I guess I'm doomed. I'll try a Polo one day and maybe fit some Polo suspension if softer, I hope they're compatible. 

Or maybe I'll find some softer springs. I can see a lot of options online, but it never says if it's softer, only for better handling, lowering etc

 

Also drove a similarly aged Clio with the same tyre specs. It rode like a magic carpet compared to my Fabia. Also a Logan, very comfortable. Handling like a boat, but I don't care, I don't want to have a panic attack every time a see a pothole or a railway track crossing too late. It feels like I don't have wheels and the car is dropped from the sky. The people that are in and talk to me just stop talking after a pothole and their face expression reads "hey, what just happened? Are we ok? Is the car still together? Do we stop and take a taxi now and tow the car?" They just see me act like nothing happened and start talking again after a few seconds.

Edited 30 July, 20187 yr by Sfmk1

? have you checked those tyre pressures yet?  Have the tyres got XL on the sidewalls?   What are the tyres? 

The tyres ar slightly underinflated and they are normal all season Continental tyres, except some Falken that I had on the back and moved to front to test it in a pothole and yes, it does the same (no wonder, they're just normal tyres)

Like drawing blood from a stone.

 

So underinflated,

maybe best  put some air in and say what the pressures are, especially if money is a bit tight. Running underinflated is not a 'Simply Clever' idea.

So a different brand pair on the front and rear which seems OK if 'Normal 'All Season' tyres, or actually 'Summer tyres',

lost in translation with tyre manufacturers.

6 hours ago, Sfmk1 said:

Highly improbable. I've asked around and researched the net. Shocks can harden only if bent or sticking because of damage (which rarely happens and even much rarely happens evenly between all wheels). Also, the sticking ones have a different feel (a neighbour had this and confirmed mine don't feel the same).

 

Suit youself...   I can only speak from experience where I had shock absorbers go very hard and stiff with no damage and across all 4 due to age...  it gave a very harsh ride like you are describing...

double post...

Edited 30 July, 20187 yr by skomaz
double post

triple post..   damn computer...

Edited 30 July, 20187 yr by skomaz
triple post...

I have two 195mm spares. One is in the trunk, the other in storage. Didn't have a spare initially and when I bought a compatible one from a Polo owner, he made an irresistible offer for a second one, to get rid of both. I'll put them on in the evening and see what happens. They're also all season Continentals with the pressure checked by the owner. 

 

Skomaz, it would be nive to be able yo fix the problem by changing the shocks. I'm a bit skeptical because I can end up in the same situation, except poorer.

Can the shocks be changed by jacking the car, without an elevator or any rare professional tools? What would be your recommendations for some new shocks?

I have a vrs on standard 13 year old suspension, 45 profile tyres and id describe the ride as 'soft'.  definitely not harsh but then again i dont pay much attention to the ride as it just seems comfy enough. If your wanting a comfortable car then maybe a mk1 fabia which you are reluctant to spend money on is not the best bet.

I would say a new set of springs and shocks is the first worthwhile upgrade, you never know whats fitted currently or what state its in until removed.

 

Yes, but which ones? The stock really don't appeal to me, since I could end up in the same situation. And since nobody can recommend a comfort oriented suspension kit that's compatible, I don't know what to do.

 

I fitted the 195mm wheels and the ride is the same if not a bit worse.

 

I'm waiting to get my hands on another Fabia to compare the ride quality and if I see a difference, I'll replace with stock.

7 hours ago, Sfmk1 said:

Can the shocks be changed by jacking the car, without an elevator or any rare professional tools?

 

Can be done with just jacking it up and putting on axle stands. The rear dampers are very easy, don't even need spring compressors if you're replacing the rear springs either, just drop the axle on a jack and slot the new springs in.

 

Have a look at this video for a rough idea on the front ones. He has it on a lift but it shows you what's involved...

 

 

Edited 30 July, 20187 yr by TMB

I found it easier to remove the whole strut with hub still attached as the strut on the driver's side is very difficult to pull out of the hub due to the driveshaft preventing it from coming low enough. It is possible with the hub still on but it requires trying to use spring compressors with the strut still on the car which is very difficult.

