bilstein springs, my receipt makes no mention of make and I will ask about it tomorrow when I take the car there. Whatever though, they only changed the springs. I really didn't think too much about it at the time because it wasn't planned and I trusted them to fit the correct springs. I also asked if they needed to re align the wheels after fitting the new springs and they said this was not necessary.

It is a must to get a 4 wheel alignment after as the geometry will be out as with every car that is lowered.

Spoke to them this morning and double checked, they said it doesn't need to have wheel alignment done. I said in theory it would now have negative camber (wearing more on inside) if it proves to be the case that the tyres wear, I will be asking them to replace them.

They don't know what they're talking about. Any work done on the front will put the geometry out.

I really dont think I'm going to a dealer for this work. I think a tuning shop or independent with tuning/modification experience will be better able to do it than a place that only does electronic diagnosis and oil changes.

After 5 months parked up the calipers are looking tatty too, so I might as well have them painted red as well.

Edited 15 June, 201511 yr by camelspyyder

My car sits on the road well, doesn't pull in either direction or even drift. With the steering wheel straight it drives straight. I know this is no indication that the wheels are perfectly in line but any wear and il be straight back!!!!

You need to give them s few thousand miles first so they settle. Then get a 4 wheel alignment done (preferably Hunters).

Thanks, I will do. I'd like to get the alignement done anyway as you don't know if anyone's hit curbs etc before I bought the car. Will I need to mention to them that the cars on non standard springs? Also will the springs themselves settle (compress further). Sorry to bombard you with questions but you seem to have good knowledge of this subject.