Skoda Fabia mkI combi harsh ride

[Sfmk1]

Hello,

I've bought a 2006 Fabia mk1 combi and the suspension feels very harsh. Compared to a Golf mk4 or a Bora, the difference is obvious. I can feel a crash on small bumps, like 2cm sudden level change in the asphalt, and the car also rocks violently from side to side on wavy roads. The car leans a lot less when changing direction on good roads compared to a stock Golf mk4, though. 

I don't know what the car is fitted with, mayne some sport shocks-coils variety, maybe some heavy-duty suspensions, or maybe this is just the way a stock Fabia mk1 rides. 

If I jack the car and take some pics, can somebody tell me what the car is fittet with? Or at least compare it visually with their own car?

I live in Romania. We have some good roads too, but some city and near-city sections are pretty pot hole ridden and I also want to go off-road (off the road, literally, not to go off-roading) when necessary without keeping it in first gear at 3kmph and bouncing like a ball dropped down the stairs. 

The car is Combi 1.4 80PS BUD version. It's fitted with sport seats and previously owned by a woman (whom I cannot contact, unfortunately), so nothing makes sense, weak engine, sports seats, female driver and possibly sport suspension. Or maybe heavy duty. Heavy duty would make more sense.

I've read om forums that Fabias are noticeably firmer compared to other similar cars, so it may well be the stock suspension. If it's the stock, what can I do about it? 

I have 165-70-14, so wheels are definitely not the problem. 

Also, O don't suspect a wearing problem either, since it doesn't bounce  excessively after pressing on bonnet.

Edited 29 July, 2018 by Sfmk1

[fabia88]

Hi there, i have noticed similar behavior from my mk2 fabia hatch 1.4 16v, after conducting some research and looking under the car i believe the rear axle bushes and front console bushes could be worn allowing the wheels to move in a horizontal direction in the wheel arch resulting in a loud thumping sound.

[corndog]

If it's original suspension you'd no doubt benefit from new shocks and springs with some other bits as well depending on wear. It can be done cheap enough if you do it yourself

[Sfmk1]

Fabia88, I've had some bushes replaced on one side already and the wheels don't have any play at all (the bushes were replaces because of a very small play, got into a huge pothole on that side). The car bounces because of the suspension, I'm sure of it, it's simply too hard, the car crashes down or bounces up violently, the suspension transmitts most of the motion to the chassis. The sideways movement I talled about ia not like from a wheel play, it's the car beimg raised or lowered violently in tune to the road surface irregularities.

 

Corndog, the problem is that I don't know how to make sure it's not the standard ride quality. I don't like the idea of buying a new identical suspension kit if it behaves the same as now, it would be a waste.

Edited 29 July, 2018 by Sfmk1

[Ootohere]

^^^?

What pressure did you set the 165/70 R 14's to when you got the car, and did you just leave them at that pressure when you feel the suspension hard?

[Sfmk1]

I didn't check the pressure, I just take a look from time to time. They're on the low pressure side from what I can see. Not dangerously deflated, but maybe just a bit under the standard. 

I've driven a few similarly aged/priced German cars with normal, low and high pressure tyres, they were always more comfortable. Even with lower profile tires. The difference is obvious and obviously not tyre-related.

I'll take some pics of the coils tomorrow. I hope someone can tell me if they look like the stock ones or compare them to their own.

Edited 29 July, 2018 by Sfmk1

[Ootohere]

Maybe an idea to check them and set them,

good plan to snap some pictures of the springs and dampers on your car, front and rear and then maybe someone will have an idea what you have fitted by seeing the pics.

 

PS

You would not be buying new identical suspension.  it would be 12 years newer and not worn out...

Edited 29 July, 2018 by Offski

[corndog]

New suspension will not be worn out like older stuff. It's always a nice thing you can do for an older car. But you should post up some photos and see if we can help

[TMB]

My Fabia is totally stock and the ride is quite choppy and firm. It has pogo-stick type bounciness too. It's had all of the springs and dampers replaced and it's still exactly the same. It also has Meyle HD console bushes.  I sometimes drive my mate's bog-standard MK2 Fabia and that is pretty choppy as well. The ride lacks composure. My previous car was a Ford Escort MK6 and it had a much, much better ride and composure. German engineered cars tend to have a firm ride from what I've read on the subject.

Edited 29 July, 2018 by TMB

[Sfmk1]

Like I said, I've driven similar or even older Golfs and never found one even close to this Fabia in terms of harshness. If wear is the problem, something unusual has happened to this car. And it's on each of the 4 wheels that I can feel the firmness. I don't completely exclude wear, even a uniform one like this, but can't act on it without being at least 70% sure. I don't have much money to waste right now. I hope I'll manage something wih the pics tomorrow. Thanks for the answers.

Edited 29 July, 2018 by Sfmk1

[TMB]

4 minutes ago, Sfmk1 said:

Like I said, I've driven similar or even older Golfs and never found one even close to this Fabia in terms of harshness.

 

More upmarket VWs will have a better ride I should imagine. Be interesting to see your pics anyway.

[skomaz]

My guess would be worn shocks...   They often go soft when worn out but can also go very hard and solid...

