Leon ST- both front shocks need replaced at 46,000 miles- normal?

rock3g

Active Member
Oct 28, 2016
13
0
My 65 plate 2l diesel was in for a service yesterday and they reported two leaking front shocks. I've seen the video and I was aware of misting a few months ago but this is definitely a leak!

I'm surprised they have failed at this age, currently the car is still on the original pads and discs which I thought would have been the first wear and tear item to need changed.

Has anyone else had to change them? Any indication of dealership cost for this? Independent quoted £430 the pair fitted (Sachs). Is there anything else that should be changed at the same time (springs etc for example)?
 

'& Son' managed

Third Party
Mar 2, 2018
269
89
South Coast
If it was still under warranty I think they would have offered to get SEAT to at least
contribute to the cost of replacements, as 46K isn't that much, even allowing for the extra
strain imposed by the heavy diesel lump.

A few years back my Proton developed misting on just one rear damper at 3 years and
36K miles old, which the dealer noticed during a routine service and they just put a new
one on and charged it to Proton and only telling me about it afterwards - even though
technically it was just out of warranty.

However, many dealers would claim that dampers/struts are serviceable items and if pressed
will then try and imply user/driver abuse through driving too fast around corners, excess amount
of towing or some other excuse. My uncle had this nonsense spouted at him by a Ford stealer
when the rears of his Sierra gave-out in under 2 years/25K miles - admittedly that was a very long
time ago now.
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
Very annoying, though many purists will tell you that all dampers are past their best at that age/miles. So, misting is okay/good, but when this evolves into a leak then its game over, MOT would catch them and fail you, maybe having a big heavy lump of an engine working them has made this happen sooner than later. Lots of VW Group cars gets fitted with Sachs at the factory, I've always tried to find out which version/model of Sachs is fitted while the cars are still quite new, so that I can decide what to fit later when needing to. Probably some top mounting bearings in there that would be better replacing while the front suspension is off the car and maybe road springs as they tend to rust and that causes micro cracks that eventually join up and then the spring breaks - though you may chose to limit your spend if you are moving that car on sooner than later. Really the only reason to change more parts now is to save on labour costs slightly later on if you are keeping that car.
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
You could fit a full set of Bilstein dampers and upgrade the suspension. All it would really cost you would be the price of the rear dampers as changing the rears is simple and you could do it yourself. May not cost much more, or maybe no more at all.
 

Syerate

Active Member
Sep 6, 2019
14
5
I had similar issues with my TDI FR 184, for some reason the suspension/car would bounce excessively, put my friends GTD shocks on my car and it made a huge difference, so I am not sure if my shocks were worn or were just soft. But when driving it harshly around corners etc it used to roll and bounce. Just fitted GTI/GTD shocks all round (yes the ride is slightly harder but I like it) and now it handles like a beast. I'm not sure, seems as if SEAT put lower rated shocks on anything that isn't the Cupra.
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
I'm not sure, seems as if SEAT put lower rated shocks on anything that isn't the Cupra.

My Golf has knocking rear shocks and I was talking to a mechanic about them and mentioning the difference between the VW and Seat shocks. He said that the Seat shocks are just cheaper, softer and not as good.

Don't knock though :0. ....
 

Syerate

Active Member
Sep 6, 2019
14
5
My Golf has knocking rear shocks and I was talking to a mechanic about them and mentioning the difference between the VW and Seat shocks. He said that the Seat shocks are just cheaper, softer and not as good.

Don't knock though :0. ....

Yeah I mean, my friends GTD doesn't make any knocking noises so I'm not sure about that one. Possibly just an issue with your shocks in particular but who knows. Just don't really see why they put soft shocks on a car that has 180+bhp but put harder shocks on the GOLF, guess that's what you pay for.
 

Speedbird

Active Member
Aug 10, 2018
268
135
I have a 65 plate 2.0 TDI 184 ST and in June I had my 2 rear shocks replaced. The car was on 40k miles, was still under warranty, but the warranty company tried to say it was wear and tear. I escalated the claim and eventually the warranty covered the repair costs. After researching at the time, it seems quite common unfortunately.

My thread about the shocks: https://forums.seatcupra.net/index....nty-not-covering-full-cost-of-repairs.453404/
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
Yeah I mean, my friends GTD doesn't make any knocking noises so I'm not sure about that one. Possibly just an issue with your shocks in particular but who knows.

Na, it's a very well known and common problem, which VW don't see as a problem. Doesn't effect performance, just sounds bad. I'm thinking about changing them just to get rid of the noise.
 

Norbert

Active Member
Oct 16, 2018
395
98
Mine lowered and done 22.000 miles front and rear knocking and the front bearing noise too. I dont park on curbs and avoid all pothole (if possible)as always had lowered car.
Our another leon same front strut noise on bumps.
Shocks really soft but hit the car all surface crack like big pothole.
 

Tara

Active Member
Jan 21, 2008
591
215
Bournemouth
My GTI Performance Pack with DCC used to get a knocking / bobble type noise over speed humps or certain bumps in the road which was a known problem and couldn't be fixed unless you swapped out the oem shocks .
 

rock3g

Active Member
Oct 28, 2016
13
0
I notice Eurocarparts for example don't list a Bilstein front option for the ST. I notice the part numbers for the Sachs options are the same for the ST and the GTD though.

The only issue with getting stiffer fronts is the rears should really be changed to match I assume? I'd need to work out if I could justify the additional spend..

I couldn't work out what the original ones are manufacturer wise, perhaps someone can confirm?
 

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Syerate

Active Member
Sep 6, 2019
14
5
I notice Eurocarparts for example don't list a Bilstein front option for the ST. I notice the part numbers for the Sachs options are the same for the ST and the GTD though.

The only issue with getting stiffer fronts is the rears should really be changed to match I assume? I'd need to work out if I could justify the additional spend..

I couldn't work out what the original ones are manufacturer wise, perhaps someone can confirm?

From what I can tell most of the VAG shocks in general, normally SACHS ones are interchangeable as same fitments but different strengths and stiffness, my mate has a GTD and and I wanted the same shocks on my FR as he had as mine were two soft. Called up a company that supply genuine VAG parts and just gave them the GTD reg and ordered genuine shocks that they recommended, they were SACHS, but yeah I changed them all, fronts and rear as otherwise front won't have been stiff and backs soft. Which would not have been good to drive.

The GTD shocks were 85 a shock for fronts, 68 for rear. When I gave them my fr reg they wanted 50-60 for fronts and rear (obviously different rated shocks).
 

Jaco2k

AWD FTW
Mar 11, 2018
1,037
633
Tampere, Finland
www.youtube.com
Some reading...
https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18855

I just ordered last week new bilstein (from germany)for the back and the minimum need new bearing on the front.
Sachs fitted originally and rubbish.
I never seen something fail this quickly.i had some serious expensive coil overs and all type suspensions.

Can you share which site you sourced bearing from? I might need one (or two...) in the future and I am always looking from where to source the parts in advance.
 

Norbert

Active Member
Oct 16, 2018
395
98
Can you share which site you sourced bearing from? I might need one (or two...) in the future and I am always looking from where to source the parts in advance.
I didnt order the front yet.Bit fed up to fix the car myself and pay for the service for the seat.Rear sound bad so just that i will do urgent.
 
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