 

 

Edited 30 July, 20187 yr by TMB

Thanks. Now I need to know what to buy. I'll get my hands on another Fabia to make a comparison and if it's the same, I'm lost without a softer suspension recommendation.

15 minutes ago, Sfmk1 said:

Thanks. Now I need to know what to buy. I'll get my hands on another Fabia to make a comparison and if it's the same, I'm lost without a softer suspension recommendation.

 

From your description I would say that your suspension sounds a lot harsher than mine. I'd describe mine as firm but not horribly crashy and harsh as yours sounds. As other's have said, your dampers are probably well past their best. How many miles/kms has your car done?

 

 

Edited 30 July, 20187 yr by TMB

That's because I tend o exaggerate things a lot :))

But it's definitely harsher than anything I tried (affordable German and French hatchbacks and compact sedans)

Thing is I hate to always reduce speed and avoid manhole covers, I'm not used to.

 

And if there's a poorely signalled working area with a patch missing from the road, 8-9cm level difference, with the Bora I curse and forget about it in a few minutes. With the Fabia it's violent enough to make me think about the banging the whole rest of the trip.

Edited 31 July, 20187 yr by Sfmk1

How many miles/km has it done?

 

160k km. 

I drove 250k km+ cars all without suspension issues.

Dampers will be pretty tired at that mileage.

Can you explain all the other older cars being a lot more comfortable?

On 30/07/2018 at 14:30, Sfmk1 said:

 

Skomaz, it would be nive to be able yo fix the problem by changing the shocks. I'm a bit skeptical because I can end up in the same situation, except poorer.

 

 

I just went for Monroe replacements.  They were fine and didn't seem harsh to me.

 

The trouble is you are asking our opinion on a very subjective item...   What is harsh for you could be soft for others and you will never know until you try something.

 

Older cars could ride better than yours because they haven't degraded as much or haven't been subject to the same level of mileage or quality if roads...

If all budget cars were the same there would be no reason for people to buy different ones.

If everything was really as reliable as a Volkswagen everyone would have Volkswagen, or the world might be in a terrible state.

Unless you own a car from new you have no idea what it has been doing over the 12 years.

Edited 31 July, 20187 yr by Offski

37 minutes ago, Offski said:

as reliable as a Volkswagen

or Renault, or Dacia, or Peugeot, or everything else I can't remember now. 

 

I know older cars used almost exclusively off road that don't have this problem. So, if this car didn't win Paris-Dakar, there has to be something special about it's suspension: firmer from factory, very low quality shocks (bad lot), some aftermarket suspension. Right now I tend towards the first possibility.

 

Also, it's not that subjective. If it's harsher than anything I tried, it has to be pretty harsh in an objective way. If there are some softer than stock suspension kits on the market, it can only improve the situation, the problem is nobody knows of such kits.

 

So, as long as nothing on the market can promise what I need, I have to find another Fabia to try out.

Edited 31 July, 20187 yr by Sfmk1

Your car is 12 years old, it has been out of the factory 12 years. 

 

Cars build for offroad do not have Fabia Mk1 Estate Springs and Dampers and ones not built for offroad but used there might not have suspension parts from OEM still fitted 12 years later.

You have no idea if your parts are original or even used parts fitted sometime.

 

Your car does come standard with low quality springs and shocks, but that OK, because plenty have no issue with that, they are not expensive to replace.

 

I have a 19 year old and a 16 year old Jimny, the standard suspension was rubbish for ride quality but lasts a long time, 

but people going offroad usually replace the springs and dampers for articulation offroad, not to improve the onroad ride or handling.

 

I have had Mk2 Fabia with crap ride with standard or lowering springs.

Edited 31 July, 20187 yr by Offski

6 hours ago, Sfmk1 said:

Can you explain all the other older cars being a lot more comfortable?

 

Nope.

8 hours ago, TMB said:

 

Nope.

Then can you think of another car that you've driven and found it to be firmer than the Fabia? Except sport versions or fitted with aftermarket parts.