Has anyone found an inexpensive way to improve ride quality  - our 2012 Citigo Greentec has always felt like riding a pogo stick unless we are fully loaded?

Experiment and adjust tyre pressures according to the load.

 

Fully load the car using sandbags if you have no passengers to carry. 

2 hours ago, superblack said:

Has anyone found an inexpensive way to improve ride quality  - our 2012 Citigo Greentec has always felt like riding a pogo stick unless we are fully loaded?

 

What tyre sizes are fitted? If you have bigger than 14" tyres, then change down to 14" tyres.

 

175/65R14 on 5Jx14 ET35 4/100 57.1 steel rims should improve the ride quite a bit. 175/65R14 are one of the cheapest tyre sizes.

 

The cheapest way to begin with is to not overinflate your tyres. What's the recommended front and rear tyre pressures for your car and what tyre pressures are you using?

 

As it's a Greentec model, they may be using higher tyre pressures than the standard car. The Greentec may also have a lower ride height with harder springs than the standard car. However, if you make sure you have 14" wheels then you should still be able to get reasonable ride comfort.

 

Alcar 6795 steel rims 5Jx14 ET35

 

https://www.oponeo.co.uk/steel-wheel/alcar-kfz-6795#21067438

 

mytyres.co.uk are usually much cheaper for steel rims than oponeo.

Edited 17 January, 20206 yr by Carlston

The Skoda Citigo has slightly softer springs if the car was factory ordered with 14" wheels and slightly harder springs if the car was factory ordered with 15" wheels. The difference is only 0.25mm in spring coil thickness. There was also an option for sports springs which lower the ride height by about 15mm.

 

Here are the Skoda part numbers:

 

Front springs (14" wheel model) 1S0 411 105 A

 

Rear springs (14" wheel model) 6R0 411 105 T

 

Front springs (15" wheel model) 1S0 511 115 AJ

 

Rear springs (15" wheel model) 1S0 511 115 AK

 

Sports front springs (about 15mm lower) 1S0 411 105 F

 

Sports rear springs (about 15mm lower) 1S0 511 115 AN

 

The CNG model has front springs from the 15" wheel model but much harder rear springs with Skoda part number 1S0 511 115 AF

 

Sources of information:

 

gknautomotive.com

optimal-germany.com

autodoc.co.uk

Edited 17 January, 20206 yr by Carlston

4 hours ago, Carlston said:

The Skoda Citigo has slightly softer springs if the car was factory ordered with 14" wheels and slightly harder springs if the car was factory ordered with 15" wheels. The difference is only 0.25mm in spring coil thickness. There was also an option for sports springs which lower the ride height by about 15mm.

 

Here are the Skoda part numbers:

 

Front springs (14" wheel model) 1S0 411 105 A

 

Rear springs (14" wheel model) 1S0 511 115 AJ

 

Front springs (15" wheel model) 6R0 411 105 T

 

Rear springs (15" wheel model) 1S0 511 115 AK

 

Sports front springs (about 15mm lower) 1S0 411 105 F

 

Sports rear springs (about 15mm lower) 1S0 511 115 AN

 

The CNG model has front springs from the 15" wheel model but much harder rear springs with Skoda part number 1S0 511 115 AF

Sources of information:

 

gknautomotive.com

optimal-germany.com

autodoc.co.uk

 

Correction

Edited 18 January, 20206 yr by Carlston

Pogo? I have a 2019 SEL that happened to come with 16" wheels, and the ride is firm (which is fine for me, being used to GTi-type cars, BMWs etc), but it's compliant while well damped, and has accurate handling. Surprisingly good in fact, for a cheap city car, compared with several other small cars I've tried.....

 

Is it possible your car is bouncy because the dampers are worn out?

