I know there's plenty of threads on here about suspension (but haven't got my head round the new look website which makes searches difficult to pipoint!!), but most people on here seem to make the topic veer towards just going for the usual Bilstein B12 kit (bilstein dampers, Eibach springs). Anyway, just wondering what people's experiences of keeping the STANDARD height/oem springs on and just changing the dampers are as I'd prefer to keep my ride height the same for some of the uneven ground I go over and anything sporting makes that impossible.

 

I understand the B4 dampers are virtually oem, I've heard about a B4 sport but don't know what that is, and the B6 dampers are a slight upgrade but I don't know why. But are there other options which people like and have used? I used to run a Golf G60 on standard springs and Koni top adjustables and it was absolutely brilliant, but that was on a MkII golf and I chose based on the advice of other golf owners. As we all know, a certain make can work beautifully on a certain model car, but less successfully on others, and I don't see much love for Koni on here so it might not ba a great move for an octy.

 

I'd like to get other's opinions though, so over to you...

The B4 are basically a gas version of your standard shock, the B6 are a monotube damper so a big upgrade compared to standard.

 

Damian @ DPM Performance 

As I understand it:

 

The B4 are a OEM equivalent twin tube type design.

The B4 sports apparently are available with a shorter travel for improved match with lowered springs (if I recall a recent post correctly).

 

The B6 are a higher spec, "mono  tube" design where there is a single cylinder and the fluid for damping is kept separate from the gas lessening aeration foaming and performance degradation during use.

 

The B8 are the same B6 design with shorter travel, for lowered springs.

 

This quite useful to explain monotube v twin tube.

http://www.kyb.com/knowledge-center/shock-tech-for-pros/monotube-vs-twintube/

 

I'd say a set of B6 and standard springs would mate up very well.  As for other choices beyond Bilstein, there are others out there but I don't know in detail, so I'm sure someone else will be along to expand.

 

Edited 10 February, 20179 yr by TheClient

Cheers guys.

 

Yes, managed to get a number for Bilstein UK (of a sort) and he said the b6 & b8 are about 90% the same thing. The b4 sport is just the b4 which is specifically made for lowered/sports cars, so I think this translated as it's the one for a vRS or equivalent since it doesn't have the same ride height as a 'standard' octy.

 

Just a bit of a p1sser that it looks like the price of the b6 and b12 fitted aren't that different but with the b12 you get a shiny new set of springs!

Edited 10 February, 20179 yr by blackspaven

I took for the front new standart Sachs dampers in HD with the original Skoda springs and rear new stronger Lesjöfors springs HD with new standard Sachs dampers HD ( Heavy Duty means for Combi with tow hook). That´s very comfortable for our french roads and the car drives and handles not spongy.

The load is more and the car didn´t dive so much.

Edited 10 February, 20179 yr by 0ctavist

I'm using B6 shocks with stock springs on my L&K and it has totally transformed the handling and extremely stable for high speed cruising.

Anybody else??

I found my car a little unstable when driven over uneven roads at speed and I felt it should handle better around bends when pushed. Had a word with a supplier of Bilstein shocks and he recommended fitting Bilstein B8 shocks with the standard springs. A lot of posts had members fitting B6 shocks, so I rang Bilstein direct and talked to their tech department. They also recommended B8 shocks with my standard springs. The car had only done 50k miles at the time, so the original springs were okay. I know my local trusted independent garage had to do something with the front bump stops to get a good fitting, but they have been great for the last 13k miles. The handling and stability has improved, which is what I was after. The bonus is, seeing as though they are a straight fit without any lowering of the car, my insurance company do not regard them as a modification, therefore my insurance does not go up. 

Odd, I spoke to Bilstein on Friday and they said to use b6 cos the b8 were designed for shortened springs as it's hard to get aftermarket springs which aren't shorter than standard, as said in The Client's post. B8 and b6 are basically the same thing other than that.

40 minutes ago, blackspaven said:

Odd, I spoke to Bilstein on Friday and they said to use b6 cos the b8 were designed for shortened springs as it's hard to get aftermarket springs which aren't shorter than standard, as said in The Client's post. B8 and b6 are basically the same thing other than that.

Yes strange that, we both phone Bilstein and get different answers. All I can say is, the B8 shocks on my vehicle are working ok. It could be that my vehicle being a VRS TSI, has slightly shorter sport springs than your model. A wiser member of this forum might want to let us know. I would go with the info you got from Bilstein on your model.  

I can see both working fine as the vrs is moderately lowered and the b6 has ability to cope with moderate lowering.  I guess the b8 will allow you to fit shorter springs at a later date but if you have no future plans to lower I would just stick to b6 shocks.  As for front bump stops the b8 and b6 have internal front bump stops  so you just bin your old bump stops as they are not required on the front anymore.

B6 dampers all the way.