Hi All,

Have searched this subject but can't quite find what I'm after.

My Polo GT has soldiered through almost 170000 miles. Have refreshed brakes for new all around and now is time for the tired standard suspension which needs attention.

I am after standard oem KYB/Monroe/Bilstein shocks with possibly lowering springs no more than 25 mm and hopefully not too crashy.

Could anyone advise and more importantly point me to some supplies which are trustworthy as struggling so far.

Many thanks in advance,

Matt

Edited 22 November, 20169 yr by Pugwash81

You can get Bilstein B4 on ebay for a good price.

Great, saw those. Are they going to be as good as oem ones in terms of longevity and comfort. Looking at H&R or Eibach springs but only seem to do 40 mm drop which is too much for me.

Thanks for your reply

Better than OEM, OEM are Sachs.

Bilstein B12 setup, comes with Eibach 25mm springs. £522 http://www.bilsteinsuspensionstore.co.uk/info-parts_list?make=SKODA&model=FABIA+%286Y2%29&car_id=1.9+TDI+RS%7C06%2F03%7C03%2F08

That's an amazing price, get them, they're AWESOME.

What is the comfort level like sepulchrave?

What is the comfort level like sepulchrave?

 

Very good, firm obviously, but compliant.

Still a fair wedge for with 170K under its belt. I went for an AP lowering kit (shocks and springs all round) and that came in at around £290 including delivery from DPM performance (a site sponsor). Good firm ride but not tooooo firm and they did well on track.

Don't forget to budget in for new bump stops and top mount bearings as after 170K yours will almost certainly benefit from a new set.

Don't need bump stops with the billys, they're built in on the front.

Check out demon tweaks. Last year I bought my b12 kit for £450 as part of Black Friday.

Billies are inverted at the front so bump stops included and not visible. Rear ones worth it for a few quid. New front top mounts and drop links will probably be needed also at that mileage.

£450 isn't bad but wanting to keep as standard as possible and comfort is important. Thanks a lot for the advice.

Are they fit and forget as had coilovers on my Type R and had to care for rusted strut threads etc.

Have ordered Meyle HD droplinks and thinking Meyle top mounts and bearing would be a good choice?

Pugwash81: On a totally unrelated subject, what does your GT do to the gallon? mine can only do 54mpg driving really carefully and upper 40's in the winter. It'd be handy to compare seeing as there so rare and all

Have ordered Meyle HD droplinks and thinking Meyle top mounts and bearing would be a good choice?

 

I used Febi Bilstein parts but Meyle should be just fine.

Pugwash81: On a totally unrelated subject, what does your GT do to the gallon? mine can only do 54mpg driving really carefully and upper 40's in the winter. It'd be handy to compare seeing as there so rare and all

Hello mate,

I drove to work today (Southampton to Dover) 156 miles and averaged 57 mpg. Summer with a light foot I'm up to 60-62 mpg. Indicated on the mpg readout anyhow! I can get 450-500 miles per tank on average so is pretty frugal. Is a 54 plate.

If it's any help I have the PD160 intake and a pipercross filter if that makes any difference but was using about the same as before.

Hope it helps,

Matt

I used Febi Bilstein parts but Meyle should be just fine.

That's a great help thanks.

Looks like I will go for the Bilstein B4s with the H&Rs. Will be fitting myself but may get springs compressed at garage and shocks built as only have threaded compressors and not that brave with compressed springs!!

So is just shocks, springs, topmounts, topmount bearings, bumpstops and shock covers, droplinks, balljoints for the shopping list!

Thanks all for your help

Edited 23 November, 20169 yr by Pugwash81

That's a great help thanks.

Looks like I will go for the Bilstein B4s with the H&Rs. Will be fitting myself but may get springs compressed at garage and shocks built as only have threaded compressors and not that brave with compressed springs!!

So is just shocks, springs, topmounts, topmount bearings, bumpstops and shock covers, droplinks, balljoints for the shopping list!

Thanks all for your help

 

I did the track rod ends so that the tracking could be easily set after the job by a simple tyre fitter, I also did the console bushes as well since access is excellent with the strut out of the way.

£114 for B4 kit http://m.g.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Bilstein-B4-Front-Rear-Shock-Damper-Kit-SKODA-FABIA-6Y2-99-08-1-9-TDI-VRS-/231410131242?nav=SEARCH

Cheers for that Matt, much appreciated. I guess I'l have to look into why mine is underachieving on the mpg now then!! . Mines 05 plate with 105000 by the way, just changed wishbone bushes to cupras and replaced the dogbone mount coz of the usual clunks and creaks they have.

 

Thanks again,

Tom

£114 for B4 kit http://m.g.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Bilstein-B4-Front-Rear-Shock-Damper-Kit-SKODA-FABIA-6Y2-99-08-1-9-TDI-VRS-/231410131242?nav=SEARCH

 

Was looking at the B4s for my VRS, but found this was the only place that said they fit the VRS. Everywhere else doesn't list the B4s for the VRS. Who is correct?

Surely they would fit all on the fabia\polo\Ibiza platform since something like the b8s are listed to fit all? Or do the higher spec models  such as VRS and GT have something that the others don't which mean the VRS\GT isn't suitable. Weight and damping rate is all that I can think of.

Would be interested to see if anyone else has had b4s on their VRS\GT and how they got on.

Was looking at the B4s for my VRS, but found this was the only place that said they fit the VRS. Everywhere else doesn't list the B4s for the VRS. Who is correct?

Surely they would fit all on the fabia\polo\Ibiza platform since something like the b8s are listed to fit all? Or do the higher spec models such as VRS and GT have something that the others don't which mean the VRS\GT isn't suitable. Weight and damping rate is all that I can think of.

Would be interested to see if anyone else has had b4s on their VRS\GT and how they got on.

I was reading Kellaway's suspension refresh in the projects section and looks like he used the B4s but want to know myself as is the only thing holding me back from buying them.

Asked the seller and he has assured me that they fit!?

Regards,

Matt