Yeti upgrades info

[bahnstormer vrs]

if you are keeping the stock springs, go with B6's as B8's utilise a 20mm shorter shaft specifically for use with lowering springs.

I'm thinking of tweaking the shocks on Kevin.

Presumably B6s are still ok to use with lowering springs i.e. Koni with 30mm drop.

You post above suggests the B8s are firmer than B6s. Yes?

Guy

[Yeti_Man]

I'm thinking of tweaking the shocks on Kevin.

Presumably B6s are still ok to use with lowering springs i.e. Koni with 30mm drop.

You post above suggests the B8s are firmer than B6s. Yes?

Guy

With a fair bit of research under my belt on this i'll have a go at answering... According to Bilstein UK the B6 and B8's are valved the same internally (which surprised me) but they recommend use of Eibach progressive lowering springs if lowering springs are to be used. These springs are suitable for both B6 Sport and B8 Sprint damper units. B8 dampers can work with anything down to -50mm springs. I was told by Bilstien technical support that B6's are fine down to -40mm although I believe their publicity docs suggest -30mm as a recomended max. The shaft of the B8 is approx 20mm shorter depending on specific application. Given the monotube design and just seeing the quality of the damper units I have no reason to suspect that if OE dampers last 60k with lowering springs, the Bilsteins will see double that with no issues. Certainly guys with Golf mk5 and 6 GTi's in the US say they have no issues running lowering springs with B6 dampers, even after 70,000 miles... I suspect that as long as the spring is pre tensioned then both should perform well. My gut says that B8's should feel firmer on the road though but technically nothing backs this up. I reckon even the B6's may feel slightly firmer than these FSD's and I'm swapping other minor suspension components when I swap the Bilsteins in and am betting these will make a positive difference in the overall feel of the car on the road.

[bahnstormer vrs]

Thanks for detailed response Lee; very helpful. Think it will be B6s for me too.

Guy

[Helston Hauler]

Can some one give me the part No for Pagid 312 Skoda Octavia mk2 brake discs and the correct caliper carrier for my impending brake upgrade. I'm also getting close to needing new tyres, so any recommendations.

[bahnstormer vrs]

Thanks for detailed response Lee; very helpful. Think it will be B6s for me too.

Guy

 

Following on from the above I eventually got around to dealing with the shocks for Kevin and he now has a resplendent set of Bilstein B6s fitted (last Thursday) along with the Passat Sport rear bump stops; I decided to leave out changes to top mounts.  Very many thanks for the part numbers.

 

Whilst I have yet to do some proper 'brisk' motoring I have noticed an immediate improvement with the B6s. 

 

I've had eibach springs fitted for the last 18 months or more and with OE shocks I'd always reckoned they were mismatched with the shocks not being strong enough.  Moreover, in recent months Kevin had started pitching around on bumps and M'way undulations; I'm sure therefore the OE shocks were getting weak. Additionally, over minor road surface imperfections (small potholes etc.) the ride had become incredibly harsh and crashy.

 

With the B6s all that has gone. 

 

Yes: I can clearly feel they are a strong shock absorber but they are not stiff (unlike Koni Sport and FSDs I've had in the past on other cars).  Ride comfort is excellent, certainly every bit as good as a Yeti on OE springs (remember I've got Koni lowered ones) and body control is great, having lost all sense of floatiness and pitching; it is now really stable.

 

On the bump stop front, my OE rear bump stops were barely worn; likely a legacy of me rarely driving laden, but I fitted the Passat Sport rear ones.  I bought a pair of OE front bump stops, just for the hell of it, but then found that the piston/shaft of the Bilsteins is so fat they won't fit!  So I've gone without at the front.  Re-looking carefully at your photos it appears you have done the same; is that so?

 

Overall, albeit with a bit more testing to do, I'm already thinking that I've done a really good setup change and one of the better ones I've done over the years; B6s really suit the Yeti.  Thanks again for your comments, advice and acting as Guinea Pig.

 

All I need now are some new summer tyres in a month or so and have pre-bought some Michelin Pilot Super Sports for this.

 

Thanks again.

 

Guy

[Yeti_Man]

Following on from the above I eventually got around to dealing with the shocks for Kevin and he now has a resplendent set of Bilstein B6s fitted (last Thursday) along with the Passat Sport rear bump stops; I decided to leave out changes to top mounts. Very many thanks for the part numbers.

Whilst I have yet to do some proper 'brisk' motoring I have noticed an immediate improvement with the B6s.

