due to creaks and groans and poor ride i am now considering giving the rear suspension a makeover it looks a little low at the rear and has done 175k miles and cant find any info in service history where anything has been changed . Whats the list of parts needed apart from springs and shocks ? is it wishbones or beam axle on rear . Bound to be some bushes also car is a 2005 elegance estate with 1.9 tdi engine .

Presuming that is a mk 2, then there are quite a few rubber bushes. 

Here you go, show you where they are.

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/bushes-bump-stops-vehicle-specific/car/skoda/octavia-04-on/polybush-front-wishbone-rear-bush-44m-red-grade-2-bushes

 

This is not a recommendation for poly bushes, you can get OEM for less, or uprated OEM from a different VAG model, like the Audi S3 wishbone bushes.  Its you vehicle and your choice.

 

There are a couple of bushes which allow the rear camber to be adjusted (which you will need doing after this sort of work) and its most likely they will be seized.

The anti roll bar bushes and possibly the drop links.

The bump stops are most likely in need of replacement too.

Have fun.

 

Pol

seems to be quite a few possibilities for creaks and groans then and i imagine everything would have to be changed to be sure so quite expensive - Springs /shocks/ bush kit - or would changing some suspension bars include one or more bushes - or would it be daft to change the steel parts and be best just to re bush everything. are all bushes reasonably simple to fit or are presses and special tools required. Car just now feels a bit like i have hardly any springing effect to suspension but roads around my area have deteriorated badly in last few weeks .Think i should invest in a hovercraft

pretty sure my main problem is rear suspension ,creaking coming mainly from rear n/s Had front springs replaced a few weeks ago and mechanic said strut bearings were ok seem to remember having drop links done when i first got car 6 months ago and also had to replace front o/s rubber gaitor have not had any alignment done and tyres seem to be wearing even enough.Just  need to change any worn parts without getting silly to get a decent ride without creaks but if that means changing all then so be it ,car has done 175k miles so must be some wear.

Mine squeaked at the rear as one of the rear drop links were worn and a new one fixed the problem.

My 56 L&K was transformed by having an alignment done.  It was an ex Lex Leasing car with all service and maintenance details, no accidents and drove like it had only been driven gently up and down the M1. 

The fuel consumption was improved about 12mpg and the steering was like another car.  Even my partner noticed it, and commented favourably as soon as she drove it.

I have it done every tyre change - more if it starts to feel "off".

There are loads of threads about this, only people who have never had it done properly think its not worth it.  The "properly" word being the most important.  Proper kit and properly trained and experienced personnel.

I just cant understand why the ride has gone so bad ,it sometimes feels like there is no spring in the suspension - went over a rut in the road tonight and thought the car was going to snap in half ,i still dont know where to start - unless mechanic can see something snapped or clearly loose or worn it becomes an expensive excercise changing things that may not need changing in attempt to find problem areas.

I'd start with the dampers.  Easyish to access and it will be obvious if they are seized.  While they are off/disconnected,see if the the trailing arms articulate easily. I've not heard of this being a common problem.

The other bushes are more likely to have sheared or collapsed if they fail.

At 175k the dampers will be shot and worth replacing as they probably feel really soft.