I've done some research on the higher and stiffer shock absorbers and coil springs which Skoda offers on Scout models and found their aftermarket analogues:
* Front Shocks: Bilstein B4 #22-274182
* Front Springs: ???
* Rear Shocks: Bilstein B4 #19-274195
* Rear Springs: SACHS 992 103 (analogue of OEM #5Q0511115AM)

 

My queries are:
1/ What are the higher and stiffer front springs OEM numbers?
2/ Are there good aftermarket alternatives for the same?
3/ Is there better rear spring alternative of SACHS 992 103?
4/ It seems that these Bilstein B4s are the same for regular and Scout versions, so I'm keen to know how they are behaving compared to the stock ones?

(Scout's +30mm height comes from 15mm higher springs and 15mm higher tires)

5/ Many VW Golf Alltrack owners in US are lowering their cars with Golf R suspension(not what I want) and are swapping the upper OEM rear spring pads with the ones from Audi TT because they seem to be thicker. Have someone tried them on their car?

 

My car reached 100k miles with the factory suspension and is softer, bouncing and sagging. I'm looking to replace it in the near future.

 

Thanks a lot in advance! 🙏

Edited 8 August, 20232 yr by fr1nklyn

Sachs 992103 matches 5Q0511115AN. However, 1K0511115CT from the Octavia MK2 Scout appears to be identical to 5Q0511115AN but is often less than half the price.

 

If you look on autodoc, you can see that Kilen/Lesjofors are selling the same rear spring to replace both 1K0511115CS and 5Q0511115AM. Hence, the Octavia MK2 Scout and Octavia MK3 Scout having the same rear springs...just using different OEM part numbers for the same spring.

 

Bilstein 36-199570 (matches 1K0511115CT so should be identical to 5Q0511115AN)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334134786357

Eibach R10494 (matches 1K0511115CT so should be identical to 5Q0511115AN)

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/eibach/13828886

 

You have three choices of rear Scout springs. They will all give you about the same unladen ride height. The difference is in the compression rate. The 13.00mm version is about 8% stiffer than the 12.50mm version, and the 12.75mm version is about 4% stiffer than the 12.50mm version.

 

Wire Diameter 12.50mm, Weight 2.45kg

1K0511115CR (from Octavia MK2 Scout)

5Q0511115AL (from Octavia MK3 Scout)

These two springs appear identical and interchangeable. The MK2 springs are sometime cheaper than the MK3 springs.

 

Wire Diameter 12.75mm, Weight 2.6kg

1K0511115CS (from Octavia MK2 Scout)

5Q0511115AM (from Octavia MK3 Scout)

These two springs appear identical and interchangeable. The MK2 springs are sometimes cheaper than the MK3 springs.

 

Wire Diameter 13.00mm, Weight 2.75kg

1K0511115CT (from Octavia MK2 Scout)

5Q0511115AN (from Octavia MK3 Scout)

These two springs appear identical and interchangeable. The MK2 springs are sometimes cheaper than the MK3 springs.

 

Octavia MK2 4x4 Scout Rear Springs

(1)	1K0 511 115 CR	coil spring 1 paint mark 2 paint marks	red green	2	PR-1JB+0YK
(1)	1K0 511 115 CS	coil spring 1 paint mark 3 paint marks	red green	2	PR-1JB+0YL
(1)	1K0 511 115 CT	coil spring 1 paint mark 1 paint mark	rear red brown	2	PR-1JB+0YM

https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/octavia/oct/2012-663/5/511-511012/

 

Octavia MK3 4x4 Scout Rear Springs 

1	5Q0 511 115 AL	coil spring		2	PR-1JB+0YC
(1)	5Q0 511 115 AM	coil spring		2	PR-1JB,0YD
(1)	5Q0 511 115 AN	coil spring		2	PR-1JB+0YE

https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/octavia/oct/2016-753/5/511-511010/

 

Edited 8 August, 20232 yr by Carlston

Thanks @Carlston! O2 Scout springs are really cheaper than O3 Scout ones, and there is more choice.

 

In autodoc, almost all O3 results for 5Q0511115AN show springs with diameter 118mm, where O2 results for 1K0511115CT show springs with 120mm diameter. Do you think this may be an issue?

 

Can you help me with the choice for the front springs as well?

1 hour ago, fr1nklyn said:

Thanks @Carlston! O2 Scout springs are really cheaper than O3 Scout ones, and there is more choice.

 

In autodoc, almost all O3 results for 5Q0511115AN show springs with diameter 118mm, where O2 results for 1K0511115CT show springs with 120mm diameter. Do you think this may be an issue?

 

Can you help me with the choice for the front springs as well?

 

2mm difference in the outside diameter is not significant, and the dimensions that are given should just be seen as an estimate.

