Hi,

My 10 year old 2.0L diesel SEL Yeti finally needs new front shocks. (Bomb cratered roads around Huddersfield) I'd very much appreciate recommended best shocks to buy please?

Kind regards, Col.

BILSTEIN

Munroe or

SACHS

Also consider the coil springs at the same time.

Check the Top strut mounts as well, they sometimes go graunchy.

Often found on ebay at a better price. Always check for a better deal.

If you do it yourself, you will need a spring compressor. Approx. £16pr

Hi,

Thanks so much for your welcome reply @Carlodiesel Much appreciated. Bilstein & Munroe are names I've known forever. In order to save lots of time I'm considering buying complete units to simply bolt into place if I can buy either Bilstein or Monroe? I found complete units on eBay under GH-Parts @ £499 the pair which looks expensive. Whilst I'm working on the suspension I'll look at the associated rubber bushes too. I'm keen to keep my lovely Yeti for as long as possible; I never want to own either an hybrid or full EV; I'm sure with care my Yeti will outlast an EV made today.

10 years old with only 34,000 miles on the clock; it's due for its second cambelt and another brake fluid change too. It's going to hurt my pocket this year but money well spent.

Kind regards, Col.

Hi,

I've just bought a pair of B4 Bilstein front shocks costing £120 for the pair through eBay; my original shocks are 50mm but I had to check first before placing the order. I'll order the springs and other items too. I'll do this job my usual way; the hard way?

Kind regards, Col.

We replaced our previous Yeti diesel's with Bilsteins as well which have a well earned reputation. To be honest they didn't make much difference on our similar Yorkshire roads - more about the Yeti on 17 inch wheels being crashy over bad roads than the shocks themselves.

Our latest 67 plate (final ?) Yeti is the same on 17s, so we got some 16s on all season tyres to try over the winter, and it has definitely helped by "20%" around here. Less crashing into and over broken surfaces.

Edited 17 March17 Mar by Prezafab

with only 34k on the clock can't imagine they need changing

have 270k on mine still on the orig.

Col,

"I'll do this job my usual way; the hard way?"

Just remember... when removing the springs...they have been compressed, & undoing the large nut holding then in place will release the spring rapidly.

Make sure you compress them safely, then undo the nut.

Always adjust the spring compressors evenly and slowly.

Hi,

Thank you @Prezafab for your interesting reply. My Yeti is fitted with Michelin all season tyres; living here on a steep valley side they are the difference between getting home or getting stranded in icy conditions. The tyres were fitted on my driveway by "Tyresonthedrive" I believe they are now Halfords. At the time the set of four cost £600 with free fitting.

It's interesting to note your shocks are on 270K and still OK @skisbp The last MOT flagged the shocks up as misting; I did watch a YouTube video yesterday stating this misting is normal on Yeti shocks? If so why flag it up. I was concerned about breaking a spring because all four tyres have problems contacting our Kirklees roads at the same time; speed calming meaning no end of bumps in the road; bumps can be installed but not repair the bomb craters and it seems to get worse every time I drive the car.

Thanks so much for your second mention regarding the springs @Carlodiesel the first about needing a spring compressor and the second which is very important about compressing the springs safely; I'm a National Coal Board mechanical engineer but I'm aware there could be Yeti owners needing new shocks and could become seriously injured or even killed if compression is suddenly released; YouTube has many videos covering this subject but it can't be repeated enough. I have excellent workshop facilties; I admit I don't like the look of the standard readily available spring compressors which could easily slip.

Referring back to you @skisbp given the low mileage of my Yeti; if I just fit the shocks and check the other items it could end up an easier and cheaper job; the top mounts are important but I can check these once removed and if they require replacing I can buy with next day delivery. I do want my Yeti to remain in top condition and don't mind spending on it. A couple of years ago I dropped the wing liners and sprayed on Bilt Hamber Dynax-UB also doing the cills; suspension; doors & tailgate. I still need to do the bonnet.

Thanks again everyone for your useful replies.

Kind regards, Col.

I have been using KYB shocks and springs for years and they seem to last well. I would replace top mounts while your at it and bump stops etc as well. Its not my favourite job at all. As for spring compressors I have a triple set but also add another two just in case. My local garage used to do them for a tenner each(cash) they have a hydraulic compressor that takes minutes.

The spring compressors I have a locking mechanism so they cant come off

Think mine were made by Laser.

Alasdair

Those things are commonly known as widow makers!!

Also to note, which a few years back I made myself look really stupid is normal spring compressors wont work on SUV springs as they are taller.

So the set which worked ok on my Vectra C were way to short for Mokka road springs. So if I had to do my own job on the Yeti I would have to buy a longer set.

Given the struggle on the drive anyway with the bar ones and an impact gun I'd prefer to nip them to a garage with a proper compressor and just swap the top mounts or fit them there for minimal cost and massive speed increase and safety of the job.

18 hours ago, Llanigraham said:

Those things are commonly known as widow makers!!

I know I hate using them. I have another twin set that I use in conjunction with them but still scary even with 5 . Have managed to do quite a few over the years but worse was old toyota people carrier that weighed about 2 ton so front springs were massive. I just take my time and make sure each one is tightened slowly and equally and I do them outside making sure I am as far away from them as possible. If I am fitting new shocks and springs I quite often throw a few quid to local garage and get them to assemble them.

