Skoda Felicia damper failure

[Lummox]

A few members have now asked about this so I thought I would make a brief description of what it is and why it happens.

In short the damper as fitted to the front and the rear of the Felicia (as many others) is made of two essential parts. A damper body and a spring platform or 'cup'. This platform which is attatched to the damper body usually by means of a weld is together with the top mount responsible for retaining the spring in place. What has been known to happen on the Skoda Felica is the weld that secures this platform or even the platform itself corrodes away meaing the spring is then released and the vehicle ride height will drop dramitcally at that corner.

The dampers of course are checked on service and as part of the MOT, but it may be wise to keep an eye on them and replace any dampers that are corroded as a precaution .

Thanks for reading.

[daverapid]

Applies to Favorit's too.

[bobob]

Make sure the drainage hole doesn't get blocked, keep the cups free of dirt, waxoyl the cups

[mbames]

This happened on my GFs felicia. The cups rusted through, and dropped onto the tyre, rubbing on them. Was a right b!tch to get the clamp bolts out when changing them!

[tarmacsurfer]

Shock horror (sorry!) my front absorber has failed too (at 105,000 not bad!). As with everyone else the bottom swivel hub clamp bolt will not budge. I am going to try extreme heat today and the persuader on them. Anyway, upon purchasing said new shock, do they come with new bolt and nut for the clamp?!? If not how can I get hold of the correct item cheaply! I can't seem to find any info on this???

Many thanks all...

[pinkskud]

last time i got a set they didn't come with bolts. i usually pinch them from work. but if you go to any proper backstreet garage, they should have all sorts of nuts and bolts for you to sift through.

[tarmacsurfer]

Ta... got the shocks out (after blow torching and bending the metal in the locating hole...but the damn bolts are still in there...oh joy!

[surprising_skod]

they're 5/8ths nuts and bolts, you'll ring them with a 16mm. i've a few on order from jorily/grum1969 who you can find on ebay
usually take a breaker bar to loosen while your at it...

[pinkskud]

Originally Posted by surprising_skod

they're 5/8ths nuts and bolts, .

thats funny, why not metric like the rest???

[tarmacsurfer]

Yeah I noticed this about the nut and bolt size...weird?! I don't think there is anything else on the car that is in imperial...I ordered the shocks from Jorily (i have bought stuff from them before...very good service). Many thanks....bolts are still in though!

[Skippymon]

This has just happened to me - I managed to limp 1 mile home, but casued damage to the front tyre and I don't have the tools or know how to fix it myself. Real niusance. Does this problem affect front and back?

How much should it cost a cheap garage to fix it roughly?

[skoda_dragon]

Does anybody know what type and size the lower retaining nuts & bolts are on the rear damper. I need to change the dampers and I know the nuts are gonna be rusted to hell so I was gonna renew them. Also are ones from DIY shops strong enough or would i need to go to a garage or something to get some. Cheers

[Skippymon]

Just got my car back, it cost £140 all in so a bit steep really but working again... for now.

[rigsby]

They are a 10mm x60mm shanked bolt with a 16mm head, you would want a replacement that says 10.9 on the head of the bolt not 8.8 as these are only mild steel and not suitable for load bearing suspension components. having said this they would do as a get u mobile fix until correct bolt is obtained, 10mm bolts will most probably come with 17mm heads if not ordered from skoda

[rigsby]

sorry last post is for front , but rear will be about same

[bobob]

Originally Posted by Skippymon

Just got my car back, it cost £140 all in so a bit steep really but working again... for now.

For one?

[favfab]

Rigsby my boy will pay a visit shortly with the latest toy. A 1.6 glxi Felicia, will let you know when it gets here.

[pinkskud]

the bolts on the rear are funny ones. they have different size heads on the nut compared to the bolt. i got a full new set of nuts and bolts when i put my coilovers on the other week. makes life sooooo much easier with all new fixings.

they'll only cost you a few quid.

[rigsby]

nip to any commercial garage and slip the mechanic a pint and he will give you a hand full of bolts ( well i would in my garage)

[skoda_dragon]

i managed to get the struts off my car today will little bit of force but the problem i'm having is getting the spring off the old dampers. the retaining bolt on the piston is stuck solid and so is the spacer. I have tried some expensive rust removing solution, which didnt seem to work. i then tried a nut splitter and it got half of the nut off but the spacer is still on there. any ideas how to get this lot off??? I tried heating it with a heat gun but obviously the heat output is insufficient. any help will be great.