Hi

I am looking to purchase  Bilstein B8 front shock for my 2015 Octavia, there are 2 choices acc. to the Bilstein site

 

50mm (35-229902) or 55mm (35-229919) strut outside diameter

 

Am I able to measure this diameter from the standard shock that is already on my car?

Or how do I know which one to purchase?

 

Thanks a lot

Fergal

45 minutes ago, FergalK said:

 

Am I able to measure this diameter from the standard shock that is already on my car?

Yep, or you might be able to figure it out from the PR codes on the build sticker in the boot.

Various 3-character PR numbers starting with G correlate with different part numbers and diameters of front strut. 

 

This is a screenshot from 7zap, but there are two other pages here and here if info on your particular "G" number and part number combination isn't on this one:

 

G02, G03 and G10 seem to be the 55mm ones from quick scans of the three pages.

 

Measuring as a double check isn't a bad idea though.

 

 

 

 

That's great info @Wino - thanks a lot for that!!

This is the label from the current shock.

It was a bit awkward to measure the strut diameter but it looks a lot closer to 50mm than 55mm

 

That's not the right part number , I'm pretty sure. There's often more than one label on there.

Edited 14 June, 20214 yr by Wino

This shot from an ebay ad tantalisingly doesn't quite catch the suffix on the end of the true number, arrowed:

 

You were right @Wino there was another label below that which was not visible due to dirt covering the label

Just climb under the car with a caliper and measure it.

 

There is a rule of thumb that bigger engined cars get the 55mm but I had 50mm on my 2.0tdi so not always true.

Edited 18 June, 20214 yr by MarkyG82

I always thought the estates had the 55 and the hatch had the 50.

22 hours ago, FergalK said:

You were right @Wino there was another label below that which was not visible due to dirt covering the label

Was it readable once cleaned off?

30 minutes ago, Ecomatt said:

I always thought the estates had the 55 and the hatch had the 50.

 

Mine was the estate with 50mm so go figure.

43 minutes ago, MarkyG82 said:

 

Mine was the estate with 50mm so go figure.

Perhaps it was whatever was to hand was fitted 🤔

On 18/06/2021 at 19:48, MarkyG82 said:

Mine was the estate with 50mm so go figure.

 

On 18/06/2021 at 20:32, Ecomatt said:

Perhaps it was whatever was to hand was fitted

 

I thought they used the 150bhp cut-off that they used with other things. Anything over 150 bhp got the better stuff

@flybynite yeah that sounds more like it.

On 18/06/2021 at 19:32, Wino said:

Was it readable once cleaned off?

afraid not @Wino, regardless they fit just fine.

Fitted the B8 Bilsteins back and front with Eibach lowering springs and the car handles a lot bette rnow

So can you upgrade from 50mm diameter to 55mm diameter  shock absorbers ?

 

The steering knuckles will need to be changed.

Okay thank you. I have seen online both sizes as being listed fitting my Superb MK2 4x4 so wondered. Guess I'll have to measure my damper diameter.

6 hours ago, Derbyshirebod said:

Okay thank you. I have seen online both sizes as being listed fitting my Superb MK2 4x4 so wondered. Guess I'll have to measure my damper diameter.

 

The Superb MK2 only uses 55mm front shock absorbers.

 

Edited 13 December, 20214 yr by Carlston

On 13/12/2021 at 16:25, Carlston said:

 

The Superb MK2 only uses 55mm front shock absorbers.

Yes you are right, I measured one of my front shock absorbers  and they are 55mm

On 13/12/2021 at 16:25, Carlston said: