Owners Skoda Octavia A7 Often face the problem of insufficient ground clearance, especially when operating a car on domestic roads. The factory clearance specified in the documentation is often not true due to the full load of the machine or seasonal wear of the springs. Installing pads is becoming one of the most popular ways to solve this problem without radically replacing the entire suspension.
However, this process requires a deep understanding of the chassis design. Incorrectly selected or mounted part can lead to accelerated wear of shock absorbers, disruption of collapse-convergence and even loss of controllability. Before proceeding with the modifications, you need to weigh all the risks and benefits, and choose a material that will ensure durability and safety.
Design features of the suspension and the principle of operation of spacers
To understand how the system of increasing the lumen works, you need to understand the geometry of the front and rear suspension. Skoda Octavia A7. The car is equipped with an independent suspension type McPherson in the front and multi-link rear. Proposition A component installed between the body and the shock absorber support (or between the spring and the body) that physically raises the spring attachment point.
As a result of this action, the spring is in a more compressed state, which causes the entire knot to rise up. It is important to note that the liner does not change the stiffness of the spring, but only changes the initial point of its compression. This creates the illusion of increasing clearance, but changes the performance of the suspension, especially when the full course of the breakout.
When installed on front axle The slings are usually mounted in the upper part of the shock absorber rack. Nana rear axle The situation is more complicated: depending on the configuration (drive, body type liftback or station wagon), can be used either a stretcher under a cup of spring, or special elongated shock absorbers, as simply putting rubber or plastic under the rear spring is often not enough or unsafe due to the limited stroke of the rod.
It should be borne in mind that when lifting the body, the angle of inclination of the shock absorber changes. This affects its durability and efficiency. If the angle of deviation exceeds the permissible norms, the rubber bushings begin to tear, and the shock absorber rod experiences uneven loads, which leads to a rapid failure of the entire rack.
β οΈ Attention: Installing the pads on the front suspension often leads to the fact that when the wheel is fully hung (for example, when replacing the wheel on the side of the road), the shock absorber can leave its operating range and hit the top cup, which is fraught with serious damage.
The sheds change the geometry of the suspension, raising the spring mounting point, which increases the clearance, but can reduce the damper life and change the angles of the wheels installation.
Materials of manufacture: plastic, aluminum or steel?
The choice of material is a critical factor determining the safety and durability of the structure. There are three main types of materials on the market: polyurethane, aluminum and steel. Each of them has its pros and cons that you need to consider when choosing for the Skoda Octavia A7.
Polyurethane spacers It is considered the most popular option for passenger cars. They have sufficient elasticity to compensate for micro-nervousness, but at the same time they hold the load rigidly. Polyurethane is not subject to corrosion, which is important for the aggressive environment of Russian roads with reagents. However, cheap samples can crack quickly under load.
Aluminum products offer increased rigidity and strength. They do not deform over time and retain their geometric dimensions even under extreme loads. The disadvantage is that aluminum can cause galvanic corrosion when in contact with aluminum body parts, if insulation technologies are not followed. Also, such a stretch is heavier than plastic analogues.
Steel sheds are rarely used and usually only for off-road modifications. They are too heavy and too heavy to be Skoda Octavia A7 It's not appropriate. Steel is prone to rusting, which over time can lead to the "pricking" of the part to the body, making its dismantling impossible without destruction.
When choosing a material, you should also pay attention to the presence of special grooves or ducts. They are needed to remove water and dirt, and to prevent the formation of air pockets, which can lead to uneven load distribution. The absence of such elements indicates the low quality of the product.
- πΉ Polyurethane Optimal balance of price, comfort and durability for the city and the track.
- πΉ Aluminum - a choice for those who plan frequent off-road trips with full load.
- πΉ Steel Not recommended for passenger sedans and liftbacks Octavia due to excess weight and the risk of corrosion.
- Polyurethane
- Aluminum
- Steel
- I don't know, I wasn't interested
Technical details of installation and necessary tools
The process of installing paddles requires the presence of a specialized tool and certain skills of working with suspension. Independent performance of work is possible, but requires strict adherence to the sequence of actions. A mistake at any stage can result in loss of control of the vehicle.
You will need jacks, supports (goats), a set of heads and keys, and a dynamometer key to tighten the bolts with a certain effort. Particular attention should be paid to the removal of the spring. It's a must for that. spring tieswhich allow the spring to be safely decomposed before the support is removed. Trying to remove a rack without screeds is deadly.
Before starting work, it is necessary to drive the car into a hole or lift and securely fix it. Remove the wheel, unscrew the bottom bolt of the rack mount to the swivel fist and disconnect the brake hose and the ABS wire if it interferes. The upper nuts of the mounting rack to the body are unscrewed from the underhood space.
After removing the rack on the workbench, it must be clamped in the vices and carefully compress the spring with screeds. Only then can the upper nut of the shock absorber be unscrewed. At this stage, a stretch is established. It is important to check that it lies flat and does not skew the spring. The assembly is carried out in reverse sequence.
For the rear suspension, the procedure may be different. If you use the spacers under the cup, then you need to dismantle the shock absorber and spring, and then install a spacer between the cup of the body and the spring. In some cases, it is necessary to use elongated mounting bolts, which should have a strength class of not less than 10.9.
βοΈ Preparing to install spacers
β οΈ Warning: Never use old mount or support bolts. After dismantling, the thread is often stretched and repeated tightening will not provide the required force, which can lead to a spinning wheel on the go.
Impact of modification on vehicle performance and safety
Increased clearance inevitably changes the behavior of the car on the road. Centre of gravity Skoda Octavia A7 It rises, which leads to an increase in rolls in corners. The car becomes less stable during sharp maneuvers, and the reaction to the steering wheel can become more "cotton". This is critically important to consider when driving.
The angle of wheel failure also changes. Factory settings collapse-convergence are violated, which leads to uneven wear of tires. If you do not adjust these parameters after installing the slots, the rubber can be erased unevenly after 5-10 thousand kilometers of run. The way the ABS and ESP work can also change.
It is also worth noting the impact on comfort. Due to the change in the geometry of the shock absorber, its working stroke may shift. In some driving modes, this leads to the suspension becoming stiffer, and bumps from irregularities are transmitted to the body more sharply. Long-distance suspension, characteristic of the regular OctaviaMaybe it's lost.
There is a risk of damage to body parts and suspension elements when passing deep pits. The raised car has a smaller suspension range to the point, which increases the likelihood of shock absorber hitting the cup or damaging the lower levers. In winter, this is especially true because of the compaction of snow in the arches.
| Parameter | Standard state | With spacers (+30 mm) | Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center of gravity | Low | Promoted | Increased rolls, reduced stability |
| Camber angle | Factory | Changed. | Uneven tire wear |
| Working stroke of shock absorber | Optimal | Displaced | Possible punches on the cup, stiffness |
| Aerodynamics | Balanced | Violated | Slight increase in fuel consumption |