On checking my car at the wekend I found that my rear shock absorbers need replacing. The rubber bump stops have collapsed and one shock is weeping oil. They are the OEM shocks on an '02 Furby 1.4mpi with 58,000 miles.

Normal action would be to replace with OEM shocks BUT I have Eibach prokit springs (lowered by 25-30mm) and Koni Sport adjustable front shocks (the yellow ones), plus a VRS front anti roll bar, that improve the handling a lot at the expense of some ride comfort. A further improvement in handling would be nice but I don't want to sacrifice anything on ride.

Should I stick with OEM rear shocks OR splash out (

I can get you cheap rear struts off a 1.4 16v that's in a scrapper near me if you want to stay oem. I believe the condition is near perfect as I saw the car on wheels (its now on top of another motor there) Would probably be around £20.

Eibach springs alone on oem dampers should be OK. Looking around £130 for a new eibach kit. Probably 3 hours labour to swap (fronts are a p.i.t.a) You might notice little to no difference with a vRS front ARB - better off spending the money on a Jabbasport rear anti roll bar - the effect will be much more noticeable back there, than at the front.

Hi devonutopia,

Thanks for the offer but with OEM rear shocks at only £38.98 I would go that route IF I don't get the Koni sports.

Just to clarify - I already have Eibach spirings, VRS roll bar and Koni sport front shocks on the car so just need to decide which rear shocks to fit. I appreciate the comments about the Jabba rear roll bar but have only learnt about this in the last couple of months (I did other mods last year) and don't reckon I need it now. Certainly if I were to get a VRS (and having visited & spoken with Jabba on this subject) their rear ARB is the FIRST mod I would do!

I just wonder if the car would be better balanced with the Koni sports on the rear as well.

Oh? :eek: Not sure having oem rears and performance front shocks is OK? Does it feel OK with that setup? I would recommend going for koni rear shocks as well then.

Well I plumped for the Koni sports on the rear as well. Having Konis on the front and OEM on the rear did rather make the car pitch (with the rear sqautting down all the time).

Got the Konis fited end of last week and an immediate difference noticed; the car was nice and flat and very controlled; handles loads better with the rear fully under control for once .......

BUT

with the eibachs as well it is now all tooooooooo firm, particularly on a load of bumpy roads I use daily. I neeed to be comfortable.

SO - today I've had my original OEM springs put back on. It has spoiled the looks a bit but the ride is far more compliant and the handling doesn't seem to have suffered much although I have now got a bit more body roll.

Now what about that Jabba rear ARB? ..... there's a thought!