Better Tyres and Suspenion for MkV R32

[brad]

Anyone know a place in Adelaide I can get some bilstein pss10's fitted?

I'm open to tyre options brad there seem to be so many to choose from. I have been a big fan of Bridgestone RE050's.

You mean RE050A (the assymetrics) which are a fantastic all round tyre and a level or 2 above the RE050. They'd be a good choice but despite my love of Bridgestone tyres & my hate of Goodyear (who I used to work for), I'd be thinking the Goodyear F1 Assymetrics would be slightly better performing for equal/fraction worse mileage (assume you were getting about 25k-35k on the Lib with RE050A?) and slightly less cost.

Kumho KU36 would be the stickiest budget option but the mileage will probably be half what you get with F1A/RE050A. (half the cost, half the mileage) and they are noticeably noisier than F1A/RE050A (woowoowoo). Stick like dog poo to your shoe though.

For fitment of your suspension, there is only 1 special tool required to spread the clamshell thingy that the front strut slides into plus a big mofo socket to undo the driveshafts and some triple-square bits to undo the bolts. It's an easy(ish) job so try either a specialist suspension shop (must be more than 1 in ADL) or a specialist VW shop - even a "trusted mechanic" wouldn't have an issue if they have the tools. There are plenty of walk-throughs with photos on the various forums if you want an idea of what's involved.

[Blue.:R32]

400-500 to install a set of coilovers is about right. Shop around.

[G-rig]

My coilovers cost $300 to install which is pretty good.

Also I'll be sue for some new tyres soon and don't know if I'll get the falken azenis RT-615 again, only due to the local price of them, and will only get 15k out of them, but will have to check what I'm up to.

Leaning toward the F1 asymmetricals as well and sticky tyres aren't fantastic in the wet but doesn't rain that much in brisbane.

[thezoneR32]

Haldex Gen 2 Controller

I am having my gen 2 haldex controller installed today. Without the additional switch can the unit be set to race and then installed? According to the apr website it says that without the switch the controller defaults to sport. Anyone have comment?

[Blue.:R32]

I am having my gen 2 haldex controller installed today. Without the additional switch can the unit be set to race and then installed? According to the apr website it says that without the switch the controller defaults to sport. Anyone have comment?

exactly what you said. It'll be on the sports setting unless you get a switch.

[G-rig]

See how u go with sport mode first perhaps? I never got the switch but wouldn't mind trying it one day.

[thezoneR32]

Well the haldex is in. The difference is huge. Understeer is virtually gone now. The car is much more behaved when powering through fast corners now. This is how it should be. Why would they make it without this? tyres are still crap but take much more pushing to find the limit. MOre even distribution over the front and rear would be the reason. Car is relying less on the tyres and more on power diplacement geometry. Wonder what it would be like on race mode? uh oh. I can feel another $600 mod coming on.............


PS took my modified 3rb lib for another drive today......apart from a big thump in the seat at 4000rpm and a state of the art sound system this car is century's behind the golf. never thought i would be saying this!

[G-rig]

Good stuff, it's the way the car should be and feels a lot more balanced/neutral and much less wheel slip coming out of corners. Glad you like it, it's a solid mod!!

Don't know a lot about the race mode/switch, but have heard you'll use more fuel and the ride is a bit rougher.

[Lance B]

Well the haldex is in. The difference is huge. Understeer is virtually gone now. The car is much more behaved when powering through fast corners now. This is how it should be. Why would they make it without this? tyres are still crap but take much more pushing to find the limit. MOre even distribution over the front and rear would be the reason. Car is relying less on the tyres and more on power diplacement geometry. Wonder what it would be like on race mode? uh oh. I can feel another $600 mod coming on.............


PS took my modified 3rb lib for another drive today......apart from a big thump in the seat at 4000rpm and a state of the art sound system this car is century's behind the golf. never thought i would be saying this!

Paul,

I was the guy who sold you the Haldex, so I am very glad that it is installed and working as well as you hoped.

