Shock Absorber NCT fail.

septictank

Skoda Octavia Driver side, oil from shock. Few questions.

Car is 10 years old but in good condition. So Second hand full Shock + springs, whole assembly?

Or New Shock absorbers and use my old springs and parts, Mechanic I guess.

If I get a secondhand I reckon I can do it myself. Is there much difference between the models? Like would a 1.6 diesel fit a 1.4 petrol. Might be firmer due to weight so as a secondhand might be a good thing.

If I go the new parts route, doing the 2 together is the way to go, any recommendations on brands and a rough price to expect from my friendly usual mechanic. Prices seem to be around €60-€80 per shock. Good bit of work involved but it's more hammer and socket stuff, not tech.

How much you reckon for 1 or a pair of secondhand FULL spring shocks in good nick? €50 each?

User1998

If your planning on keeping the car long term than your probably better off getting two new shocks. Theres a good chance you’ll fail on imbalance if you get a second hand shock. Happens to me a lot and then I need to go buy new ones instead.

Second hand with spring is about €40 to €50. I pay €50 cash per corner for fitting front shocks

septictank

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120786584#Comment_120786584

Thanks, yeah the car is the wife's and has feck all miles on it. Goes out NC Dublin a good bit and the roads are crap, pot holes, but we'll be holding on to it. The 50 a corner is for fitting the full unit, not stripping down the spring etc? I sort of expect €150 for the 2 new SA's and another €150 to fit, or €200?

I'll have a good look at them and see what I think. Other one might not be much good either.

It's a 1.2, so 1.9 diesel would be too heavy. But the 1.4 should be ok if I happened on a low milage Octavia with arse damage being the cause of scrapping. What you think? Shouldn't be different mounts?

bazz26

I think fitting a second hand one is a false economy to be honest. Outside of the imbalance it's very likely the one on the other side is worn too and will probably need replacing sooner than later. Since the car is a keeper I'd just invest in having two new ones fitted.

magicbastarder

recently had a driver's side spring snap on a 2012 octavia; chanced it and had that spring and shock top replaced. the car failed the NCT due to imbalance, but that shock had started weeping since the last NCT so possibly contributed to the spring failure. anyway, took the car back, got the passenger side spring and both shocks replaced.

65535

Similar car and similar problem here.

Skoda garage noticed oil leak from front right suspension - quoted €600 for to replace the 2 front ( I thnk every repair is minimum €600 with them ! )

I didn't go for it at the time and got the NCT done.

NCT Pass no issues with suspension.

It's still there a year later.

I MIGHT get it done at some stage - probably €700 by now

CalamariFritti

Shock absorbers are a wear and tear item. Even if they don't break the car will feel bumpy and sh1tty when they're worn out. After 10 years they are likely to be at or close to that point.

My car is at that now and I will give it new ones and have all of the suspension looked over too. But then I intend to hold onto my car possibly for another 10 years and I just couldn't drive around in a rattle box for that time.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120786988#Comment_120786988

i got aftermarket parts, two shocks and a spring done for €320. not a main dealer. i live near one who are robbing ****.

griffin100

Get a quote from a Skoda dealer and then using the OEM part numbers as a reference get the parts online cheaper and get your mechanic to fit them.

i failed the NCT recently on 4 leaking shocks and a suspension imbalance in a 2017 520D. BMW wanted almost €3k to replace the shocks. I used the quote they gave me with the OEM part numbers to get the shocks online from AutoDoc for €450 for the 4 and got my mechanic to fit them as part of a service. He had to reuse fittings but the shocks are new and it makes a big difference to the car even if they are a cheaper brand.

AutoDoc have brutal online reviews but I was happy as the parts arrived in 10 days and fitted no problem.

septictank

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787032#Comment_120787032

That's what I thought it would be to my non main dealer. It's about an Hours work each side and an hour to make sure all is ok, test drive, so €150-200 labour sounds about right.

mgbgt1978

Be careful if ordering the shocks yourself. They are clamped at the bottom (rather than bolt-on), and there are 2 sizes....50mm diameter, and 55mm diameter. Your's should be the 50mm.

Also, factor in a pair of new drop links as well, as these rarely unbolt and will have to be cut off.

These shocks can be a bit of a pain to replace. The wipers have to be removed to allow the plastic scuttle panel to be removed to gain access to the top bolts. If the wiper arms are seized on (often the case), on one side the scuttle will need a small 2" cut-out, the other side should lift just enough to allow access. Also the wishbone has to be dropped enough to let the bottom of the shock come out of the clamp, and the anti-roll bar will probably need to be removed to allow this.

septictank

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787679#Comment_120787679

Jesus, thanks for all that, sounds like I'm in over my head doing it myself so. Time to call the garage. I watched a few Youtube's and it all looked straight forward enough.