Had the car serviced the other day and its been noticed the top of the rear shocks on the rubber/metal/whatever it is bit has gone and will need fixing,

Aparently you can buy repair kits fot the part that has gone, or I could get new rear shocks. I carry a lot of weight in the boot and corner pretty hard, but want to keep a comfortable ride. Is it worth upgrading to something aftermarket? (standard 1.9pd suspension on it). or just replacing the faulty part and hoping that the 121k on the clock hasn't worn them out?

If changing rear shocks what do you guys recommend? Budget is pretty tight, but main thing is that they can carry the weight happily.

If the car has done 121k without them ever being replaced I would replace them as they are definitely going to be worn.  Billstein or Boge seem to be the most popular, although if the OEM shocks has lasted 121k they can't be bad either.  Have a look on line for prices.

So only the bump stops are worn?

Sounds like the garage is trying to make more of this than is necessary?

The bump stops do seem to crop up on here quite regularly so maybe it's an Octavia weakness?

Either way it is an inexpensive part and easy to replace compared with all new shocks...

Edited 16 January, 201511 yr by silver1011

Had my rear shocks replaced today by DSB Autocare (Nottm) using OEM parts. One of the covers had slipped down and also one of the bump stops was worse for wear so had all new parts.  Car has done 143k so I'd had my money's worth out of the old ones. Cost £191 inc labour.  Not too bad.

 

Dave

your well on the way to their end of life,  for the second time,   forget all that  bounce test nonsense---remember the springs carry the weight the shocks provide control   especially if your paying the labour get some new ones of a reputable make but nothing fancy rather than paying to fix something that's probl'y  past shot :sun: 

So only the bump stops are worn?

Sounds like the garage is trying to make more of this than is necessary?

The bump stops do seem to crop up on here quite regularly so maybe it's an Octavia weakness?

Either way it is an inexpensive part and easy to replace compared with all new shocks...

Its not the bump stop I dont believe. If you dropped the cover off the top half of the shock and followed the metalshaft up, it comes to a rubber cover with a metal ring somwhere. its that part that has gone to pot. repair kits are do-able but I wanted to see whether with the age, mileage, and heavy usage i give them, that a replacement would be more suitable.

Don't think there are any replaceable parts on the rear shocks and the only thing I can think of is the top mounts or the bump stops/covers which are normally separately purchased anyway and not included when you buy new stocks.

Ah, if it isn't the bump stops its got to make more sense replacing the whole lot.

 

I wonder what the repair kit consists of?

I've never seen stock dampers last 120k ;-) They are usually dead after 30k - people who never had sport shock can never tell difference.

 

If you like comfort - go for Weitec Ultra GT. If you like your car stick to the road Bilstein. Something, between H&R (who uses Bilstein I believe).

 

Don't forget it is always whole system that counts...arm bushes are an enemy number one, which is mot underestimated.

 

If you carry lots of load at rear - stiffer springs would benefit too.