Hi all, 

 

I know this subject has been discussed a fair bit but I wanted to get a fresh opinion. My car is currently on £75 springs (previous owner) and dead shocks so the ride is super harsh. I want to have as comfortable a ride as I can get. 

 

I looked at other posts and couldn't find a solution. 

 

I have the option to buy a used b12 Pro-kit from a guy on Facebook for £250 OR on auto doc there's lesjofors springs, and sachs shocks for £280.

 

Is there any other options for pure comfort or is the auto doc setup my best option? 

 

Thanks in advance

The B12 kit will not be super comfortable, you need to go back to standard with the Autodoc springs and B4 dampers to get the ride right, don't forget wheels and tyres either, you need 14" wheels for the best comfort with 185/60 tyres.

1 hour ago, sepulchrave said:

...don't forget wheels and tyres either, you need 14" wheels for the best comfort with 185/60 tyres.

 

The Fabia MK1 VRS has 288mm front brake discs, so 15" rims are needed to clear the front brake calipers, ie. 14" rims won't fit.

 

The comfort provided by 185/55R15 fitted to 5.5Jx15 ET40 rims (from the Fabia MK4) wouldn't be far off the comfort of 185/60R14 fitted to 6Jx14 rims.

 

Edited 20 March, 20233 yr by Carlston

2 hours ago, Infectiousvrs said:

Hi all, 

 

I know this subject has been discussed a fair bit but I wanted to get a fresh opinion. My car is currently on £75 springs (previous owner) and dead shocks so the ride is super harsh. I want to have as comfortable a ride as I can get. 

 

I looked at other posts and couldn't find a solution. 

 

I have the option to buy a used b12 Pro-kit from a guy on Facebook for £250 OR on auto doc there's lesjofors springs, and sachs shocks for £280.

 

Is there any other options for pure comfort or is the auto doc setup my best option? 

 

Thanks in advance

 

The Fabia MK1 1.9TDI 130HP VRS uses 6Q0411105BF sports/lowered ride height front springs which are stiffer than standard ride height springs.

 

The Fabia MK1 1.9TDI 130HP VRS uses 6Q0511115AA sports/lowered ride height rear springs which are stiffer than standard ride height springs.

 

Edited 21 March, 20233 yr by Carlston

The Fabia MK1 1.9TDI 130HP VRS uses 6Q0413031BL sports/lowered ride height front shock absorbers.

 

Bilstein B4 22-196309 front shock absorbers are listed against 6Q0413031BL.

 

The Fabia MK1 1.9TDI 130HP VRS uses 6Q0513025AD sports/lowered ride height rear shock absorbers.

 

Bilstein B4 19-196312 rear shock absorbers are listed against 6Q0513025AD.

 

Some of the Sachs shock absorbers on autodoc are incorrectly shown as compatible with the Fabia MK1 1.9TDI 130HP VRS because they don't have either of the above two OEM part numbers listed against them. Sachs 300032 isn't compatible because 6Q0413031BL isn't listed against it. Sachs 290887 isn't compatible because  6Q0513025AD isn't listed against it.

 

Sports/lowered ride height springs are stiffer and therefore more uncomfortable than standard ride height springs.

 

Edited 21 March, 20233 yr by Carlston

9 hours ago, Carlston said:

 

The Fabia MK1 VRS has 288mm front brake discs, so 15" rims are needed to clear the front brake calipers, ie. 14" rims won't fit.

 

The comfort provided by 185/55R15 fitted to 5.5Jx15 ET40 rims (from the Fabia MK4) wouldn't be far off the comfort of 185/60R14 fitted to 6Jx14 rims.

 

 

OP didn't say it was a VRS so I assumed it wasn't since non-VRS are statistically far more numerous, I suppose it could have been a tool eater like mine which also has 288's but they're even rarer.

1 minute ago, sepulchrave said:

 

OP didn't say it was a VRS so I assumed it wasn't since non-VRS are statistically far more numerous, I suppose it could have been a tool eater like mine which also has 288's but they're even rarer.

That's my bad, it's a vrs

Even in standard form I find the ride to be pretty poor (firm). Seems to be the way with most cars these days, especially ones of German origin.

20 minutes ago, TMB said:

Even in standard form I find the ride to be pretty poor (firm). Seems to be the way with most cars these days, especially ones of German origin.

 

I went from 14s to 15s and my back isn't pleased. There's a noticeable difference, IMO, but still better than 18s on some more modern car with the tyres being black bits painted on.

31 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

 

I went from 14s to 15s and my back isn't pleased. There's a noticeable difference, IMO, but still better than 18s on some more modern car with the tyres being black bits painted on.

 

My eldest daughter has 18's on her Focus Titanium and boy does she wreck tyres on the potholes everywhere!

My 15's are standing up ok so far, hit one the other day so big I felt sure I'd damaged the tyre but it was ok when I pulled over to inspect it. The backroads are getting very bad though, no wonder everyone wants to drive offroaders.