 

For rear shock absorbers I would probably go for something like Bilstein B6 24-267137

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/bilstein/9350571?search=BILSTEIN Shock Absorber (24-267137)

 

Bilstein B6 24-267137 rear shock absorbers come up on autodoc when you search for cars such as the VW Golf MK7 Alltrack. The Octavia MK3 and Golf MK7 share the same MQB platform.

 

Bilstein B6 shock absorbers are often monotube, which is a superior and more expensive design that the far more common and cheaper twintube design. Sometimes Bilstein B6 shock absorbers are twintube, but where that is the case, there won't be so much advantage in using them over the cheaper Bilstein B4 shock absorbers. Bear in mind, that even the cheaper Bilstein B4 shock absorbers are gas filled and are as good or better than the OEM Skoda shock absorbers.

 

It might be interesting if you just change the rear springs and shock absorbers first. Then you can assess the improvement of just doing the rear before doing the front. The rear shock absorbers are cheaper than the front shock absorbers and there's much less labour involved in doing the rears.

 

Upper underlay for rear spring 5Q0512149A

 

Audi TT upper underlay for rear spring 5Q0512149B (not available on autodoc) (looks similar to 5Q0512149A)

Lower underlay for rear spring 5Q0512297D

Stop buffer 127mm for rear shock absorbers 5Q0511357H

Protective pipe for rear shock absorber 5Q0513425J

 

Edited 8 August, 20232 yr by Carlston

@Carlston your knowledge on this is awesome. 

I'm planning a trip to Romania next year to climb some mountains and I was thinking about putting some steelies on my Octavia with some chunkier tires as road conditions are poor. 

 

Would you recommend the scout suspension to go with that or would the wheels fit on stock suspension?

Brakes would be the issue with wheels assuming the offset is correct.

Second the suggestion for B6 shocks. They are leaps and bounds better than stock.

11 hours ago, George_ said:

@Carlston your knowledge on this is awesome. 

I'm planning a trip to Romania next year to climb some mountains and I was thinking about putting some steelies on my Octavia with some chunkier tires as road conditions are poor. 

 

Would you recommend the scout suspension to go with that or would the wheels fit on stock suspension?

 

What Octavia MK3 do you have?

 

For example, Octavia MK3 2.0TDI, 150HP, estate, DSG, front wheel drive, no factory fitted towbar, etc.

 

If you have front wheel drive, you won't be using Scout suspension because that is 4x4. You could fit 15mm increased ride height springs and shock absorbers.

 

Perhaps you could first try oversize tyres. As long as you don't have bigger front brakes discs than 288x25mm you could try 205/70R15 on 6Jx16 ET43 5/112 57.1 steel rims. Compared to 225/40R18, 205/70R15 would raise the gearing by 4.8%. This is quite a big increase, but if you have a 2.0TDI the engine should have enough torque to cope. Just check that your speedo won't over-read by using GPS such as the one on google maps.

 

Vredestein Quatrac 5 205/70R15 96T (3PMSF) (winter rated tyre so you're allowed to use a T speed rating, but don't exceed 118mph)

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m138b0s7998p144823/Vredestein_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Vredestein_Quatrac5_Vredestein_Quatrac_5_205_70_R15_96T_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_C_Wet_Grip%3A_C_NoiseClass%3A_A_Noise%3A_69dB

 

Yokohama Geolandar AT All-Terrain G015 205/70R15 96H (3PMSF) (winter rated tyre so you're allowed to use an H speed rating, but don't exceed 130mph)

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m53b0s2481p148166/Yokohama_Tyres_Car_Yokohama_Geolandar_AT_G015_205_70_R15_96H_RPB_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_E_Wet_Grip%3A_C_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_70dB

 

6Jx15 ET43 5/112 57.1 steel rim

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=502374009556452464&rimCode=ALCAR7755

 

Edited 9 August, 20232 yr by Carlston

@Carlston I didn't even consider the impact on gearing. I'm in a Mk3 Octavia 1.4TSI - not suitable for this sort of mod?

 

Many thanks!

 

 

8 hours ago, George_ said:

@Carlston I didn't even consider the impact on gearing. I'm in a Mk3 Octavia 1.4TSI - not suitable for this sort of mod?

 

It depends how badly you need the extra ground clearance.

 

The 1.4 petrol turbo engine should have good low down torque, so maybe try it.

 

First check if you current speedo is over-reading by almost 5%, ie. is 50mph on the speedo actually no more than 48mph?

 

Edited 9 August, 20232 yr by Carlston

I stumbled across this post as I’m in the market for new front shocks for mk3 Octavia Scout 110 TDI (Nov15 build). Looking at bilsteins

 

I had a look at my front shocks and they are 50mm diameter shocks, as opposed to 55mm for the  B4 #22-274182 listed in the original post. B4# 22-230522 looks like the 

 

my question is why the difference across the scout range? Year? Model? Different country (I’m in Australia)? pologies if this has already been covered in another post. 
 

