Leon 184FR - advice on suspension work

[biglunn]

Hello. My MY16 Leon @49k miles has started to get a noisy damper (rear) and misting damper (front). This is after a couple of replacement under warranty years back.

Ive decided to get shocks all round replaced with Bilstein B4’s with top mounts (I don’t trust OEM Sachs as supplied by Seat) wanting to keep as much as possible OE, and was wondering if you can give me some advice…

1) Is it worth replacing springs (fronts or all round) for new OEMs at the same time for no extra labour cost?
2) Is it beneficial replacing anything else for minimal extra labour charge during this work?
3) My local independent (Iver - west London) is charging 5hrs labour @ £480 inc vat. Is that reasonable?

I’m buying all the parts in advance (cheaper) and the garage is booked in the following week. All advice is welcome

 

[SuperV8]

Light misting is common (judging by forum posts!) in the VAG world - with lots of reports that light misting mentioned on one MOT was not reported in later MOTs for years later. Depends on severity on the misting?

If it was me I would keep an eye on the fronts - and make sure it doesn't get worse.

Noisy rear damper obviously need sorting. There is also a rubber top mount which I would also change on the rear.

At that mileage personally I would not change the rear springs as long as the were in good shape, unless they were cheap? Not sure on the price of OEM springs.

 

[biglunn]

Thanks for your comments SuperV8! Misting and what sounds like slight knock with big bumps on the near side is leading me to get front shocks & mounts replaced. I’m also leaning on getting the front springs replaced as Sachs OEMs are only £137 (pair) from ECP. No additional labour costs incurred and gives me peace of mind knowing that the struts won’t need attention in the future.

I am deffo replacing the rear shocks as I know this will fix the knocking and possibly improve rear end softness/bounce/shimmy. As you suggest, I’ll not bother with replacing rear springs if they look ok - they are way more expensive! And if in future they need replacing they are much easier and cheaper labour-wise to replace.

Im also gonna get the garage to inspect all links/bushes. Front control arm bushes are squeaky (once regreased under warranty) - might get them to spray some silicone in there! Any other specific watch outs?

 

[BillyCool]

My 184 ST had worn rear shocks and it really started to knock and get a bit of a shimmy, particularly on bouncy A-roads near where I live.

You don't notice the gradual failure and difference until you replace them and now it's so much better.

Springs should last but if you want to do them at the same time - why not!

 

[Woody_72]

Have a look on Autodoc, ECP prices are usually outrageous. For example, Eibach replacement springs are £90 a pair for my car on Autodoc and they're not reduced in the current sale.

 

[biglunn]

Thanks for the comments Brian - that shimmy is pretty disconcerting when it happens, and deffo the rear end feels bouncy so really looking forward to having the shocks replaced.

Woody - Autodoc pricing is fantastic - could have saved about £60 in total but having everything sourced in the UK gives me peace of mind for easy returns if a part is delivered incorrect. Agree on ECP being a rip off but for the springs they were not bad - 1/2 price vs stealers!

 

[SuperV8]

Thanks for your comments SuperV8! Misting and what sounds like slight knock with big bumps on the near side is leading me to get front shocks & mounts replaced. I’m also leaning on getting the front springs replaced as Sachs OEMs are only £137 (pair) from ECP. No additional labour costs incurred and gives me peace of mind knowing that the struts won’t need attention in the future.

I am deffo replacing the rear shocks as I know this will fix the knocking and possibly improve rear end softness/bounce/shimmy. As you suggest, I’ll not bother with replacing rear springs if they look ok - they are way more expensive! And if in future they need replacing they are much easier and cheaper labour-wise to replace.

Im also gonna get the garage to inspect all links/bushes. Front control arm bushes are squeaky (once regreased under warranty) - might get them to spray some silicone in there! Any other specific watch outs?

A suspension knock can be lots of other things - not just a damper - I would look at cheaper things first.
Drop links?
Anti roll bar bushes?
Top mounts? etc..

Don't believe a Sachs branded spring from ECP is the same as an OEM spring, same with the dampers - Original Equipment Manufactured part.
These are aftermarket parts and basically have two versions - sport and normal.
For example on the rear Seat OEM have 52 spring OE part number versions of different springs linked to PR codes. Looks like they're about £78 each.

