Replacing Sport Shocks and Springs (Rear)

[mega666]

Hi All,

Car: Passat Estate Sport, 2007 - 2.0 TDi (136 HP)

1 of my shock (NSR) and 1 of the springs (OSR) needs replacing and I would love to try replacing on my own (both PAIRS of course) , but trying to find the right parts is confusing, to say the least ! Too much choice and if I'm honest - I don't quite understand the difference between different options.
On any car parts website - there are variants for "cars without a sports chassis", or "heavy duty chassis/suspension" etc. I'm not sure which one to choose.
I would guess I need the parts for "Sports chassis" or "sports suspension" but I actually think that personally, I would prefer the softer normal (non-sport) suspension.


So I have few questions to you

1) What does Sport version of my car actually mean ? I'm pretty sure it's nothing to do with the engine. So is it the suspension alone (my best guess) ?
Assuming it's the suspension - I am guessing that it's stiffer. Is that right ?
2) If that's the case - and assuming I have a sports suspension on my car at the moment - can I replace REAR shocks and springs with the option which states "for cars without sports or heavy duty suspension" ?
3) Will replacing REAR springs and shocks to non-sport suspension improve the quality of the ride ?
4) Will replacing only the REAR set of springs and shocks have any impact on safety ?
5) when i get to replacing the parts - am I right by saying that if I take off the Shock - I then will be able to take out the Spring without any spring clamps/compressors ?


I hope all this makes sense
Would appreciate any help on this !

[RichardSEL]

"Sport" (1BE) is 4cm lower than standard (1BA) rear suspension

For about 1cm more lowering on your "Sport" use Eibach Pro springs with either Sachs Super Touring or Bilsten B4 shocks.

Up until the Brexit devaluation of £ against € (thanks europe, glad our assistance in 1945 has been remembered) it was
more cost effective to buy direct from the continent. These were about £60 more if bought in UK. But I don't know what
the current price states are, as eventually I didn't do the update from 1BA to Eibach Pro with Bilsten B4

But I've saved all the details and some other useful stuff to do when you're down there in a handy help .doc. PM me an
email address for return attach.

[mega666]

Thank you.

I don't actually want to lower the car.
At the moment I am experiencing a VERY rough ride over smallest bumps/holes. This might be because one of the shocks needs replacing, but I still feel the whole suspension is rather stiff.

So I want to replace the existing sports suspension with a more comfortable standard one.

Is that possible / safe ? If I'm replacing rear shocks and rear springs ?

[RichardSEL]

The 1cm lowering by using Eibach Pro and Bilsten B4 is a by-product of using that combination that's proved by other users to be the best vs cost effective.
AFAIK it doesn't produce more of a hard ride than OEM Sport - when that's working correctly

If you want softer ride than your current Sport then you'll have to swap out both your springs and shocks
I've got a VW coding chart in the help file I mentioned -- they're coded by colour then refers to part numbers

You'll have to spend money though, no point in going to EPC and getting some cheeepo springs and shocks, fitting them, and then being disappointed in the performance (like FK) having spent out on the fittings too

More details in the useful threads by those that've done it in my help .doc

[mega666]

Swapping both shocks and springs (REAR Only for now) is exactly what I was planning on doing.

[Crasher]

As I said on the other forum

Yes you have to be EXTREMELY careful buying dampers and springs, nearly all of the aftermarket rubbish is semi generic and designed to cover a broad range of cars. There are 54 different springs listed for the rear of a 2007 3C Passat with 10 of those specifically for an estate with heavy load specification so we ONLY then have 44 to choose from...For sports suspension these are listed as what is known as PR-1JC of which there are 10 weight groups and if you look on your data sticker you should find 1JC to denote sports suspension and the weight group which will be 0YB, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K or L and that is as far as I can go but the VW parts are between £115 and £117 each. Dampers are far easier, there are only 22 to choose from! Only 5 of these are for an estate and only 1 of those is for an estate with 1JC sports suspension, VW part number 3C0 513 049 BH and these retail at £117.37 for genuine VW although VW list their "ECO" range damper JZW 513 025 N at £72.11, both inc VAT. I buy either Sachs or Boge or sometimes Monroe for my customers cars and the only non genuine factory type springs I will fit are Suplex. First of all we need to know the EXACT damper and spring numbers in your car which I can work out for you with your registration number.