Hi all, 

My fabia vrs mk1 is developing an increasingly hard ride at rear. This is noticeable when car drops down off speed bumps or any bumps in the road. It is very firm and stiff.

I ve read around and I think it is probably the rear shock absorbers, but I m not sure? Car is fine cornering and no clunking so I don t think it is the rear bushes. Front console bushes were replaced at 54k. Current mileage is 73k. 07 registration. Front wheels aligned 5k ago and rear were measured but nothing seriously out of alignment.

Springs visually inspected. Rear shock cover rubber perished . did bounce test and shocks just return back. No extra bounces. They don t seem that keen compared to my old astray h or Octy 3 estate. Any suggestions. Also is it worth changing bushes springs and shocks whilst doing one of these jobs? Cheers Matt

@bmbmdmb - Your symptoms don't seem to make sense with your suggested diagnosis. Soft dampers will allow increased movement, which will make the ride softer unless the bump is big enough to have you reaching the travel limits.

If the dampers just return back when you do a bounce test I'd say that they are seizing ....it can happen, just normally with age they go softer so more rebound on bounce test.

 

New dampers will fully return & sharpish with maybe a hint of additional bounce..depending on spec

Thanks Ken, I know. What do you think is going wrong. Rear bushes , springs, if not the shocks? 

Edited 7 September, 20178 yr by bmbmdmb

Thanks fabdavrav. I think you might be correct. The protective sleeve on the top of the shock  is exposed showing the shiny rod, the rubber has perished,  allowing in dirt etc.

I m the 3rd owner . had it since 44k so not sure if it has had a hard life. 

What are symptoms of a rear bush going? I ve no metallic knocking. 

UPDATE:

 

I replaced the rear shock absorbers. The old ones compressed and then didn't return themselves unlike the new ones (this is off the car).

 

The rear axle bushes were replaced with the standard vrs fabia 1 bushes using a bush insertion kit.

 

The car does not feel as stiff on cornering. It goes over speed bumps with more cushioning and comes off them better. The car is a real pleasure to drive. 

 

If anyone wants information on doing this job there was a thread on this website and the golf mkIV website.  Contact me for any information, I also took photos throughout so I could produce a photo guide. I bought a £93 bush kit like the Laser one (which retails at £330-450). This is essential to put the new bushes back in. It didn't work taking the old ones out as the bushes had become sealed to the metal and were not going to budge in a million years.

 

The bushes had to be cut out with a wood drill bit and a power tool hacksaw then hammered and chiselled to collapse the bush metal outer skin. 

 

BTW - the rear brake lines do need disconnecting, cutting the bracket holding the brake line rigid might lead to a MOT fail. It is recommended to use a device to hold the brake pedal down (this apparently stops the master cylinder emptying) brake brace? I used a bung to stop the brake lines emptying and I have a bleed kit. You will need to use this with a 2nd person pressing down on the brakes as the rear caliper bleed screw is opened. Also make sure the master cylinder is full of brake fluid and checked regularly and that the cap on the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir is one during this. Again, there was a guide on Briskoda about this. Following bleeding all 4 brakes the clutch worked much better. I always had a problem with 2nd gear in cold weather until the engine warmed up. I used Dot 4 ESP brake fluid (highly recommended).

 

Matt

 

2 hours ago, bmbmdmb said:

 cutting the bracket holding the brake line rigid might lead to a MOT fail.

 

 

And is highly dangerous. The bracket is there to hold the metal pipe solid against the movement of the suspension.

I slotted the metal bracket on my old fabia just enough to allow the brake pipe to pass through...

 

bracket worked all ok & spring clip held fine...even 5yrs later on our rough roads...

 

mind you I would now advise draining the fluid & removing the pipe as just as easy...

 

& as for bush presses...nah, long thick threaded rod, big square washes, big sockets, blocks of wood & some big diameter alu pipe....all lying around in the garage got it fine...in fact did all the bushes on the Fabia this way & pressed them in on the correct edges also...

 

Getting them out was a PITA....metal saws, jobbing big slothead screwdriver, hammer etc....

Edited 30 November, 20178 yr by fabdavrav