Arona FR, front springs/dampers- 'sports' or not?

[theknack]

Hi all.

I have an '18 plate Arona FR, with the 1.0TSI 115. I am confused as to whether this model/trim actually has the stiffer 'sports' suspension mentioned by some reviewers. Eg: AutoExpress in 2018:

'The stiffer suspension (standard on our FR) gives the Arona decent balance'

I know that there's definitely no electronically-controlled damping on mine; this stiffer front suspension mentioned seems to be something else. In my limited knowledge of cars, that usually means different dampers, springs, ARBs, with a combination of any/all of these.

Browsing parts sites, I can see 2 different front spring offerings:

-'regular' springs. 'for vehicles with standard suspension, for all standard damping systems'
These are 334mm long, 4.6 coils, wire diameter 11.8mm

-'sports' springs. 'for vehicles with sports suspension'.
These are 249mm long, 4.8 coils, wire diameter 12.2

However, there only seems to be 1 kind of damper available for the front.

Would anyone be able to clarify what's actually fitted, and what precisely makes it 'stiffer'?

 

[Seriously?]

Would anyone be able to clarify what's actually fitted, and what precisely makes it 'stiffer'?

Don't know what's fitted to your car, but shorter springs of a bigger gauge will give it a firmer ride over longer, thinner wire gauge springs.

 

[RUM4MO]

One very easy way to find out what suspension your Arona has - visit your local SEAT dealership and ask them (politely) for a printed copy of CAR DATA for your car, just give them your reg number, that will provide you with the complete list of "factory choices" - I'm used that term to describe what I'm meaning as saying "factory options" sounds more like customer added extras that might have been available when factory ordered, obviously if there was and are any factory options included, they will also be included in the build info, ie CAR DATA.

There is another way to get this info, some parts sellers can provide this same info at a small cost. CCP - ie Coverdale Car Parts can provide this, they can be found on Facebook mainly I think, I've used them in the past for some VW Group car parts so they good/safe to work with.

 

[serdar_18fr]

Hi all.

I have an '18 plate Arona FR, with the 1.0TSI 115. I am confused as to whether this model/trim actually has the stiffer 'sports' suspension mentioned by some reviewers. Eg: AutoExpress in 2018:

'The stiffer suspension (standard on our FR) gives the Arona decent balance'

I know that there's definitely no electronically-controlled damping on mine; this stiffer front suspension mentioned seems to be something else. In my limited knowledge of cars, that usually means different dampers, springs, ARBs, with a combination of any/all of these.

Browsing parts sites, I can see 2 different front spring offerings:

-'regular' springs. 'for vehicles with standard suspension, for all standard damping systems'
These are 334mm long, 4.6 coils, wire diameter 11.8mm

-'sports' springs. 'for vehicles with sports suspension'.
These are 249mm long, 4.8 coils, wire diameter 12.2

However, there only seems to be 1 kind of damper available for the front.

Would anyone be able to clarify what's actually fitted, and what precisely makes it 'stiffer'?

There are 10 different suspension specifications for '18 Arona, PR-coded from G01 through G14 and 14 different front dampers for those specs, some of them are successors for the related spec, replaced the previous one for a discovered issue or a further development; not just one as you thought. I can provide all the part numbers, specifically the one in your car if you need, via your VIN.

And also there are three different front anti-roll bars, differing in diameter and material thickness.

One more differentiated part is the rubber stop for the damper. There are four different ones, each with different length, shorter ones for the sportier suspension specs.

Along with springs, those different dampers, anti-roll bars and damper stops make up for a stiffer, sportier drive.

 

[theknack]

Thanks all. Great answers, all very helpful.

I knew it would get complicated! Even more so when I factor in that I changed the offside front spring 3 months ago for the one that my local parts store said was correct. Now I'm wondering.

 

[theknack]

My mind is boggled, but this explains why my local parts shop guy took a while to come back to me when I picked up my replacement spring for the front some months ago.

That offer is very kind; should I just pop the VIN number here for you to use?

 

[serdar_18fr]

My mind is boggled, but this explains why my local parts shop guy took a while to come back to me when I picked up my replacement spring for the front some months ago.

That offer is very kind; should I just pop the VIN number here for you to use?

Send it over via PM, if you mind sharing it here.

 

[theknack]

Send it over via PM, if you mind sharing it here.

Thanks. PM sent!

 

[serdar_18fr]

Thanks. PM sent!

Anti-roll bars:
2Q0411303N stabilizer, complete 21X3,7mm Qty:1 PR:0AS
(The other ARB PRs for different suspension specs are 0AT and 0AR)

Dampers:
2Q0413031AA gas shock absorber D >> - 07.07.2019 Qty:2 PR:G07
Also this can be used:
2Q0413031DP gas shock absorber D - 08.07.2019>> Qty:2 PR:G07

Springs:
2Q0411105AD coil spring 3 paint marks white / 2 paint marks blue D >> - 07.07.2019 Qty:2 PR:L23

Damper stops:
1K0412303G rubber stop for shock absorber D >> - 07.07.2019 90mm Qty:2 PR:G07
Also these can be used:
5Q0412303C rubber stop for shock absorber D - 08.07.2019>> - 18.09.2022 90mm Qty:2 PR:G07
2Q0412303A rubber stop for shock absorber D - 19.09.2022>> 90mm Qty:2 PR:G07

A note for the rubber stops: I don't want to create a confusion but there are shorter ones in the Arona parts list, such as 85, 75 or 55 mm. As far as I know, sports suspensions tend to use shorter ones and I don't know why that's not the case here. Anyway I don't count myself as an expert on suspension stuff, maybe some fellow forum people can contribute to the subject.

 

[theknack]

Awesome, clears up a lot of confusion for me. Many thanks!

 

[serdar_18fr]

Awesome, clears up a lot of confusion for me. Many thanks!

My pleasure, hope it helps.

 

[Seriously?]

Thanks all. Great answers, all very helpful.

I knew it would get complicated! Even more so when I factor in that I changed the offside front spring 3 months ago for the one that my local parts store said was correct. Now I'm wondering.

Just a point that if the springs are the originals and have been on the car for a decent amount of miles, it is normally considered best practice to change both sides. Although that is not the most wallet-friendly option.

 

[theknack]

Just a point that if the springs are the originals and have been on the car for a decent amount of miles, it is normally considered best practice to change both sides. Although that is not the most wallet-friendly option.

Indeed, and that had been the plan on the day- but I ended up just changing the broken side. Bad weather and a need to travel the next day for work put paid to doing both sides.

To be fair I've had this other side in the pipeline for months now and need to get the finger out I guess :/ and stop procrastinating.

The nearside looks original incidentally, and has 3 white and 2 blue dots. I'll likely change the strut bearing tops also.

thanks

 

[RUM4MO]

If and only if the garage fitted Lesjofors springs, they have a number on them, but in very small font size, if you do find a number on the replaced one, check the Lesjofors online applications cat to see if that number looks to be one of them, and if it is the correct spring, just buy another, most motor factors can source Lesjofors springs. Sachs springs do not, in my experience, have any identifying markings on them - unless, they have been supplied by ECP and are just reboxed Lesjofors springs, which will again have the Lesjofors number printed onto them in smallish sized digits.

Edit:- the work sheet for that job should have some reference to which part number was fitted - though maybe not the vendor's name.

 

[theknack]

Great point. I will ring them and find out. Many thanks.