Hi Everybody,

 

I've got to have new shocks and springs to pass my MOT and the mechanic wants KYB to be fitted and I wanted Sachs because they're OEM. Is there really much difference between them?

 

Thanks In Advance,

Tom

Got Sachs front struts on mine and they've been fine.

 

32 minutes ago, Tomjones1995 said:

Hi Everybody,

 

I've got to have new shocks and springs to pass my MOT and the mechanic wants KYB to be fitted and I wanted Sachs because they're OEM. Is there really much difference between them?

 

Thanks In Advance,

Tom

 

No.

 

It doesn't matter, KYB used to be Kayaba,  a Japanese OEM rather than a German OEM.

5 hours ago, TMB said:

Got Sachs front struts on mine and they've been fine.

 

 

Looks lovely and clean Lee, not driving much these days?  You should see the state of mine haha

 

 

5 hours ago, sepulchrave said:

 

No.

 

It doesn't matter, KYB used to be Kayaba,  a Japanese OEM rather than a German OEM.

 

Thanks goodness for that, I thought their might of been a difference in stiffness maybe between them

2 hours ago, Tomjones1995 said:

Looks lovely and clean Lee, not driving much these days?  You should see the state of mine haha

 

Oh it's a photo from only about a year after I first fitted the struts. I had to take them back off again because the N/S spring snapped, so I had just fitted new springs in the photo. They don't look quite so clean now! Haha

Edited 15 May, 20215 yr by TMB

Also, does anybody know the correct springs that I'm supposed to have. I've had a look on ECP and theres only one type listed for both standard and sport suspension?

 

 

I'm also thinking along the Sachs springs and shocks route with meyle top strut mounts. Does that sound a decent stock setup for British roads?

 

And to finish with a stupid question, is a bump stop aka dust cover because I can't find the correct bump stops either?

 

Thanks,

Tom

49 minutes ago, Tomjones1995 said:

is a bump stop aka dust cover

I wouldn't have thought so; big clues as to the purpose of both in the names.

3 hours ago, KenONeill said:

I wouldn't have thought so; big clues as to the purpose of both in the names.

Yeah but I think the dust cover might come with the bump stop that's the thing. I can't find 'bump stops' anywhere

1 hour ago, Tomjones1995 said:

Yeah but I think the dust cover might come with the bump stop that's the thing. I can't find 'bump stops' anywhere

 

Bump stops are usually built into the shock absorber on front struts, they're separate on the back, the dust covers were torn to pieces on my original struts, no bump stops underneath them, I bought new dust covers for my Bilsteins when I built them up prior to fitting but didn't need separate bump stops.

The bump stops are separate and just slide onto the damper rod.

What year is your Polo again Tom?

It's OK, I found your car year (2005) from one of your older posts. Seems to be a choice of three bump stops depending on production code. Have a look on your car build sticker in the front of your service book or on the sticker under the boot carpet. If you're not sure just post a photo of the sticker here.

 

Item 3 here.....

 

https://volkswagen.7zap.com/en/rdw/polo+derby+vento-ind/po/2005-253/4/411-411010/

 

 

Edited 15 May, 20215 yr by TMB

2 hours ago, TMB said:

It's OK, I found your car year (2005) from one of your older posts. Seems to be a choice of three bump stops depending on production code. Have a look on your car build sticker in the front of your service book or on the sticker under the boot carpet. If you're not sure just post a photo of the sticker here.

 

Item 3 here.....

 

https://volkswagen.7zap.com/en/rdw/polo+derby+vento-ind/po/2005-253/4/411-411010/

 

 

Cheers Lee, I've had a look at the link you posted and I think it's the third one for sports suspension. It'd be the same as the Fabia Vrs which I'd of thought would be the same part no

13 hours ago, Tomjones1995 said:

I'm also thinking along the Sachs springs and shocks route with meyle top strut mounts. Does that sound a decent stock setup for British roads?

 

Sounds fine. I have Meyle top mounts on mine too. There are two parts to the top mounts - the bearing and the rubber mount. Item 2 and item 4 in the diagram.

Edited 15 May, 20215 yr by TMB

Just a quick update.

 

I was going to order the Sachs that you guys helped me find but the tech preferred KYB or Monroe and eventually opted for Monroe. He put 2 new shocks on the rear with the old springs still in place, new offside front spring with the original shock still in place and nothing at all to the nearside front changed.

 

I can tell you the front end ride has never been so bouncy, terrible to drive now.

 

 

Thanks to all for your help and apologize for the wasted time

 

Tom

So you asked him to fit four new springs, new rear dampers and front struts and he just did that mess?  You must be livid!

1 hour ago, TMB said:

So you asked him to fit four new springs, new rear dampers and front struts and he just did that mess?  You must be livid!

 

Yeah pretty much Lee, I was livid beyond what words can describe. Their was also air in the brake lines which I needed them to bleed the day after I had the car back. As you know, I've been trying to get this Polo to A1 standard for a few years now but I just am not having the luck with garages honestly. 

 

I don't know if they're just trying to save me money or what but it's doing my head in.

 

I really just don't understand why I'm having soo many problems with garages and other people local to me seem to have no issues with their vehicles.

9 hours ago, Tomjones1995 said:

I really just don't understand why I'm having soo many problems with garages and other people local to me seem to have no issues with their vehicles.

