Good Day All,

I need your kind opinion please on this topic , as i really love my car but am not satisfied with its handling and i feel the car needs more control, i recently drove my cousine 320i f30 bmw 2014 and while not overwhelmed with any particular thing in the bmw compared to octavia , i only noticed how much it is controled than the skoda and this is the only point that i really felt huge improvement in the bmw over the skoda,

So my question as am thinking of installing h&r springs on the stock shocks to improve handling

Would they really improve the body control,weigh transfers between left and write, wallowing effect will be gone or not ?

Also what is the disadvantages of this? Would my shocks go bad after a while? And would the car bounce over speed bumps or when loaded with people or luggage?

Many thanks in advance for your respectable answers:)

Note :

My car have the extra hight package and also riding on 16" rims 205/55 tires

Any help guys plzzzzz

I'm not sure what you are expecting really.

The octavia is a good budget car and yours seems well equipped with 16 inch tyres and the rough road package for Egyptian roads. The roads don't have a good international reputation

As a budget car it is equipped with torsion bar suspension so to go comparing with a BMW seems a little ambitious as well.

Most of the threads associated with fitting better quality springs I have seen have usually entailed dropping the ride height as well. Do you want to do that?

Thanks Gerrycan for replying:)

I know i can't get the same BMW skills , but i wanted just more controlled ride especially during cornering and weight transfer situations , i also don't mind a little drop no problem but i also don't want to find alot of disadvantages if i made this move to h&r springs

Note also that the bmw was riding on 16" tires but 225/55

Where are the owners of the h&r springs :(

I've got Eibach Pro Kit springs fitted with Bilstein B4 shocks fitted at the same time. I've done 30,000 miles since the switch, and 70,000 miles in total since new. The reason I switched was mainly due to poor damping of standard springs/shocks on my very early build O3 and I can honestly say that it improved both handling and damping, especially over expansion joints on motorways where originally the car would jump and also it felt very crashy over poor roads/potholes, this was improved but is still not brilliant but I put that down to the Torsion Beam at the rear as SWMBO now has a Leon with the independent rear set up, built same MY and the ride is soooo much better in the Leon.

I would be cautious about changing the springs on a car with rough road springs as the resultant drop would be over 50mm, so you might be better to consider OEM Sports Springs which normally lower by 15mm so in your case the drop would be nearer to 30mm with these?

Thanka Matt for the info

But what do u think the disadvantages of going from rough road package to hr springs?

I did not choose the package my self it is mandatory from skodq dealer in egypt due to our bad roads

I also though that the pack was related to taler shocks and not springs!!

So do you have any other recommendations to increase the car stability and control over the stock setup?

Do you think a larger rims/tires 17" for example would improve the handling?

Thanka Matt for the info

But what do u think the disadvantages of going from rough road package to hr springs?

I did not choose the package my self it is mandatory from skodq dealer in egypt due to our bad roads

I also though that the pack was related to taler shocks and not springs!!

So do you have any other recommendations to increase the car stability and control over the stock setup?

Do you think a larger rims/tires 17" for example would improve the handling?

If your set up is the same as on a UK spec Scout, I think you have bespoke springs and shocks and the ride height is 33mm above standard so I suggest you get some expert advice before deciding what to do. If you want lowering springs, you will definitely need new shocks as my Eibachs lower by 35mm front and 30mm rear and are on the limit of OEM standard shocks, any lower and you really need shorter sports shocks.

I notice from your other engine thread that the car has done a fair distance on below average roads and probably driven with some enthusiasm, maybe even with a load!

You might want to check that your existing shock absorbers have not deteriorated somewhat since new because that would have an adverse effect on handling, ride, well everything really.

Personally, in your environment I would want to retain as much ground clearance and tyre rubber, between ground and rim, as possible.

Lowering a car, stiffening up the suspension and putting big wheels with thinner rubber works can work well on smooth roads and race tracks but on bad roads the car will not perform as well. Would look cool though right up to the point where you damage a rim on a pothole big enough to swallow a donkey

 

An extreme example, but I know a locally owned Aston Martin DBS (fairly rare in Australia) has to go down a certain local suburban road at 15 kph less than normal cars because of the number of particularly evil spoon drains on it. He compensates by driving his other car, a Grand Cherokee at 10 kph faster than normal cars on the same road.

