Does anyone know if the factory fitted or 'Skoda' supplied replacement dampers aren't that good and best replaced with non-original equipment dampers or other makes of dampers, not looking for upgrades just good quality.

 

Are the Dealership 'Skoda' replacement dampers best avoided because there are better alternatives the Dealership can offer?

 

Almost a certainty that there are better options available than original. I'd be very tempted to change to Koni or similar when the time comes for mine.

Edited 13 September, 20223 yr by Warrior193
added note.

Thanks, unfortunately it has to be a Skoda Dealership part that they usually hold or offer as an alternative for the warranty, unless that includes Koni.

 

Edited 13 September, 20223 yr by nta16

I'm now on my third mk3 Fabia TSI and I am starting to get a feeling the OEM front dampers aren't of great quality. My first one (bought at 18 months old with 9k miles) I think I had to swap front dampers 3 times, and now the one I just got which has 35k miles I was checking the other day and noticed it has leaks on the front dampers too so they'll need replacing fairly soon.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

Thanks, er well, I think thanks as it's not great news!  🙃

 

I'm thinking if the dampers have been leaking a while and the previous set had been leaking a while too then perhaps the lack dampening might hasten a spring or two breaking, Sod's Law be typical to have to replace a spring not long after having the replacement (to the replacement) dampers, er, replaced.

 

Edited 17 September, 20223 yr by nta16
spelling

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

@Fab1493  FYI - the front dampers were replaced last year on my wife's car as a "distress purchase" as the original set failed the MoT, I never said them so had to take their word for it and my wife needs the car so another £415 against VW quality.  This year she had an independent garage do the service and pre-MoT check and they said the front dampers were leaking and would fail the MoT.  So as the dampers have a 2-year warranty I contacted the Dealership to have them replaced under warranty and free MoT.

 

Come the Mot at the Dealership and apparently the dampers aren't leaking but misting which is acceptable and funnily enough it wasn't even noted as an advisory as I discovered it can be elsewhere.

 

I expect the situation would remain the same next year at the Dealership for MoT as the dampers would still be under warranty.

 

3 hours ago, nta16 said:

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

@Fab1493  FYI - the front dampers were replaced last year on my wife's car as a "distress purchase" as the original set failed the MoT, I never said them so had to take their word for it and my wife needs the car so another £415 against VW quality.  This year she had an independent garage do the service and pre-MoT check and they said the front dampers were leaking and would fail the MoT.  So as the dampers have a 2-year warranty I contacted the Dealership to have them replaced under warranty and free MoT.

 

Come the Mot at the Dealership and apparently the dampers aren't leaking but misting which is acceptable and funnily enough it wasn't even noted as an advisory as I discovered it can be elsewhere.

 

I expect the situation would remain the same next year at the Dealership for MoT as the dampers would still be under warranty.

 

That is very interesting indeed - I wonder at what point garages decide its leaking vs misting.

At the point where it is going to cost them money instead of making them money.

1 hour ago, Fab1493 said:

That is very interesting indeed - I wonder at what point garages decide its leaking vs misting.

And what point is it a MoT advisory or not.  There use to be an open link to the testers' book but I lost it or it no longer is open, just the one on gov.uk but that's more yay or nay to fail.  IIRC it used to be a severe leak for a fail,  Somewhere on this site I saw where misting was a quoted advisory with the relevant number but of course I can't find it now.