I've had eibach springs fitted for the last 18 months or more and with OE shocks I'd always reckoned they were mismatched with the shocks not being strong enough. Moreover, in recent months Kevin had started pitching around on bumps and M'way undulations; I'm sure therefore the OE shocks were getting weak. Additionally, over minor road surface imperfections (small potholes etc.) the ride had become incredibly harsh and crashy.

With the B6s all that has gone.

Yes: I can clearly feel they are a strong shock absorber but they are not stiff (unlike Koni Sport and FSDs I've had in the past on other cars). Ride comfort is excellent, certainly every bit as good as a Yeti on OE springs (remember I've got Koni lowered ones) and body control is great, having lost all sense of floatiness and pitching; it is now really stable.

On the bump stop front, my OE rear bump stops were barely worn; likely a legacy of me rarely driving laden, but I fitted the Passat Sport rear ones. I bought a pair of OE front bump stops, just for the hell of it, but then found that the piston/shaft of the Bilsteins is so fat they won't fit! So I've gone without at the front. Re-looking carefully at your photos it appears you have done the same; is that so?

Overall, albeit with a bit more testing to do, I'm already thinking that I've done a really good setup change and one of the better ones I've done over the years; B6s really suit the Yeti. Thanks again for your comments, advice and acting as Guinea Pig.

All I need now are some new summer tyres in a month or so and have pre-bought some Michelin Pilot Super Sports for this.

Thanks again.

Guy

hi guy, I already replied to this post in my project thread but basically, rear shortened bumpstops are optional and not necessary, IMO its a mistake not to take the opportunity of uprating the top strut mounts whilst you're swapping them - the difference is noticeable and positive in all respects and the bumpstops on both B6 and B8 struts are built in internally on the front units so no need for external ones.

[muddyboots]

Following on from the above I eventually got around to dealing with the shocks for Kevin and he now has a resplendent set of Bilstein B6s fitted (last Thursday) along with the Passat Sport rear bump stops; I decided to leave out changes to top mounts.  Very many thanks for the part numbers.

 

Whilst I have yet to do some proper 'brisk' motoring I have noticed an immediate improvement with the B6s. 

 

I've had eibach springs fitted for the last 18 months or more and with OE shocks I'd always reckoned they were mismatched with the shocks not being strong enough.  Moreover, in recent months Kevin had started pitching around on bumps and M'way undulations; I'm sure therefore the OE shocks were getting weak. Additionally, over minor road surface imperfections (small potholes etc.) the ride had become incredibly harsh and crashy.

 

With the B6s all that has gone. 

 

Yes: I can clearly feel they are a strong shock absorber but they are not stiff (unlike Koni Sport and FSDs I've had in the past on other cars).  Ride comfort is excellent, certainly every bit as good as a Yeti on OE springs (remember I've got Koni lowered ones) and body control is great, having lost all sense of floatiness and pitching; it is now really stable.

 

On the bump stop front, my OE rear bump stops were barely worn; likely a legacy of me rarely driving laden, but I fitted the Passat Sport rear ones.  I bought a pair of OE front bump stops, just for the hell of it, but then found that the piston/shaft of the Bilsteins is so fat they won't fit!  So I've gone without at the front.  Re-looking carefully at your photos it appears you have done the same; is that so?

 

Overall, albeit with a bit more testing to do, I'm already thinking that I've done a really good setup change and one of the better ones I've done over the years; B6s really suit the Yeti.  Thanks again for your comments, advice and acting as Guinea Pig.

 

All I need now are some new summer tyres in a month or so and have pre-bought some Michelin Pilot Super Sports for this.

 

Thanks again.

 

Guy

Did you fit them yourself ?

 

If so - straightforward, or any gotchas ?

[Yeti_Man]

Did you fit them yourself ?

 

If so - straightforward, or any gotchas ?

Very straightforward as its just part swapping. Getting the hub away from the original strut was helped by being sprayed with penetrating fluid the day before and just before doing the job. Took around three hours on the yeti iirc.

[muddyboots]

Cheers.

 

Any fancy tools needed - spline bits, anything like that ?

 

I've changed dampers on previous cars. I've used Bilsteins before and been very pleased.

The bouncy suspension is the one thing that lets the car down at the moment when pressing on, was planning on B6s at some point (with OE springs - don't want to lose any height).

[bahnstormer vrs]

Did you fit them yourself ?

If so - straightforward, or any gotchas ?

Sorry, no.

Got my local dealership to do it for me.

Seemed to be straight forward, although the Technician did mention that it was a bit tight getting the base of the front shock into the cup on the hub/wishbone.

He was also very impressed with the girth of the pistons on the front shock, but surprised that the rears are slimmer than OE.

Guy