Hi all 

 

I need to replace the gas struts on my Fabia Estate, 2003.  I've found the part number I need but am weighing up whether to buy genuine replacements or 3rd party.  The genuines will cost around £43 for the pair (including delivery), or £20 if buying used.  I can get non-genuine on Amazon for as little as £16 a pair.  The ones that struck me were these because they (seemingly) get good reviews:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tailgate-Support-6Y0827550A-Madlife-Garage/dp/B018I7AU74/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=skoda+fabia+gas+struts&qid=1569355510&quartzVehicle=106-1341&replacementKeywords=gas+struts&s=gateway&sr=8-2

 

There are also some on eBay at around £20 a pair, made by Stabilus, amongst others.  

 

So wondered what you guys think would be best and why.  The car has 120k on the clock and I guess won't be around forever, so if it is a case of them lasting 5 years vs 15 I'd probably go cheaper.  If it's worse than that maybe not.  

 

Many thanks

The suffix-A part number was superseded by suffix-C in December 2006, which  might help your searching.

I can't imagine genuine ones have any magical difference to aftermarket parts though. 

I bought a pair of cheap ebay ones and they have been absolutely fine.

After replacing them at two Skodas, a Felicia and my Fabia the only difference was the "brake". The oem had an internal construction that when expanding reaching the end of the travel, the expansion was decelerating. The aftermarket didn't had that "system". I guess there will be aftermarket with this feature but I didn't think it is a matter of excessive search. To distinguish the difference, a strut with the brake has a longitudinal groove at almost all of the length of the shell. As for the durability, the Felicia struts last from year 2004, twice the life of the oem! At Fabia, it's only 3 years I replaced them, so it's early to speak of. So, buy the "cheap" ones! 

Edited 24 September, 20196 yr by makymak

Just now, makymak said:

After replacing them at two Skodas, a Felicia and my Fabia the only difference was the "brake".

 

Ah yes, that something I noticed as well. The lid doesn't slow down before it fully opens.

Hi all

 

Thanks for the super quick and very helpful replies.  Much appreciated.  I think it's 3rd party all the way then   

 

42 minutes ago, Wino said:

The suffix-A part number was superseded by suffix-C in December 2006, which  might help your searching.

I can't imagine genuine ones have any magical difference to aftermarket parts though. 

 

So does anyone know what the difference between the suffix-A and C parts is?  Or why they changed it in 2006?  And - I guess more importantly - if it would be a problem if I got the "A's"...  I guess I could get some from eBay, but the ones on Amazon I linked to are cheaper and there's positive reviews...  

 

Cheers

2 hours ago, Hawthorn654 said:

Hi all

 

Thanks for the super quick and very helpful replies.  Much appreciated.  I think it's 3rd party all the way then   

 

 

So does anyone know what the difference between the suffix-A and C parts is?  Or why they changed it in 2006?  And - I guess more importantly - if it would be a problem if I got the "A's"...  I guess I could get some from eBay, but the ones on Amazon I linked to are cheaper and there's positive reviews...  

 

Cheers

 

In this case it probably simply denotes a change in manufacturer, these struts are technically identical and are rated by length and extension force.

 

You're overthinking this x100, just get a pair!

You can get two Stabilus gas struts for the Fabia 1 hatchback and estate for £22.95 on Ebay.

 

Stabilus are made in Germany and are an OEM supplier.

 

Here's the Stabilus website so that you can find the part number:

 

https://www.stabilus.com/products/search-for-spare-parts/passenger-cars/?popup=170

 

Or search on Ebay using the Skoda part number.

I bought cheap ones of eBay and they’ve been fine for the past five years! 

I got a cheap pair of Amazon 3 years ago and they are still going strong.......literally.

Shoots up the tailgate strongly without slowing down as others have mentioned, and shakes the whole car.

My wife isn't strong enough to close the boot so doesn't like borrowing it anymore. Reault all round.

Thanks for the replies.  I ended up going for the Stabilus struts and fitted them a week or two ago.  Very straight forward to fit and opens nice and smoothly; slowing up as it gets to fully open, rather than doing what Munfred's do...

I got mine from carparts4less a couple of years ago and they're still going strong. At  the cost difference ( somewhere like £15 vs £43 as per a previous post) they're that easy to change that it's no contest.