Might just be that other people are ok with their car just getting through MOT, not neccesarily if the car is in good shape or not. Did he get the parts or did you bring them yourself? Unless he somehow couldnt get the parts for the other side and needed it off the lift I cant see why he wouldnt do both sides.

On an unrelated note the rear springs are silly easy to do with a jack I learned. No spring compressors needed.

2 hours ago, DieselMonte said:

Might just be that other people are ok with their car just getting through MOT, not neccesarily if the car is in good shape or not. Did he get the parts or did you bring them yourself? Unless he somehow couldnt get the parts for the other side and needed it off the lift I cant see why he wouldnt do both sides.

On an unrelated note the rear springs are silly easy to do with a jack I learned. No spring compressors needed.

 

I was hoping to source Sachs parts myself but they wouldn't of arrived in time for my MOT.

 

They said that Sachs weren't as good as Monroe and KYB and they were OEM spec or better.

 

So you can imagine my dismay when I returned to the collect the car expecting new suspension all round to only have bits and pieces done with a brand a don't like/trust and is now giving me more problems.

 

I also believe you have a good point about most people just being happy with an MOT passer every 12 months apposed to a car which is smack on

 

 

Even our NCT, which is government run is the same story. Very low bar to pass, granted mine failed on my headlights being too high (I didnt realise, bought the car like that). I passed on the retest, no advisories though and I've needed/wanted to replace a lot of the bushes and balljoints on the car.

I remember my mothers old avensis failed NCT for condensation in the rear lamp, and not a word said about the worn suspension bushings and poorly wearing rears as a result.

Monroe and KYB are meant to both be very good brands, as is Sachs. I wonder whats making him not like using Sachs?

48 minutes ago, DieselMonte said:

Even our NCT, which is government run is the same story. Very low bar to pass, granted mine failed on my headlights being too high (I didnt realise, bought the car like that). I passed on the retest, no advisories though and I've needed/wanted to replace a lot of the bushes and balljoints on the car.

I remember my mothers old avensis failed NCT for condensation in the rear lamp, and not a word said about the worn suspension bushings and poorly wearing rears as a result.

Monroe and KYB are meant to both be very good brands, as is Sachs. I wonder whats making him not like using Sachs?

 

There a surprising amount of people out there that think an Annual Service and MOT on a car by a garage means that their car is in A1 condition and perhaps that's the difference between myself and most people around here.

 

Perhaps there's not many people with a car that is as old as mine that would want it in A1 condition and only want a run around, but it's meant a great deal to me since I purchased the car 6 years ago to keep it in A1 condition because that's how I bought it.

 

It was my pride and joy and piece by piece, many different garages have let me down.

Could you do the rear springs yourself Tom? It's a very easy job, just disconnect the damper and pull the axle down enough to get the spring out. Was really easy when I did mine. Since they've already had the bolts out it will be even easier.

Edited 25 May, 20215 yr by TMB

2 minutes ago, TMB said:

Could you do the rear springs yourself Tom? It's a very easy job, just disconnect the damper and pull the axle down enough to get the spring out. Was really easy when I did mine.

 

No I don't think I could to be honest. I lack the experience of such jobs.

 

Plus I think it's the new front spring that's been fitted that's causing all the bouncing.

 

I'm not sure if it's the fact the front springs haven't been changed as a pair or whether it's the wrong type of spring that's been fitted, I've been reasured it was a sport spring but I've no evidence of that.

 

The only way I can describe it is if you've ever driven over a humpback bridge quickly and felt your belly jump, it's like that only driving over mini humpback bridges almost continuously.

 

It's rather nauseating, I have mentioned it to the mechanic that fitted it and he said that he felt it on a test drive and to give it time to see if it sags to the height of the 16yr old nearside spring because the new offside one is slightly taller due to being fresher and has suggested that COULD be the issue.

 

I tell you if I had £1 for every time a tech said 'That could be the issue' or 'I can't find the fault that your talking about' I'd be a very wealthy man indeed.

 

11 minutes ago, Tomjones1995 said:

The only way I can describe it is if you've ever driven over a humpback bridge quickly and felt your belly jump, it's like that only driving over mini humpback bridges almost continuously.

 

 

Yeah I know what you mean.

 

I've always thought it was bad practice to only do a spring on one side. Always do mine in pairs.

It would take a long time for a brand new spring to sag like a 16 year spring. Whos to say that the old spring wont keep sagging as much as the new one does? 

I've always been told to do them in pairs, no reason not to.

And +1 on doing the rear springs yourself, as I said earlier they are a very easy diy if you have a jack and jackstands.

That video shows what to do, you dont need a lift or a transmission jack, you need stands to keep the chassis supported in the air and some form of jack, I didnt even bother taking off the wheels.

-Lift up the back of the car and support it

-Slide under and remove the lower shock bolts (17mm iirc), have the jack lightly supporting one of the perches for the spring when you completely remove the bolts.

-Lower the rear beam slowly until its as far as it wants to go

-At this point you should just be able to remove the rear springs by hand, no spring compressor needed

Then its just the reverse for installing. Only thing to be wary of is to make sure the rear is jacked up plenty high to allow the rear beam to droop. I think it took me sub 30 minutes beginning to end including getting tools and jacking the car up.