Having installed the Gen 4 Haldex in my R36, all I can say is that when set to Race, it really sends some serious power to the rear wheels for a very rear biased drive and alot of fun. If I were you, I would definitely spend the extra $ and get the wiring loom for the switch.

[G-rig]

Paul,

I was the guy who sold you the Haldex, so I am very glad that it is installed and working as well as you hoped.

Having installed the Gen 4 Haldex in my R36, all I can say is that when set to Race, it really sends some serious power to the rear wheels for a very rear biased drive and alot of fun. If I were you, I would definitely spend the extra $ and get the wiring loom for the switch.

Hi Lance, what do Passat R36 come with for the Factory , gen 2?? In other words couldn't you hook up a switch to your original one?

I had Gen2 on my R but didn't get around to buying/installing the switch but would be a bit of fun. Btw you don't need to run it up to the cockpit, as you have to stop the car to change modes anyway from what i've heard and some people locate the switch in the boot for easy of install (also keeps it hidden from the dealer).

[Lance B]

Hi Lance, what do Passat R36 come with for the Factory , gen 2?? In other words couldn't you hook up a switch to your original one?

I am not sure what the original Haldex is in the R36 and whether you can just add on the wiring harness for the switch. All I do know is that the Haldex that the R36 is originally equipped with is defaulted to the equivalent of the "Sport" mode of the Gen 2 Haldex, so a slightly sporty rear bias than the standard Passat 3.2lt V6 4 Motion, or Golf 4 Motion for that matter.

When I installed the Gen 4 Haldex into the R36, it would have been pointless to not get the remote control as it would have meant that the Gen 4 Haldex would have defaulted to the "Stock" position which would have meant that it was just like the standard bias. You really need the remote control switch so as to be able to switch it to "Race" position which really gives a very nice rear bias.

I had Gen2 on my R but didn't get around to buying/installing the switch but would be a bit of fun. Btw you don't need to run it up to the cockpit, as you have to stop the car to change modes anyway from what i've heard and some people locate the switch in the boot for easy of install (also keeps it hidden from the dealer).

I had the Gen 2 in my last Passat, which was the standard 3.2lt V6 4 Motion and it benefitted greatly from the Gen 2 even in the standard "Sport" mode that it defaulted to without the wiring harness and switch. It would have been nice to have the option of the switchable system, but they did not advise me of the ability to have the switch located in the boot until a much later date and by then I didn't worry about it. The Gen 2 Haldex was the one that I sold to "thezoneR32" (Paul) that he now has installed into his R32.

[G-rig]

Sounds good Lance B, that must really help put every bit of power down with your R36..! Going back to the stock haldex (gen I) i noticed more front wheels slip and grip out of corners isn't as good. Wouldn't mind getting it again and the switch next time!

I have heard that the new Gen 4 is better anyway (standard in MY10 S3's), so I think it would still be a nice upgrade, don't know if the Gen 4 can be retro fitted to the R32's.. Don't think so.

[thezoneR32]

Paul,

I was the guy who sold you the Haldex, so I am very glad that it is installed and working as well as you hoped.

Having installed the Gen 4 Haldex in my R36, all I can say is that when set to Race, it really sends some serious power to the rear wheels for a very rear biased drive and alot of fun. If I were you, I would definitely spend the extra $ and get the wiring loom for the switch.

Hi Lance. I forgot that it was you, having someone else in between the deal. Very happy. Thanks very much. Getting used to it now of course and finding the limits of the car again. Definately will get the selector. For the extra $49 remote is the go I think.

Thanks once again.

[thezoneR32]

When I installed the Gen 4 Haldex into the R36, it would have been pointless to not get the remote control as it would have meant that the Gen 4 Haldex would have defaulted to the "Stock" position which would have meant that it was just like the standard bias. You really need the remote control switch so as to be able to switch it to "Race" position which really gives a very nice rear bias.

I just read the donwloadable pdf file from here and it states that without the controller, the gen 4 is stuck in "Race" mode!

[G-rig]

For the extra $49 remote is the go I think.

They have gone up in price, more like $500 (not sure if it was a typo).