 

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

It runs on 14" alloys fitted with Mitchelin Crossclimates at recommended pressures for light loads which I frequently check using 2 gauges! It has always "pogoed" but I am driving it more regularly now and notice it more, shocks are not leaking. I need to check whether the alloys were a factory fit or aftermarket - how can I tell? Maybe the Greentec pressure rating is higher than necessary, on my other Skoda there is an eco pressure which is 0.3 bar greater than light load setting.

@superblack

So it take it you have not had the car from new to know how the ride was 7 or 8 years ago.

?

What pressure are the tyres set at?

?

How long have you had the car and is it as it was from day one, and how many miles has it done.

?

Do you even know if it is on the factory springs?

 

Dampers don't need to be leaking to be gubbed.

 

2 hours ago, superblack said:

Thanks for all the suggestions.

It runs on 14" alloys fitted with Mitchelin Crossclimates at recommended pressures for light loads which I frequently check using 2 gauges! It has always "pogoed" but I am driving it more regularly now and notice it more, shocks are not leaking. I need to check whether the alloys were a factory fit or aftermarket - how can I tell? Maybe the Greentec pressure rating is higher than necessary, on my other Skoda there is an eco pressure which is 0.3 bar greater than light load setting.

 

According to this website...

 

https://www.puretyre.co.uk/search-results-for-skoda-Citigo-12-20-175/65R14

 

...the tyre pressures for the Skoda Citigo on 175/65R14 tyres should be 33psi (2.3 Bar) front and 30psi (2.1 Bar) rear. What tyre pressures are you using? 

 

To find what springs your car came out of the factory with, ask a Skoda parts department for a quote on replacement front and rear springs and note the part numbers.

 

If you haven't owned the car from new (or even if you have and haven't done all the suspension work yourself) then you won't know if the springs and shock absorbers are standard. Some people fit hard lowered springs (which makes the ride harder and more uncomfortable). Even if springs and shock absorbers have been changed at some point, they will often be changed for aftermarket parts which may give a harder ride than standard if they haven't been carefully selected.

 

It's always best to purchase your own springs and shock absorbers if getting any work done. If you leave it to a garage, they will often simply buy the cheapest available which may make your ride harder. Also, a garage won't always have the time to research the exact part numbers that your car needs and get identical replacement parts to what the car left the factory with. It's time consuming to search for the correct aftermarket springs and shock absorbers. Just because a car mechanic can bolt them on, doesn't mean that they are the same as what your car left the factory with.

 

Have you checked to make sure you don't have any broken springs? You can usually spot a broken spring, because the distance between the top of the tyre and the top of the wheel arch will have reduced. Probably by at least 10mm if a spring has broken. So you should be able to spot a broken spring without even getting the tape measure out. Just compare visually front left to front right, and rear left to rear right.

Edited 18 January, 20206 yr by Carlston

VAG springs are colour coded. My Citigo is a 2014 Greentech with yellow/orange/orange/blue/blue/blue dots on the bottom coil and yellow on the next up on the rear springs. As far as I am aware these are as fitted at the factory. I have seen charts with the colour coding for springs but where I cannot remember.

Found it : https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/citigo/cit/2014-727/5/

Looking at this, my rear springs are factory fit and were also fitted to the 2012.

Edited 18 January, 20206 yr by peter3197
Found the link

1 hour ago, peter3197 said:

VAG springs are colour coded. My Citigo is a 2014 Greentech with yellow/orange/orange/blue/blue/blue dots on the bottom coil and yellow on the next up on the rear springs. As far as I am aware these are as fitted at the factory. I have seen charts with the colour coding for springs but where I cannot remember.

Found it : 1S0 511 115 AP://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/citigo/cit/2014-727/5/

Looking at this, my rear springs are factory fit and were also fitted to the 2012.

 

You've got sports suspension. I imagine all Greentech Citigo cars have. No wonder the OP was complaining about a hard ride.

 

1 yellow dot/2 orange dots/3 blue dots corresponds to VW part number 1S0 511 115 AP.

