New front shock absorbers

[kunaalv]

Hey guys, my trusty Passat gives off 'pssst' noises from the front of the car as I drive over bumps and uneven surfaces. It's done 120k so it sounds like the shock absorbers are finished.

Eurocarparts are offering Bilstein or Sachs as replacements? I don't want firm suspension, as what I have at the moment (OEM) are really good ride, soft and good cornering.

Any one used any of these, or any other brand and how would you rate it?

Thanks.

[Quatrelle]

Before you buy some new ones, are you sure that's the problem. Try bouncing a front corner of the car a few times and see if it stops when you do.

[martin1810]

If you are only replacing two shocks and not all four, I would only fit genuine ones from a dealer. Lot's of people will disagree with me though.

[fat controller]

If you are only replacing two shocks and not all four, I would only fit genuine ones from a dealer. Lot's of people will disagree with me though.

I wouldn't - I replaced the rear shocks on my last Passat (a B5 saloon) with aftermarket ones (Boge I think), and the effect on the handling was pretty disastrous to be honest - the car never felt 'straight' again (felt like it was crabbing up the road), and that coupled with other niggles made me get rid.

[kunaalv]

The car is so heavy, it hardly bounces!

It does a slight squeaking noise when you lift the car and then drop it, doesn't move much but enough to hear that darn noise.

I've always thought squeaky suspension is the shocks, am I miss guided?

[angus]

TBH, it sounds more like the noise my bushes made at the front end before the suspension arms were replaced with the new, super-dooper uprated items.

Try spraying the suspension with water then seeing if it still makes the noise, if not I would suspect its because the water has lubricated the worn bushes.