Alasdair

Hi,

Many thanks for your replies. I think I might be better burning all my money because so many are after it starting with Reeves and now I've got neighbour trouble; four open drains have been installed to a flight of stone garden steps abutting my garden without permission; these drains are pipes open at their end and can discharge water into my garden. I own my property and Freehold outright. I've engaged a solicitor and already the bill is £3,648.

I'm heartboken due to my wonderful wife passing away almost a year ago and I already am at the lowest point I've ever been in my entire life now neighbours are forcing their problem onto me; I'm fighting but it's all taking a great deal of my time and is highly stressful.

All I want is to be left in peace and solitude but I keep being attacked from all directions. Sorry for the moan.

Kind regards, Col.

Remember to use a suitable lubricant on the spring compressor rod threads, not doing that will cause dangerous wear on the rods and "nuts" - I'll admit to "being there done that" on my first "set of 3", they have now been replaced, ready for the next time.

1 hour ago, Fabcol said:

All I want is to be left in peace and solitude but I keep being attacked from all directions. Sorry for the moan.

Kind regards, Col.

Feel for you my friend, try not to let it get you down.

This is not what you want at this time.

I can only hope your solicitor can sort the problem out for you and hopefully recover your cots.

Best regards to you.

Ray

Had a quick look on KYB cat as I was looking anyway for my old Seat and checked parts in motion website for price/availabilty

Not exactly sure what model of yeti you have but seems to be two front springs depending on model

KYB 334834 front shock £99.21 per pair

KYB 910004 bump stop £15 each

KYB SM1714 top mount £16 each

KYB RA3364 spring £35 each or KYB RH2957 £30 each (not sure on what model yeti you have

I would check with reg etc on the above as I may be wrong.

If the shocks are just misting the chances are that they will still be misting next MOT. My octavia had advise of misting for 3 years until one finally went.

As for the drains if there on your property a couple of cans of expanding hilti foam may help the situation.

Alasdair

I had the front shocks replaced after the MOT tester reported slight misting on one of them. The old shocks worked fine, the new shocks worked fine. I'm pretty sure I could have just wiped the misting off with a rag before the next MOT, so you might want to consider that approach at least in the short term.

Hi,

Many thanks for your replies.

A very sensible suggestion @rum4mo I think lubrication is a must and well worth mentioning.

Thanks so much Ray @Carlodiesel highly appreciated. I'm at the lowest point in my life I've ever been and now I'm getting kicked whilst being totally innocent. Because this case is litigation it involves two solicitors and now the bill is £6,000. I meet my solicitor face to face next Wednesday morning then it's time to make my neighbours realize the position they are now in; I believe I can sue for tresspass too; hopefully the drains will be fully sealed and the court awards full costs plus damages against my neighbours; if they decide to settle out of court it will cost them my legal fees. Going to court could damage them in many ways. They were warned.

Thanks Alasdair @Alasdair1 What is the KYB cat please; is it Autodoc? I'd like to have a look for other bits I need. My Yeti is the 2016 2.0L TDI diesel 110hp SE.L with 50mm struts 2WD. I can supply the Reg.No before ordering; I did check on eBay but on size because it appears there are 50mm & 55mm struts. Mine are 50mm after a bit more hassle in my life; both my digital verniers had a flat battery each.

I had considered sealing the drains with mortar thus forcing my neighbours to take me to court after they had installed the drains by trespass. However I'm a 78 year old dinosaur brought up to be honest and respectful and can only hope my neighbours end up paying £K's leaving my name and integrity sound. This drain problem is totally interfering with my life; I hardly slept last night because of the huge costs involved even before the case is drawn up and my neighbours informed by letter of impending court action. I'll leave the shocker job until after the case is resolved; I don't want to tackle it the way I feel at the moment and to have the garage install the springs to the struts I would have no transport to take the struts to the garage so I might just as well let the garage do the job whilst I still have a shirt on my back. The MOT isn't due until July but I want to keep on top of maintenance before something breaks causing extra problems and cost; I'm very keen looking after my Yeti; the bounce test is OK at each front corner; it's the best car ever.

Sorry to bang on but it helps to focus me a bit.

Your reply just popped up @Austin 7 Thank you, if I cleaned the struts wouldn't the garage know at MOT time just by a simple online MOT check; if a shock fails it could cost a lot more if it alo takes out a spring; the springs are OK but I'll replace the lot at one go. The cam belt also is due to be replaced at ten years due to service length and not milage. I've had no problems at all with my Yeti over the last ten years so it deserves lots of TLC.

Kind regards, Col.

Edited 19 March19 Mar by Fabcol
Adding reply to latest post.

Good luck with everything fabcol...

KYB (Kayaba) are manufacturers of shocks and springs. I usually deal with parts in motion autofactors online as their prices seem very good. I have been using KYB for years an no problems so far.

Alasdair

KYB were also factory suppliers to Subaru. I replaced the shocks on my 15 year old (at the time) Impreza Turbo and the car is still having fun on bumpy, twisty North Yorkshire roads at 25 years old.

I think they were the Excel-G model

Edited 19 March19 Mar by Prezafab

From memory they produce a million a week and are fitted to 1 in 5 cars OE world wide.

Alasdair