Nick Nick

Ibiza Veteran, Leon Virgin
Nov 13, 2005
75
7
Southampton
Hello all,

I have almost lost the will to live. The AI bots are not my friends any more, and I fear that my recent arguments with them over which suspension parts actually fit my car will have almost certainly cemented their decision to eliminate me when they become sentient next year.

So, while I can still drive (and indeed breathe), I was wondering if any of you might be able to help...

Short story:

Car failed MOT on a cracked/broken front nearside coil spring. In the process of watching a very helpful video from Autodoc
on how to change said spring, I decided that if I had to take _that much_ of the car apart to get at the spring, then I would replace all the worn parts. On both sides. So, nearly £700 later, I have everything needed to fit all the other parts (control arms, track rod ends, ball joints, CV boot kits, top nuts, dust covers etc), but have managed to order springs that don't fit the shocks I've ordered. Oh, and bump stops that may or may not fit one or other of the incorrect spring/damper bast**d combo I seem to have summoned from the depths of Autocock's most irrelevant search results that promised they would fit my car. Sachs/ZF couldn't have made things more awkward if they tried - if you ring Sachs/ZF customer support to ask for information/technical support, you are less than helpfully informed that Sachs/ZF 'don't sell springs and haven't done for over ten year or more'. :-| Apparently, the factory in Germany only supplies Euro Car Parts now, and ringing ECP for support is akin to Ygritte's assessment of John Snow.

Car is a Mk2 '07 Leon FR (PR G63 0GG), with what appears to be 'comfort-sport' shocks and springs.

Shock damper part number actually on the car is: 1T0413031GF
Broken spring on the car has three dots (yellow, pink, green)

I ordered:

Sachs 317575 Shock absorber (allegedly a direct replacement for the 1T0413031GF)
Sachs 993217 coil spring (allegedly for cars with sport's suspension, which I thought it had)
Sachs 900105 Dust boot and bumpstop kit

Clearly these don't fit each other, the spring is way too short for that shock. It would appear someone ordered my FR with comfort dampers and springs, not the sport versions that the FR was meant to have, or at least that is what Googling has hinted at, but I am now too confused to make any logical decisions.

AI has so far informed me that:

The 317574 shock is the correct one for my car (wrong, it's for less heavy cars)
The 998440 spring should fit the 317575 shock I ordered (Autodoc's site says that doesn't fit my car Reg)
the 993217 spring I ordered is for lighter weight cars (not entirely sure this is true, it seems it is the correct spring for the sport shock that a normal FR would have left the factory with)
The 312614 shock is the correct shock for FR's that left the factory as they should with sport suspension (starting to lose the will to live)
The 993217 spring is the correct spring for the 312614 shock (will to live now critically low)
The 900105 bump stop kit is incorrect for the 312614 sport shock (given up all hope).


Given that I would like to replace the broken coil and damper with the 'FR feel' versions as opposed to 'comfort-garbage', which shock/spring/bumpstop combination do I actually need!??

Please help if you can, and apologies for the huge post.

Ta in advance :)
 
Hi Nick

I have a standard 08 FR (had it from new, and there was no Spring type option, just the Sport Suspension as standard). I had to have the front 2 Springs changed a couple of years ago (rear will need doing in next 12months) - i just got the garage to do it.

Am in work so haven't got any paperwork here and it no doubt just says replace 2 x springs. But i used Hendy in Brighton they were a SEAT Dealer now Renault/Dacia but it may be worth giving them a call for advice as i am sure its the same Service Team 01273 051907

Another garage that are helpful is Cedar Garage 01903 248967

hope you get it sorted.
 
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Hey, thanks for the reply, I haven't tried calling stealerships yet mainly because I have access to PETKA, but also because I've found in the past that they are highly inclined not to give away part numbers and such. PETKA and part numbers are only useful so far though, and the various revisions of aftermarket part numbers since production halted make it a minefield at the best of times. What would be really helpful would be if you would'nt mind having a look behind your front wheel to see what the part number is for your replacement front shock... That would be far more use than anything AI has offered me yet! :)

Cheers
 
So my car is a PR-2UC 0GG

Can't see a code on the shock but by deciphering the PR code look like the Shocks are 1T0 413 031 CF(yours say GF)

The rear springs have 2 x white dots and 2 x yellow dots, OEM Part 1K0 411 105 JC

There are no dots on the fronts that i can see even though I cleaned the bottom 2 but according to Google they will be the same
 
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Yea don't buy or fit anything where the description says "for vehicles with standard suspension" only buy/fit stuff on an FR or Cupra where the description says "for vehicles with sports suspension"

AutoDoc might not have the correct Sachs shocks available, so look elsewhere. Euro Car Parts have them in stock.

 
Ok guys, thanks for the replies and apologies it's taken this long to respond. After spending waaay too much time on this, if you are replacing a Sachs 1T0413031GF shock combined with the Sachs 1K0411105GT original spring on your FR, then it would appear the 635442130 shock and 993217 spring are what you need. We will see when they turn up this week....
 
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Yup, can confirm that those part numbers are correct, however the nice low ride i used to have due to the completely broken springs is gone, and the car looks like it is on stilts. Damn i wish I had decided to go with lowered springs and shocks, I didn't think it would have made this much difference! One of the old springs snapped off so much that the spring isn't even under tension any more - I can wind the spring down off the shock and happily towards the wheel with the topnut untouched.... That would have been a horrible horrible day had that actually happened going over bump during a 'spirited' drive.

Next up, stuck ABS sensors, airbag warning light, and horrible whooshing noise from the brake pedal (dead servo or master cylinder apparently). This is not fun now, I want my car back.
 
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