Better Tyres and Suspenion for MkV R32

[Evaded Motorsport]

The R32 aint a bad handling car, when Tuned properly it is proven to be one of the fastest handling car.

Of course your stock liberty has a better handling, as it has bilstein shock and sti spring as standard. But R32 is not all about Handling, it is suppose to be a Grand tourer car/Long distant tourer, So it is more comfortable then the Liberty.

IMO you shouldn't purchase R32 if you are looking for handling, more like you should get an Evo X MR, E36 Bmw M3,WRX STI, or perhaps Renault Megane R F1 if you want the hatchback look.

They are more Track focus then R32.

This is true, but as you said, handling can be improved, mixture of strut braces (we are doing a set on Monday for another R32) along with a good set of coilovers would improve the ride and from there if you do not like the balance of the car a set of sway bars can tidy that up.

[thezoneR32]

This is true, but as you said, handling can be improved, mixture of strut braces (we are doing a set on Monday for another R32) along with a good set of coilovers would improve the ride and from there if you do not like the balance of the car a set of sway bars can tidy that up.

Thanks for that. Nice bit of info. See theres no need to resort to personal insults mr Yevvy.

[Maverick]

This is true, but as you said, handling can be improved, mixture of strut braces (we are doing a set on Monday for another R32) along with a good set of coilovers would improve the ride and from there if you do not like the balance of the car a set of sway bars can tidy that up.

Strut braces in the rear only (they're not needed in the front) would be the last mod I would do and only after suspension and everything else was sorted. The rear braces are intrusive into the load area, require drilling and reinforcement of the attachment points and IMO are useless unless you track the car on a regular basis.

[Yevvy]

Mate is there something I've said to offend you or are you just bored and thought you'd hang some **** on me?

I drove the car for an hour or so in various kinds of road conditions. It was a private sale and its not like they were gonna let me take it fr a week. There was something about the car that drew me to it. That well engineered, german solid but refined feel that sucks you in. Plus I got it for $38k and its only done 30,000 km. So it was a bit impulsive. Dont get me wrong I really like this car but I want everything! So I'm using this forum to push the boundaries of peoples knowledge and hopefully glean some info in to what can be achieved with this fun little car.

I still have the lib. So if I get bored with it I may just sell it instead.

don't take it as an offense, i was just kidding its just there is a new thread like this appearing every week, having some newb who just joined the forum to ask the most basic question.

we have a couple of people on here with mk4 r32s participating in tarmac rallying. and they embarrass some porsches on track days. oh yeah an torsen is always better than haldex.

[Maverick]

Hmmm, I'm really starting to think I made bad decision buying this R32 over my lib! Someone come to my rescue and tell me this isn’t so!

If you're just going to look at the negatives of the car perhaps you should sell it

Did you bother to look at all the positives of the haldex system?

Like safety? (rear wheels are disconnected during braking to prevent oversteer)
Life fuel savings? (10%+ fuel savings are possible)
Front and rear transfer cases can lock 100% as can the haldex coupling
The haldex controller is upgradeable to give a permanent bias to the rear with a switch.
The stock haldex reacts after 15 degrees of wheel slippage.
Even the new Porsche Carrera 4 is rumoured to be coming out with haldex.

[Evaded Motorsport]

Strut braces in the rear only (they're not needed in the front) would be the last mod I would do and only after suspension and everything else was sorted. The rear braces are intrusive into the load area, require drilling and reinforcement of the attachment points and IMO are useless unless you track the car on a regular basis.

It depends if you decide you want to do it then it isn't a bad modification to make at the beginning. Personally if I didn't mind losing the space in the rear then I would do it.

[chaddy]

Work your way through this thread, plenty of info

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100863

FWIW I'd be looking at Haldex Gen 2, RSB and coilovers as a start.

[thezoneR32]

Work your way through this thread, plenty of info

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100863

FWIW I'd be looking at Haldex Gen 2, RSB and coilovers as a start.

Picking up a gen 2 early next week (hopefully)! Will be a start anyway. I do like the car. As I said before, I consider myself a good judge of quality when I see it. The golf oozes quality and refinement in an engineering sense. Sounds stupid but what I mean is, even though its not packed with bells and whistles, the things that are present seem to work well an with a real sense of purpose. You can tell that they spent a lot of time getting things right. I like that in a car.

Just need to tidy up the handling, sound system and gps and then It'll be perfect.

Funny thing. Drove the wife’s outback all day today and started to miss the golf not the lib!

PS: Thats an awsome link! Thanks!

[bazzle]

You do (did) come over like you dont like the R32 and this is a VW forum

The 1st easy mod is a stiffer rear sway bar. In my case a whiteline 22mm (same diam as standard BUT solid, ~ 80% stiffer) and with adj end links.
You use the standard mounts too.