Do you mean the front lower wishbone bushes? number 2 & 3.
These are bonded rubber - there is/should be no sliding movement - so grease wound't do anything. If there is sliding movement then they need to be replaced. These bushes (number 3 specifically) need to be torqued up with the wishbone at the correct ride height otherwise it will preload/twist the bushes and ruin it in no time.

 

[biglunn]

SuperV8 - great points re knock/noises possibly not damper related. I’m sure that the type of knocking I’m getting at the rear is damper related as I’ve had it replaced before. However the very minor noise/knock on the NSF may well be something else other than damper/top mount and as you suggest I will get them to check.

On the point re- lower control arm bushes - as long as the bushes are in good condition, I think I will ignore the occasional low-speed squeak

On the point re- ECP and Sachs front OEM springs - I haven't paid for them yet (£69/ea) but when I collect should I check the SACHS/EAN number as in picture from AUTODOC search below? Can someone confirm that this item matches the official SEAT parts list? (Car is 2016 Seat Leon 184FR)

ECP ordered part - this is the ONLY option based on my car details.

 

[Woody_72]

On the autpartspro website, they suggest the Sachs part number for the FR 184 is 994960.

 

[SuperV8]

SuperV8 - great points re knock/noises possibly not damper related. I’m sure that the type of knocking I’m getting at the rear is damper related as I’ve had it replaced before. However the very minor noise/knock on the NSF may well be something else other than damper/top mount and as you suggest I will get them to check.

On the point re- lower control arm bushes - as long as the bushes are in good condition, I think I will ignore the occasional low-speed squeak

On the point re- ECP and Sachs front OEM springs - I haven't paid for them yet (£69/ea) but when I collect should I check the SACHS/EAN number as in picture from AUTODOC search below? Can someone confirm that this item matches the official SEAT parts list? (Car is 2016 Seat Leon 184FR)

View attachment 27193

ECP ordered part - this is the ONLY option based on my car details.
View attachment 27194

Give me your reg and I can confirm the exact OE number for your front springs.
As I said there are over 50 versions of spring part numbers for the Leon all linked to PR codes. I guarantee there aren't 50 equivalent springs for the Leon from ECP from ANY brand.
Will said aftermarket springs be ok? I'm sure they'll be 'ok', may find higher/lower/softer/firmer than the genuine spring?
If it was me - there isn't much saving on aftermarket springs I would get the correct OEM parts - unless you are on purpose trying to alter the ride and know spring height/rates to aim for.

 

[SuperV8]

On the autpartspro website, they suggest the Sachs part number for the FR 184 is 994960.

This is a REAR spring.

 

[biglunn]

Ooh this could be interesting - I guess Ill need to visually verify the part number before paying!! Is part number 993 925 the correct FRONT spring part for my car? (as per Auto doc website)

Woody & SuperV8 - if 994 960 is the REAR spring part number, then this is super useful as I will probably get the springs replaced if I upgrade the rear ARB to reduce over steer.

 

[Woody_72]

It is the rear spring, I'm glad you're awake . Yes, if you scroll further down, their parts number for the Sachs spring matches yours and it does say 'for vehicles with sports suspension'.

 

[biglunn]

Update - had work done, and am overall pleased! Ride firmer but BETTER - that jiggly-ness particularly at low speed has gone! Sharp minor bumps are handled much better. Corners a bit flatter too - although Im still considering upgrading the rear ARB to quell the understeer that seems to be a little more prominent, And this difference from a car that's done just 47k (old shocks were not that worn)

Only downside is that the car is riding higher - almost to standard non-FR spec! Can live it though although I wish i had put on lowering springs!

 

[SuperV8]

What did you go with in the end? which dampers and springs?

 

[biglunn]

I went for Bilstein B4 dampers all round, kept the original springs at the rear, and initially requested to keep original springs on the front but had them changed as I already bought Sachs from ECP. Although I couldn't be absolutely sure that Sachs from ECP are an exact match Sachs OEM from SEAT (codes different), the ECP Sachs had the correct spec/car model engine on them and the dimensions matched

 

[Mr Pig]

So the Bilstein B4 dampers Raised the ride height? Good to know...