Hi- need some advice. I’ve completed @ 120 0000 miles of happy motoring in my scout- commuting, holidays, ocassional horse towing- fab car that does all I ask of it.

 

But we’ve hit a problem- our ATS garage changed my rear shocks on my 58 plate 4x4 Scout in June.  

The ride has been getting rougher & rougher & on inspection the inside of the rear tyres are badly over worn.  I’ve replaced all 4 tyres & took the car to an alignment specialist who identified the problem with the rears but then informed me they can’t adjust to true because they’ve run out of adjustment on the nut. 

The alignment guy suspects that ATS fitted the wrong shocks (maybe for an Octavia & not a scout).

 

Can anyone advise if the scout & the normal Octavia have different shocks so I can check what should be on there? 

 

TIA

Edited 30 November, 20178 yr by Smurfy
Spell

The Scout has the rough road package fitted (Which incidently also uses different alignment figures to a standard suspension) which I understand involves different springs and shocks.

What about looking up a detailed aftermarket catalogue like Bilstein or Sachs.  Look at variants and see if specified shocks differ and maybe they also specify what differences eg shock body length.

 

https://www.zf.com/unitedkingdom/en_gb/sachs/catalogs_sachs/catalogs.html

 

Interestingly, quickly looking at the Sachs Catalogue, rear shock seems to be a common part between the 4x4 scout and vRS part no 310950, so not sure they are different.  Waits for others to prove me wrong. It could only really be their length that differs?

There is nothing specified as scout in the aftermarket catalogues so I just assumed 4x4 is same as scout maybe not?

 

•  

4 minutes ago, TheClient said:

There is nothing specified as scout in the aftermarket catalogues so I just assumed 4x4 is same as scout maybe not?

 

•  

oh gosh - yup I thought the scout was the 4x4... 

Glad I'm not confused yet then !!! 

9 minutes ago, Smurfy said:

oh gosh - yup I thought the scout was the 4x4... 

Glad I'm not confused yet then !!! 

The Octy Scout is 4x4 (waiting for Awayforapish to butt in at this point!), but it comes with extra exterior  plastic cladding and additional standard kit over the 'vanilla' 4x4. The 4x4 came as standard with 15" wheels, the Scout on 17" (according to the 2010 Škoda Octavia brochure) . The difference in ride height between the 4x4 and Scout is down to the bigger sidewall of the tyres. 

 

I was informed by a Glasgow Škoda dealership as far as they are aware the suspension and springs are the same as a non 4x4 Octavia. 

 

You could always email your local Škoda dealership or Škoda UK and get it confirmed back by email if they are the same or different. 

12 minutes ago, Fin69 said:

The Octy Scout is 4x4 (waiting for Awayforapish to butt in at this point!), but it comes with extra exterior  plastic cladding and additional standard kit over the 'vanilla' 4x4. The 4x4 came as standard with 15" wheels, the Scout on 17" (according to the 2010 Škoda Octavia brochure) . The difference in ride height between the 4x4 and Scout is down to the bigger sidewall of the tyres. 

 

I was informed by a Glasgow Škoda dealership as far as they are aware the suspension and springs are the same as a non 4x4 Octavia. 

 

You could always email your local Škoda dealership or Škoda UK and get it confirmed back by email if they are the same or different. 

 

ah ok - well maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree then.  Unless they've fitted the wrong shocks full stop.   Or there's something else going wrong that is impacting the alignment.

 

 

Thanks so much all for you help.

 

 

One option is to see what shocks are listed on your receipt and contact the manufacturer and get it confirmed by email/writing they are the correct ones for your vehicle.  

 

I always get a four wheel alignment when I swap my wheels over in October/November and April/May.  Not sure what equipment your alignment specialist uses, but I always make sure it is a Hunter Four Wheel Alignment:

 

Hunter Four Wheel Alignment

 

I learned my lesson after using a 'Budget' equivalent to ATS for my 4 wheel alignment.  It was only after they started working on it they admitted they could only do the front wheels.

If the dampers are wrong then it would only be noticeable at full extension of the damper.  So if you jack up the body and the wheel doesn't drop then there's an issue.

 

The Scout's extra 20mm height is a combination of a 10mm taller tyre and a 10mm taller spring.  Even if the damper is different, it will only make a difference in the last 10mm of travel (it will be at full extension 10mm early).

 

Which adjustment eccentric are they having trouble with?  Camber or Caster?  What actual readings are they achieving?

 

 

Hello  - well I've looked up the receipt and they fitted this https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Skoda_Octavia_2.0_2008/p/car-parts/suspension/suspension-and-steering/shock-absorber/?635441940&1&cdd0a8d361977fe50773b052ddaf510dfe68a4f2&000925  which seems to be correct.

 

In terms of the alignment of the rear tyres - the toe was hugely out (off the little chart) at -0.38 and the camber was -1.56, on the other side the camber was good but the toe was -0.28.     The previous tyres were really worn to the inside of.

Apologies for OT. 

 

George, my comment aimed at you was tongue in cheek.

 

The 3 Guarantees on this forum are;

 

1.  Lllllllanagran flames anyone who DARES to make a derogatory comment about the Yeti. 

2. Silver1011 ALWAYS interjects when anyone contemplates paying for a Major Service. 

3. Awayoffski gets a bee in his bonnet when anyone refers to gherkin haldex equipped vehicle as a 4x4.

 

No offence intended.