I have been interested in solutions to sort the rear ride height when using a bike rack and camping kit etc.

The best solution would be to fit springs of the correct weight range, looking at ETKA, my car is already near the top at weight range 10, I see they do a 14 but I don’t have time to faff about prior to going to see how much different it would be.

So.... I went for a MAD kit which utilises an additional internal spring which raises the ride height very slightly ( which I don’t mind as I retrofitted a removable tow bar and an AGM battery set up from the 3.6 Superb in the boot.

I will take some readings of the wheel centre to wheel arch prior and post fitting which may be of interest to caravan owners etc.

The reason for not going the airbag route was due to a conversation with the importers suggesting they are high maintenance and if you let them go down, they tear which would be a waste of money.

I have also ordered the Bilstein B6 rear shocks as being a 12 plate, my shocks will be tired by now anyway.

Still waiting for those to arrive so don’t have any pics yet.

TPS supplied the new nuts and bolts required for the swap out, watch this space.

Check this video, look at the two end clips, fist is without the assistance, second is with, much less bouncing around.

 

Is that kit adjustable?

I fitted a similar kit to the rear of my 406 estate when towing my boat 

when extra was needed just got underneath with a 19mm socket and ratchet and wound them up to get the inside spring to come in to play 😊

@DEL80Y No it is just a fit and forget.  The guy (importer) says it lifts the back up unladen which I'm not bothered about as mine has more weight than standard due to the mods I've already done so it sits lower anyway.

I  will post ride height info here when I've fitted the kit as still waiting for the shocks to arrive.

With the battery mod and removable tow bar it measured quite low at 365mm unladen.

Looking at dimension (a) from the manual states the reading should be between 384 and 404mm.

 

Edited 16 August, 20196 yr by 3T51704x4

Wow, hadn't realised how crap the rear shocks were until taking it for a spin with the new ones. Car has done around 44000 miles, tried the shocks first prior to fitting the spring assistors. Will drive it for a few days to settle the suspension then will measure the new ride height.

When setting the torque of the new bolts, you need to compress the suspension(just used a second jack)  to the measured dimension (a) to set the position of the hub so as not to twist the rubber bushes. I left the springs out while setting (a)  to make it easier to torque the shock bolt as with the assister springs and the normal springs, it was starting to lift the car off the jack. The manual says to strap the lift to the car body to prevent this happening. 

Edited 16 August, 20196 yr by 3T51704x4

Much happier with it now.

Had to order a new ride height sensor, the ball link was seized solid and broke the plastic  end which was hanging on giving the suspension movement, glad I spotted it prior to the off, would have been a mare to sort in France.

Just need to do basic settings and borrow a beam setter at local MOT station.

Edited 16 August, 20196 yr by 3T51704x4

Happy with the ride height too 394 mm ish

 

 

The ball is seized solid, filled the new link joints with plastic friendly grease and replaced all five corroded mounting screws.

You might find that you don't need the helper springs anymore as b6 shocks are pretty heavy duty as they are designed towing and heavy loads.

5 hours ago, wiilydog said:

You might find that you don't need the helper springs anymore as b6 shocks are pretty heavy duty as they are designed towing and heavy loads.

Hmmmmm, I don’t think they would cope with this on their own.

where did you get the rear shocks from and at what cost?

@rover220

From these guys:

Go to the store and put the info in for your car as may be slightly different part number (prob not though).

Mine is a 125kW diesel estate with 4wd.

The shocks do not come with a dust cover/bump stop, if yours are split or broken, they do a kit, or you can buy genuine from TPS/ or Skoda (if not in trade).

The price is each so DONT forget to order two in the drop down menu.

It comes with it’s own top nut which is a different thread to the Sachs which was fitted to mine so don’t waste money buying genuine top nuts.

It is much easier to undo the bolt under the shock for the suspension arm, drop the spring out (use a second jack under the spring to lower it gently) to get on the lower shock bolt. 

Be aware the shock has a large serrated washer which goes between the shock and the wheel bearing hub, it will drop down into the suspension arm and you could miss it when pulling the bolt out.

 

https://www.bilsteinsuspensionstore.co.uk/bilstein-b6--sport-damper-24172936_p31027007.htm

Edited 17 August, 20196 yr by 3T51704x4
typo

Thanks, mine is the same setup. 

Well impressed with this setup. Very smooth drive, just stopped for first refuel North of Troyes on the A26. No bouncing around like before when loaded. No bump thump you sometimes get with sports suspension (which this is not, go for the B8 type if you want that).

 

 

next mod for mine i think