Frankly most of the time i drive the car like a grandpa:)

I use the cruise control alot and 90% of the time am alone in the car but every now and then i drive it fast

The shocks are very good and car feels better in terms of comfort than it was new , but my main concern even when the car was new that the handling is not very good especially wheb there is side wind , you feel the car like gliding left and right little bit with the road if you get what I mean

So on high speeds if the road is not super smooth and straight or there is wind you feel less confident in handling and thats why i was thinking about any upgrade that can improve this issue

High speed stability and/or crosswind problems is not a problem you see reported in the two Octavia forums I frequent (The other being Australian).

I have mentioned it before (many times) but I regarded my previous Mk2 diesel Estate as being remarkably good for steering, handling and stability.

The mk2 only had 15 inch wheels on it, but it did have multi-link rear suspension. Quite honestly, strong crosswinds were a non-event and the only time is was, and the buffeting from large B-double trucks from the opposite direction was also a problem, was when I had a large double-size mattress strapped to the top of the car and then it felt like an old Mitsi Starwagon we once had.

While better than other cars I have owned my Mk3 petrol estate is not as good for steering feel or crosswind stability as the mk2 and it has 17 inch wheels fitted so in my opinion the bigger wheels option you suggested are unlikely to rectify your issues.

I find the steering on my mk3 overly light and some have said that things get better by adopting the 'sport' mode to give a heavier feeling. Unfortunately the basic manual sold in Australia does not have any sport mode options although I have heard that steering weight can be adjusted using VCDS.

Assuming there is nothing wrong with your steering (and you don't have lane assistance fitted or operating) then the issues may have an aerodynamic source.

Again I assume you have no 'cosmetic' modifications fitted and nothing permanently attached to the car roof (bedding (joke) or signage).

The original Audi TT and the first new 'Beetle' were both noted to experience aerodynamic lift at speed and some died as a consequence (both Peter Schreyer designs and he now heads Kia/Hyundai design). I think it is something VAG group test for now

There are Octavia Scout with even higher ride height than yours and many of those are on the continent where really high speeds are possible and the only complaint I have seen is wind noise.

The mk3 is a very light car for its size so it is logical that it is more affected by crosswinds than the mk2.

I am at a bit of a loss why yours is so bad though.

My car is hatch not an estate

I don't have any modifications to it at all in the body or anything attached

I don't have lane assist or steering mode, i wish i could do it via vcd but am in egypt and people here that knows vcds can only unlock options and have no knowledge in mechanical stuff

All octavias here in egypt came with the extra ride height pack except cars imported not through skoda dealer

I also complains from wind noise but after 2 years now i learned to live with it:)

My stability problem is not that bad but i think i still can improve it even a little so i though lower springs can help with this and with air lifting

But as u said i don't want to change tire size i don't feel it will help much.

Have you considered just changing your shocks? It won't help with body roll, but should smooth the car's transitions without sacrificing clearance and travel.

Another option is to switch to standard springs. I don't know if the rough road springs are just taller or if they are both taller and softer, but the standard springs might improve body control while still keeping more clearance than the aftermarket items. You might also find them cheaper than new H&Rs if you can get a lightly used set and you may even be able to retain the stock shocks.

Would they really improve the body control,weigh transfers between left and write, wallowing effect will be gone or not ?

Also what is the disadvantages of this? Would my shocks go bad after a while? And would the car bounce over speed bumps or when loaded with people or luggage?

Many thanks in advance for your respectable answers:)

If I understand suspension correctly. The springs will help with the wallowing and body roll, but to smooth weight transfer and improve body control you will need appropriate shocks, maybe a thicker sway bar, too.

With stock shocks you will likely get more bounce on rough roads.

Anti Roll Bars, front and back

These should do the job

http://www.awesomegti.com/st-suspension-st-anti-roll-bar-kit-skoda-octavia-mk3-5e

Regards

T

Thanks all for the good advices

So

Are the antiroll bars alone would solve the problems i mentioned and make the car feel planted on the road and not twitchy?

Does the car come with antiroll bars or not?

I love to have good handling with all these ground clearance as it is really helpfull frankly specially with out bad roads

Also i like having the stock normal springs but i don't think they are sold in egypt unless the golf or jetta speings works on the octavia as they have normal height here in egypt

Also i don't know if I can get the antiroll bars here in egypt or not as till now i only see koni fsd coil overs adjustables and h&r springs for the octavia 3 sold here

To be clear i know i would not get the level of handling of the bmw but i just like its dead centered steering and its little movment and high confidence in high speed driving even in straight lines