Edited 29 July, 2018 by skomaz

[Sfmk1]

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)

I don't exclude anything from the start, even some shock models that especially harden when worn, but I have to first go for the most probable causes. Can't act on the idea that they're worn or a firmer variety unless I'm fairly sure of it. I know a suspension kit is not that expensive, but it's still about half a month's salary for most people if you make a honest living in my country. I'm waiting for things to get dryer, since it rained last night, then I'll jack the car and take the pics. The best scenario is to know for sure they're not stock and replace them with an open heart. The worst is that the car simply is this way and there are no aftermarket alternatives (I guess everybody goes for more firmness when looking for aftermarket and there's no market for people wanting to make barges out of their cars)

 

Even on the good streets here the manholes, for some reason, are a few cm higher or lower or have raised rims and I would much prefer a leaning car on bents than a violent crash every time I get into a manhole lid. With the Golf and Bora I can sense some small crash beneath, but can't feel much. With the Fabia I feel it like I got crashed into that lid with my bare ass.

Edited 30 July, 2018 by Sfmk1

[Sfmk1]

The coils don't seem particularly beefy or over-coiled, like heavy duty, or very compressed like some sports.

The site won't let me upload the pic. I've tried resizing it but still failed.  There are 4-5 coil turns on the visible part (seemed the whole spring was visible, but cannot be sure). Fairly large space between turns and the spring thickness seems to be medium, maybe medium to a little thick.

I'll try to upload the pic and post a link to it.

Just posted the link. Front spring. The fronts seem particularly annoying, maybe cause I sit in the front and I usually reduce the speed by the time the back wheels reach the potholes.

Edited 30 July, 2018 by Sfmk1

[Ootohere]

All great research and theory.

 

But cars sit on springs and spring and dampers damp the spring and control rebound.

  So unless the springs have lost their spring or are stronger springs or shorter firmer your dampers (shock absorbers) might be too firm, old, siezed, wrong ones.

They look as though maybe gubbed.

Edited 30 July, 2018 by Offski

[Sfmk1]

I hope someone can visually compare my spring with theirs. The car sits high. The thing is that I want to find out if the springs or dampers (or both) are firm by factory or gone wrong or custom fitted by the previous owner (since I have the nonsense sport seats too). 

I would change both springs and dampers if I found some advertised as softer. Another speculation is firmer suspension for Combi, for heavy loading, but speculation is speculation, can't act on it.

 

I'd be most happy with a comparison with the springs of a short hatchback model. If I saw a less beefy coil on a hatchback, I'd change them with a spring sold for the hatchback. Well, maybe I'll go out in the evening jacking people's parked cars to inspect them. I'm sure they wouldn't mind.

Edited 30 July, 2018 by Sfmk1

[sepulchrave]

That looks like standard suspension and I can tell you the shock absorbers were not great when the car was new, they must be absolutely terrible by now, no wonder the ride is so bad.

 

I strongly suggest you replace the front struts with new gas struts, Bilstein B4 are an excellent replacement and you can keep the standard springs, you should replace the rears as well since they will be just as bad.

[TMB]

My Hatchback with Sachs struts and standard equivalent springs.

 

Edited 30 July, 2018 by TMB

[Breezy_Pete]

@Sfmk1If you clean off the surface of the spring(s) you'll find a number of coloured paint splodges on them in a row if they are genuine ones; the sequence of splodges would allow you to work out if they are the correct ones for the car.  Shocks usually have a part number sticker on, whether original or aftermarket, clean off and see what you find.

[TMB]

^ Very good point on the paint splodges - and sticker!

Edited 30 July, 2018 by TMB

[Sfmk1]

Thanks for the answers. I'll try to clean it later. 

Can you clarify me on the struts idea? I only know springs and shocks (dampers). When you say struts, do you refer to the shocks?

 

Can you tell me what the ride is like with the Sachs struts? Can you compare it to a standard Fabia suspension or a Golf? Your springs seem to resemble mine.

I won't upgrade unless I know I'll have a comfort improvement, even a small one. I also have a Bora (which an aunt drives)7 years older than the Fabia and the ride is much, much smoother and the suspension has never been changed, despite seeing very ugly roads and dirt paths.

Edited 30 July, 2018 by Sfmk1

[TMB]

Quote

Can you clarify me on the struts idea? I only know springs and shocks (dampers). When you say struts, do you refer to the shocks? 

 

 

Yes, this design of front dampers are known as MacPherson struts.

Edited 30 July, 2018 by TMB

[Ootohere]

Maybe worth not comparing a Fabia estate car on narrow/ tall tyres which you do not mention what they are with a VW Golf or a Bora.

[Sfmk1]

Well, the Bora also has tall tyres. Also, tall tyres help comfort. The narrow part...I don't know, the Fabia is also lighter. I'm 99.9% sure the tyre profile has nothing to do with it. It can't be...

[TMB]

26 minutes ago, Sfmk1 said:

Can you tell me what the ride is like with the Sachs struts? Can you compare it to a standard Fabia suspension or a Golf? Y

 

The ride with the Sachs struts is just the same as it was with standard Fabia suspension.