 

1S0 511 115 AN

1S0 511 115 AP

1S0 511 115 AQ

 

All of these three springs appear to be very similar as Spidan/Suplex only have one aftermarket spring to replace all of these VW/Skoda part numbers.

 

You can see ten rear springs with the corresponding coloured dots for the Citigo here.

 

http://www.oemepc.com/skoda/part_single/catalog/sk/markt/CZ/modell/CIT/year/2012/drive_standart/727/hg_ug/511/subcategory/511000/part_id/2561497/lang/e

Edited 18 January, 20206 yr by Carlston

Something getting lost in translation here i think.

I read the OP as the ride feeling like riding a pogo stick unless fully loaded. 

 I thought that meant it bounced and never though of it as hard.    I thought weight was taking the bounce out of it.

 

 

 

I use my boot to carry luggage,and not sandbags.My Citigo 2019 bought new,has a label for tyre pressures  on the B pillar,visible when osf door is open.

Light laden ,for 175/65R14 's  is 29lbs sq inch front,26 lbs sq inch rear.If a car has recent mot,then shocks should be good enough......

I was not impressed with the ride quality not long after buying the car,not noticed on 3/4hr demo test drive,as too much info to take in.Compared to previous car - Corsa ,ride quality was too harsh. Lowering the pressures as indicated on the label has helped,and I've got what I've got.Only covered a few thousand miles,so changing springs etc is out the question......

A MOT examiner is not concerned about how a car rides as long as there is no obvious / visible issue with springs and dampers.

 

It would be good if the OP said how long they had the car and how it was pre CrossClimates or was it just the same.

22 minutes ago, Blackcountryman said:

I use my boot to carry luggage,and not sandbags.My Citigo 2019 bought new,has a label for tyre pressures  on the B pillar,visible when osf door is open.

Light laden ,for 175/65R14 's  is 29lbs sq inch front,26 lbs sq inch rear.If a car has recent mot,then shocks should be good enough......

I was not impressed with the ride quality not long after buying the car,not noticed on 3/4hr demo test drive,as too much info to take in.Compared to previous car - Corsa ,ride quality was too harsh. Lowering the pressures as indicated on the label has helped,and I've got what I've got.Only covered a few thousand miles,so changing springs etc is out the question......

 

So the OP needs to lower tyre pressure to 29psi (2.0 Bar) front and 26psi (1.8 Bar) rear, assuming there are no rear passengers or heavy luggage being carried. This would apply with either 165/70R14 or 175/65R14 tyres.

 

Other than that, replace the sports springs with standard springs from the 14" wheel model. Cost about £25 each spring or £100 for all four springs for good aftermarket springs. Also look at shock absorbers if bad ones have been fitted. Bilstein B4 shock absorbers are good for the price point.

Edited 18 January, 20206 yr by Carlston

That's the idea.

It costs nothing to try if you can inflate your own tyres. and 20 or 50 pence if you pay at a filling station.

With your own accurate gauge you an even put the pressure higher, then trial and error drop the pressures.

4 minutes ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

That's the idea.

It costs nothing to try if you can inflate your own tyres. and 20 or 50 pence if you pay at a filling station.

With your own accurate gauge you an even put the pressure higher, then trial and error drop the pressures.

 

It's easy to adjust car tyre pressures using a bicycle track pump or foot pump. No need to visit the garage. Just make sure you have an accurate tyre pressure gauge. Possibly two so you can make sure they are reading equally...they can't both be wrong by the same amount...well not likely.

Suspension on all cars is a compromise between comfort and handling. The Citigo is, even it's basic S form, set up for the handling side. They corner like they are on rails and do bounce about a bit on our, not very good, roads. If I want a more comfortable ride I drive my Fabia. Remember the BMC Mini, comfort didn't come into it, but they didn't half handle.

I suspect that there is nothing wrong with the OP's car, it's just how they are.

@Carlston

No sh!t, who would have thought of such an idea.  It needs a genius.