Treza360's .:R32

[sir_camel]

Sell me on the HPA 40% Reduction Short Shifter kit Treza? I'm still not 100% happy with the first to second change.

[Treza360]

Sell me on the HPA 40% Reduction Short Shifter kit Treza? I'm still not 100% happy with the first to second change.

I love it. I wasn't to happy with the way the gear changes almost happened as a two stage throw when you engage a gear. It can be adjusted for a 20% reduction as well. Price is pretty good too.

http://www.hpamotorsports.com/shifters.htm

Cheers,
Trent

[sir_camel]

Anyone sell them in Aus or you just order from US and fit yourself?

[Treza360]

Anyone sell them in Aus or you just order from US and fit yourself?

I bought mine direct from HPA. Didn't have any issues at all with shipping etc.
For installation it is relatively straight forward but a you are going to more than likely going to need a gear puller to get the old shifter out.
Make sure the feel is good and the alignment of the cables all good to ensure that you don't mash your synchros.
Cheers,
Trent

[quozl]

Great mod, have had one in my car since about a month from new, loved every minute of it, the best way is to try a car with one in it and see if it's for you. If I remember correctly Trent drove my car and then ordered his, along with a few other bits and bobs I got mine from Dragan at Inmotive but I don't think he is selling HPA any more, if you call HPA in Vancouver and speak to Nik he will look after you.

Cheers Al

[dainese]

Hey Trent.

What are Brisbane roads like?

Can you please describe the ride and handling of your R, please?

Thanks,

Justin

[graeme86]

Allow me, Trent.

Brisbane roads are an absolute disgrace.

For some reason every manhole cover in Brisbane is 25mm lower than the road surface. WTF?

OR they are 7 or 8 cm above the road surface with some bitumen packed around them like a turkey mound. God help anyones alloy sump that collects one of those as you try to straddle it.

The best things of all are the new gas or water pipes that tap off the main which appears to be situated under the middle of the roads....so...whenever there is a new subdivided block of land they dig a 30 cm wide trench from the gutter to the middle of the road to tap a new feed. Then the trench is "filled" to what appears to be a regulation 25 mm plus lower than the rest of the road surface.

These rim benders are totally unavoidable and are everywhere.

Other than that, they are generally shi-ite due to their poor construction from lack of depth of bitumen to proper engineering standards.

[Treza360]

Pretty much what Graeme said there in regards to the roads up here.
I'll add one more thing to that. Once it rains we get a ridiculous amount of potholes all over the place opening up. Over a period of weeks these then get gradually filled up with very poor quality bitumen which then brakes up over time so the same pothole basically comes back but this time with lots of broken up bitumen to flick up at cars around you.

As to the handling and ride of my car. It is a fair bit firmer than the stock suspension setup. If you hit one of those potholes that I was talking about you are going to feel and hear it.

However the main reason for the upgrade is to remove the awful wallow that the Monroe shocks had due to their pathetic damping characteristics and the fact that they weren't matched to the springs from what I've been told. In fact if you track down the motoring press reviews when it was launched they actually thought the suspension was dangerous!

With the setup I've got it's basically equivalent to the Bilstein Euro setup except the Konis are adjustable. I've got the rears on the softest setting and front with about a quarter of a turn off softest. The ride is now firm but still comfortable (unless potholes as I said above).

I've also done swaybars, rear tie brace and a lower front tie brace but cornering is quite flat with a lot of the roll taken out. If you're driving enthusiastically on a mountain road it's very nice.

That said because I haven't tracked the car I can't give you a full run down of how it handles at the limit. I've never had any snap or lift off oversteer or anything like that though in spirited mountain driving. However by all accounts the Konis aren't the best for the track (*cough* coilovers *cough*).

Hope this helps you out.
Cheers,
Trent

[graeme86]

If you wade through the vwvortex suspension thread on this, it appears that Euro Springs with Konis set on 50% are about equivalent to the factory Euro Bilstein setup.....That would be a hard ride on our roads I would think.

[seangti]

That said because I haven't tracked the car I can't give you a full run down of how it handles at the limit. I've never had any snap or lift off oversteer or anything like that though in spirited mountain driving. However by all accounts the Konis aren't the best for the track (*cough* coilovers *cough*).

Trent, mate, buddy.... September 19th at Queensland raceway. join me in VW representation link in my signature. As to not hijack your thread, any questions either PM me or ask in that link.

I've got two mates also coming (XR5 and Clio Sport) whom haven't tracked before and will be working up to pace.

[Treza360]

If you wade through the vwvortex suspension thread on this, it appears that Euro Springs with Konis set on 50% are about equivalent to the factory Euro Bilstein setup.....That would be a hard ride on our roads I would think.

There we go then. I knew it would be somewhere in there and quite close. Yes me thinks that ride would be quite hard. Would handle sweet as though on some nice smooth twisties.
Cheers,
Trent

[Treza360]

Trent, mate, buddy.... September 19th at Queensland raceway. join me in VW representation link in my signature. As to not hijack your thread, any questions either PM me or ask in that link.
I've got two mates also coming (XR5 and Clio Sport) whom haven't tracked before and will be working up to pace.

