Hi,

 

My Mk1 Octavia VRS (Babs' old car) has done just shy of 100k now and the suspension is starting to feel a little tired, more jarring over bumps than it used to be and when heavily laden it sits very low - I am pretty sure the rear shocks are knackered and the fronts aren't too far behind. 

 

I use the car for towing my track car so don't want a suspension drop, just want something a little fresher feeling and tidy up the handling a little. Can anyone recommend anything to suit? I was thinking of adding a Whiteline 24mm RARB and replacing shocks all round with Bilstein B4's - anything else I should be looking at?

Someone posted this kit which looked good value

 

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/suspension-kits/car/skoda/octavia-96-04-vrs/2004/1-8-turbo/koni-str-t-suspension-kit-lowers-front-20mm-and-lowers-rear-20mm?source=aw&awc=6538_1450125364_cb8dbc80643ca4801044fed46152fe25&utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Sub+Networks&utm_campaign=78888

^^definitely one of the best suggestions for the money, plus slap a rarb on like you say and you won't need much more than that.

what is your budget?

 

ok so your car sits low when laden, then yes, you need to change the springs and shocks.  the rest of your description, I'd go for good quality RUBBER bushes. makes the whole setup feel tight and working as one.

 

If you want to address the understeer, you could slap a rear ARB on it.  (PM me for details if needs be)  The good think about the OEM suspension, is that it has give/travel, so allows for adjustability and does a good job at damping when towing.

 

I have no experience with the Koni STR kit, so can't comment, I use the AP Fixed Damping, Height adjustable coil overs and provided you do not drop it, you will feel a better response without eating into comfort and flex. Damian at DPM performance is a sponsor on here and I have always been satisfied with his price promise (other providers are available).

 

Apart from that, hoping to see some incar footage of the Ginetta!

If I can be any help with info or prices please feel free to give me a call or drop me a PM.

 

Damian @ DPM Performance

Thanks for the responses - Damian when I figure out what I'm after I'll be in touch [emoji106]

No fixed budget really - I'd like to spend as little as possible without buying tat. £400ish for suspension set up (excluding the RARB) seems to get me something reasonable?

The Koni STR.T kit looks interesting and I guess a 20 mm drop is too small to present much of a problem when towing. Has anyone had any experience when them? Are the AP Coilovers at similar money any better/worse?

I'll hopefully get some footage from the Ginetta up next time - I've been on 4 or 5 trackdays with it this year and managed to forget the GoPro each time (normally cause the car is in bits about an hour after I was scheduled to leave!)

Edited 15 December, 201510 yr by mattdoherty24

hey

mattdoherty24 konis well recomended i have these with standard springs (no drop) and they are very good for the road. damping is a lot firmer so should work well while towing.

I have no experience with the Koni kit but the H&R springs are very good.  And the Koni dampers can only be a decent bit of kit too!

I use my vRS as a tow barge/trackday support vehicle as well. I'll be fitting the 20mm H&Rs once I've saved up enough for some B8s to go with them. Check with Damian from DPM up above, but you might be able to use one of the B4 kits with these springs, which will be around your £400 budget for springs and dampers.

 

https://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/car-parts/skoda/octavia/hr-20mm-lowering-suspension-springs-octavia-1u-vrs-18t-0102

 

https://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/car-parts/skoda/octavia/bilstein-b4-damper-shock-absorber-kitoctavia-1u-14-16-19sdi-19tdi-20-fwd-0996

 

https://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/car-parts/skoda/octavia/bilstein-b4-sport-damper-shock-absorber-kitoctavia-1u-14-16-19sdi-19tdi-20-fwd-0996

They need to be the specific vrs dampers die to the anti roll bar position

I don't think the koni kit can be beaten really

Someone posted this kit which looked good value

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/suspension-kits/car/skoda/octavia-96-04-vrs/2004/1-8-turbo/koni-str-t-suspension-kit-lowers-front-20mm-and-lowers-rear-20mm?source=aw&awc=6538_1450125364_cb8dbc80643ca4801044fed46152fe25&utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Sub+Networks&utm_campaign=78888

I just ran my car through the car checker bit on the DT website and this kit don't fit my VRS :-(

Mines a 2001 Octavia VRS. Very odd.

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