Just now, sepulchrave said:

My eldest daughter has 18's on her Focus Titanium and boy does she wreck tyres on the potholes everywhere!

 

Used to drive stuff like this at my old job, was hellish even over slight bumps... the Princess and the Pea springs to mind!

 

1 minute ago, sepulchrave said:

My 15's are standing up ok so far, hit one the other day so big I felt sure I'd damaged the tyre but it was ok when I pulled over to inspect it. The backroads are getting very bad though, no wonder everyone wants to drive offroaders.

 

Mine are struggling a bit, it's suspension wear that's not helping either. Last few bills have been suspension related. Meanwhile, the Duster my Mum's got is on 215/65/16 tyres, it's rather comfortable, but doesn't beat a Citroen XM until said Citroen is ****ing out LHM all over the road.

38 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

until said Citroen is ****ing out LHM all over the road.

 

1 hour ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

 

I went from 14s to 15s and my back isn't pleased. There's a noticeable difference, IMO, but still better than 18s on some more modern car with the tyres being black bits painted on.

My work uses (among others) 2 new kamiqs as courtesy cars, ones an ambition the others a style (I think) so has bigger rims.

Far prefer the ambition with its smaller wheels and massive sidewall, soaks up the bumps like a champ.

They're basically a fabia on stilts but they absolutely nailed the ride on them.

I guessing it my kit you’ve seen on Facebook?

 

I would go back to oem springs for sure. Depending on how low your springs are you might be hitting the bump stops a lot.

 

For the dampers. If you want plain simple comfort then fit none Sport dampers. Before I sold my vRS I put some non Sport dampers on. Oh my god was that soft lol. Didn’t drive it much but I suspect it would have been awful if going for a brisk drive. Sport dampers I always found to make the ride a bit crashy. The B8 really was a big improvement. Yea gives that sport ride but they really do a good job of controlling the spring.

 

If I was getting a used vRS now for a run about then I would get some bilstein b4’s. They don’t show up when searching against a vRS but if you search the normal pd100 then they get listed as Sport suspension which is what the vRS had.

 

if it was for a toy the I would get B8’s again or maybe try koni sport both with the stock springs.

3 minutes ago, faboka vrs said:

I guessing it my kit you’ve seen on Facebook?

 

I would go back to oem springs for sure. Depending on how low your springs are you might be hitting the bump stops a lot.

 

For the dampers. If you want plain simple comfort then fit none Sport dampers. Before I sold my vRS I put some non Sport dampers on. Oh my god was that soft lol. Didn’t drive it much but I suspect it would have been awful if going for a brisk drive. Sport dampers I always found to make the ride a bit crashy. The B8 really was a big improvement. Yea gives that sport ride but they really do a good job of controlling the spring.

 

If I was getting a used vRS now for a run about then I would get some bilstein b4’s. They don’t show up when searching against a vRS but if you search the normal pd100 then they get listed as Sport suspension which is what the vRS had.

 

if it was for a toy the I would get B8’s again or maybe try koni sport both with the stock springs.

Hey! Yeah haha I spoke to you about them, 

 

I decided eventually to go with b4's and lesjofors springs! Springs arrive next week and I get my top mounts tomorrow, possibly next weekend I'll fit them?! 

 

B4’s should be a good choice.

Update on this topic:

 

I fitted new top mounts, bilstein B4's all round, and lesjofors springs from auto doc all round last night. 

 

On some bumps that I'd feel very harshly on the way to work and my work entrance, I could barely feel them at all. Really comfortable now and super happy, so if anyone's after a comfortable ride, that's my suggested setup. I can't compare how it feels to complete stock because I've not experienced a car on regular setup. 

 

 

Hi, I know this is an older topic and I want to thank @Carlston for reverse engineering the answer to my question :). I have a regular 2003 Fabia 6Y2 MK1 1.9TDI that I would like to make more stiff and I was looking for the struts and shock absorbers for the vRS.

My only extra question: should the front anti-roll bar be changed as well? Is there anything else I should consider when changing from regular to vRS suspension?

What about the rear axle brakes? Is there anyway I could install disk brakes and calipers whithout changing brake pump, brake lines, abs etc?

Thank you all for your time & knowledge!

On 30/04/2025 at 15:38, tony.ghiga said:

Hi, I know this is an older topic and I want to thank @Carlston for reverse engineering the answer to my question :). I have a regular 2003 Fabia 6Y2 MK1 1.9TDI that I would like to make more stiff and I was looking for the struts and shock absorbers for the vRS.

My only extra question: should the front anti-roll bar be changed as well? Is there anything else I should consider when changing from regular to vRS suspension?

What about the rear axle brakes? Is there anyway I could install disk brakes and calipers whithout changing brake pump, brake lines, abs etc?

Thank you all for your time & knowledge!

Did you ever do anything with your suspension? I've also got a regular Fabia Mk1 and was thinking of also making it lower and stiffer; coming from an old Ford Focus the suspension in the Fabia feels a bit meh...