Mate I'd love to however no track days this year. Europe awaits me in December and I want the set of tyres I have at the moment to last until I get back. The plan is to get myself a helmet and have some fun next year.
Cheers,
Trent

[dainese]

Allow me, Trent.

Brisbane roads are an absolute disgrace.

For some reason every manhole cover in Brisbane is 25mm lower than the road surface. WTF?

OR they are 7 or 8 cm above the road surface with some bitumen packed around them like a turkey mound. God help anyones alloy sump that collects one of those as you try to straddle it.

The best things of all are the new gas or water pipes that tap off the main which appears to be situated under the middle of the roads....so...whenever there is a new subdivided block of land they dig a 30 cm wide trench from the gutter to the middle of the road to tap a new feed. Then the trench is "filled" to what appears to be a regulation 25 mm plus lower than the rest of the road surface.

These rim benders are totally unavoidable and are everywhere.

Other than that, they are generally shi-ite due to their poor construction from lack of depth of bitumen to proper engineering standards.

Hah, yeah they are pretty bad here as well. It is like every section was buiilt on a friday arvo, or something.

Just plain awful.

Pretty much what Graeme said there in regards to the roads up here.
I'll add one more thing to that. Once it rains we get a ridiculous amount of potholes all over the place opening up. Over a period of weeks these then get gradually filled up with very poor quality bitumen which then brakes up over time so the same pothole basically comes back but this time with lots of broken up bitumen to flick up at cars around you.

As to the handling and ride of my car. It is a fair bit firmer than the stock suspension setup. If you hit one of those potholes that I was talking about you are going to feel and hear it.

However the main reason for the upgrade is to remove the awful wallow that the Monroe shocks had due to their pathetic damping characteristics and the fact that they weren't matched to the springs from what I've been told. In fact if you track down the motoring press reviews when it was launched they actually thought the suspension was dangerous!

With the setup I've got it's basically equivalent to the Bilstein Euro setup except the Konis are adjustable. I've got the rears on the softest setting and front with about a quarter of a turn off softest. The ride is now firm but still comfortable (unless potholes as I said above).

I've also done swaybars, rear tie brace and a lower front tie brace but cornering is quite flat with a lot of the roll taken out. If you're driving enthusiastically on a mountain road it's very nice.

That said because I haven't tracked the car I can't give you a full run down of how it handles at the limit. I've never had any snap or lift off oversteer or anything like that though in spirited mountain driving. However by all accounts the Konis aren't the best for the track (*cough* coilovers *cough*).

Hope this helps you out.
Cheers,
Trent

Thanks for that.
As I said, they are bad here as well.
I actually have Koni coilovers now, and on good roads it is sublime. potholes aren't a problem, because I dodge them.
It is the rough surfaces, where you can't avoid are the ones I expect the suspension to soak up to a degree.

Are your standard Koni struts adjustable externally?

Yeah, I have no intention of taking my R32 to the track.
I am sure it will do fine though, with your suspension, and mine as well. But I drive it everyday, and I want some comfort and compliance.

Thanks for your comments.

If you wade through the vwvortex suspension thread on this, it appears that Euro Springs with Konis set on 50% are about equivalent to the factory Euro Bilstein setup.....That would be a hard ride on our roads I would think.

Ah, ok.

At the moment I am getting East Coast Suspension to see if they can supply new (softer) springs for my Coilovers. And also raise the height to max height.

Hopefully this works.

If not, will look seriously into the Koni FSD's and or the Bilstein.

Thanks,

Justin

[Treza360]

Be careful with your choice with the FSDs. I'm yet to hear anything really good about them. Lots of people I've seen have pulled them out and put normal shocks in.
How high are you at the moment. I'm at 100mm and aside from some occasional sideways driveway entry and exits all is good.

Going back from coilovers to normal shocks just sounds silly I reckon.

The Koni Yellow sports are externally adjustable at the front through the top mounts however the rears have to be dropped out to adjust them.

Cheers,
Trent

[dainese]

Be careful with your choice with the FSDs. I'm yet to hear anything really good about them. Lots of people I've seen have pulled them out and put normal shocks in.
How high are you at the moment. I'm at 100mm and aside from some occasional sideways driveway entry and exits all is good.

Going back from coilovers to normal shocks just sounds silly I reckon.

The Koni Yellow sports are externally adjustable at the front through the top mounts however the rears have to be dropped out to adjust them.

Cheers,
Trent

Really? I read some good things on low speed comfort damping.

i haven't measured, but its best to measure from centre of wheel to arch.

clearance is fine. just not enough travel to dampen the rough roads, and the spring rate is probably too high.

not silly, maybe not logical, yes.
i drive it everyday, and I want some body compliance and comfort. I am crossing my fingers for these new springs and we will go from there.

Thanks for your help!