Is there much of a performance gap between 50 & 55mm shocks as my car does a combo of dirt and rough bitumen for its daily commute so suspension gets a workout. Shocks are still ok but strut tops and bearings are shot so I thought I’d replace them all at once. I will need new steering knuckles so an upgrade won’t come cheap.

will look at the B6 and stiffer springs for rear shocks down the track as the car sags a lot  with weight in the back. 
 

any advice will be much appreciated

I stumbled across this post as I’m in the market for new front shocks for mk3 Octavia Scout 110KW (150hp) TDI. Nov15 build.

 

I had a look at my front shocks and they are 50mm diameter shocks, as opposed to 55mm for the  B4 #22-274182 listed in the original post.

 

my question is why the difference across the scout range? Year? Model? Different country (I’m in Australia)? pologies if this has already been covered in another post. 
 

Is there much of a performance gap between 50 & 55mm shocks as my car does a combo of dirt and rough bitumen for its daily commute so suspension gets a workout. Shocks are still ok but strut tops and bearings are shot so I thought I’d replace them all at once. I will need new steering knuckles so an upgrade won’t come cheap.

 

any advice will be much appreciated

6 hours ago, AndyAus said:

I stumbled across this post as I’m in the market for new front shocks for mk3 Octavia Scout 110 TDI (Nov15 build). Looking at bilsteins

 

I had a look at my front shocks and they are 50mm diameter shocks, as opposed to 55mm for the  B4 #22-274182 listed in the original post. B4# 22-230522 looks like the 

 

my question is why the difference across the scout range? Year? Model? Different country (I’m in Australia)? pologies if this has already been covered in another post. 
 

Is there much of a performance gap between 50 & 55mm shocks as my car does a combo of dirt and rough bitumen for its daily commute so suspension gets a workout. Shocks are still ok but strut tops and bearings are shot so I thought I’d replace them all at once. I will need new steering knuckles so an upgrade won’t come cheap.

will look at the B6 and stiffer springs for rear shocks down the track as the car sags a lot  with weight in the back. 

 

The Octavia MK3 2.0TDI 110kW/150HP has 288x25mm front brake discs and 50mm front suspension struts.

 

The Octavia MK3 2.0TDI 135kW/184HP has 312x25mm front brake discs and 55mm front suspension struts.

 

So these two cars will use different steering knuckles to match the diameter of the front suspension struts.

 

If you're looking for stiffer rear springs, I suggest you find out what your current factory rear springs are, and then go up two weight ranges.

 

So although the Octavia MK3 2.0TDI 150HP Scout has the smaller front discs and front struts, at least it has independent rear suspension due to the 4x4.

 

The Skoda parts catalogue only lists four rear springs for the Scout. You probably has the second in the list, ie. 5Q0511115AL. One weight range higher is 5Q0511115AM, and two weight ranges higher is 5Q0511115AN.

 

Skoda parts catalogue

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/OCT/753/5/511/511010

 

There are Octavia MK2 Scout rear springs that match the Octavia MK3 Scout rear springs as shown in the chart below. This could be useful, because you can find more choice and lower prices for the Octavia MK2 Scout rear springs.

 

Octavia MK2 Scout and Octavia MK3 rear spring equivalents

1K0511115CR (Octavia MK2 Scout) is the same as 5Q0511115AL (Octavia MK3 Scout)

1K0511115CS (Octavia MK2 Scout) is the same as 5Q0511115AM (Octavia MK3 Scout)

1K0511115CT (Octavia MK2 Scout) is the same as 5Q0511115AN (Octavia MK3 Scout)

 

Some aftermarket rear springs that match 1K0511115CT (notice that the below springs aren't sold for any other OEM part number other than 1K0511115CT, so should be an exact match)

Bilstein 36-199570

Eibach R10494

Kilen 63129

KYB RH6426

Lesjofors 4285730

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/1k0511115ct?supplier[]=16&supplier[]=246&supplier[]=85&supplier[]=253&supplier[]=112&supplier[]=37

 

To give you an idea of prices, all of these five rear springs are available on ebay for about £38 to £46 each (if you purchase two), including shipping to the UK.

 

If you don't have a full list of all your car's build codes, you can get them from an ebay seller for about 3 Euro (about £2.50). Search "skoda vin decoder" on ebay, to find the listing.

 

"skoda vin decoder"

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224631127243

 

You can decoder the build codes by using the "vw codes decoder".

 

"vw codes decoder"

https://igorweb.org/equidec.aspx

 

Edited 11 April, 20242 yr by Carlston