Changed mine into what I though the R32 should of been from the start.

Swap your wheels end to end too, May change the bias from the diff tread patterns. Even on hot days you can still check tyre pressure in the morning before a drive , try 42psi if its stil 30degrees.
Rear camber can change corner feel too if there is too much, some R32s seem to have an excesive amount.

Bazzle

[thezoneR32]

You do (did) come over like you dont like the R32 and this is a VW forum

The 1st easy mod is a stiffer rear sway bar. In my case a whiteline 22mm (same diam as standard BUT solid, ~ 80% stiffer) and with adj end links.
You use the standard mounts too.

Changed mine into what I though the R32 should of been from the start.

Swap your wheels end to end too, May change the bias from the diff tread patterns. Even on hot days you can still check tyre pressure in the morning before a drive , try 42psi if its stil 30degrees.
Rear camber can change corner feel too if there is too much, some R32s seem to have an excesive amount.

Bazzle

Thanks for the advice Bazzle. 22m sway bar. is that enough thick enough?

[qsilverza]

For handling, I would change the following in order of effect vs. cost,

Swaybar's
Haldex Controller set to race
Coil-overs
Bush's including dog bone mount if the mk5's have one
Tyre's something like RE001's

Oh and definatly for smile factor change the exhaust to something cat-back or open the flapper on your std exhaust.

Having different tyres front and rear can affect the way the haldex controller works creating excessive wear but I am pretty sure it can cope just keep in mind for handing it's never a good idea to mix tyre's.

Tyres are good for outright grip/handling wet or dry and the biggest factor, haldex swaybar and coilovers will help with directional changes,feel of car and also add to handling/grip a lot.

[thezoneR32]

For handling, I would change the following in order of effect vs. cost,

Swaybar's
Haldex Controller set to race
Coil-overs
Bush's including dog bone mount if the mk5's have one
Tyre's something like RE001's

Oh and definatly for smile factor change the exhaust to something cat-back or open the flapper on your std exhaust.

Having different tyres front and rear can affect the way the haldex controller works creating excessive wear but I am pretty sure it can cope just keep in mind for handing it's never a good idea to mix tyre's.

Tyres are good for outright grip/handling wet or dry and the biggest factor, haldex swaybar and coilovers will help with directional changes,feel of car and also add to handling/grip a lot.

Thanks guys. The link to mkV.com that Chaddy provided is great. The first write up was really good. Now I'm thinking:

TEIN Euro + EDFC , H&R 28mm/24mm sway bars set to hard/soft, a set of Continental Contact Sport ‘3’ tyres – CS3, Haldex gen 2.

The tests were conducted with a fwd gti and I'm wondering, with the haldex if the R32 would beneift from this or need a slightly different set up. Eg maybe the front sway bar could also be set to hard due to the less tendencey for the R32 to understeer with throttle on mid corner while the haledex 2 redirects more power to the rear?

[thezoneR32]

Dub for good

Well folks I took both my modified lib 3rb and R32 out for good hard run today and I can say without prejudice that the R32 is overall a much better car. The lib is great in some spots during hard acceleration but generally has one spot were there is a lot of power and not much low down torque. The R32 on the other hand seems to have oodles of torque whenever you need it (compared to the lib anyway). And driving the DSG in manual mode juts makes perfect sense! No gap between changes means that you can more quickly find the most power to suit the particular driving situation without losing valuable revs. With a few mods I'm pretty sure I can make this car perfect!

Sorry guys but it looks like I’m gonna be here to stay and pester you all for good now.

[G-rig]

Thanks guys. The link to mkV.com that Chaddy provided is great. The first write up was really good. Now I'm thinking:

TEIN Euro + EDFC , H&R 28mm/24mm sway bars set to hard/soft, a set of Continental Contact Sport ‘3’ tyres – CS3, Haldex gen 2.

The tests were conducted with a fwd gti and I'm wondering, with the haldex if the R32 would beneift from this or need a slightly different set up. Eg maybe the front sway bar could also be set to hard due to the less tendencey for the R32 to understeer with throttle on mid corner while the haledex 2 redirects more power to the rear?

I agree with Mav that Hankook's are a bit cheap and nasty and would help having better tyres.

Haldex is the first thing i'd do (and did do), followed by coilovers then sway bars. With that combo the car should be chuckable and have great handling & grip levels.

I've never tested the front sway bar on hard, it would be worse comfort over one wheel potholes/bad roads etc and prob not necessary for the street (although may sharpen up steering?). I wouldn't bother with strut braces as the MK5 doesn't really need them, the front one in particular may not do anything & they aren't really good value.

[bazzle]

You will notice if you read my reply that a solid whiteline with adj ends is 80% stiffer than the standard 22m hollow bar.
I also thought about the Haldex but as far as I can see it is only of benefit if you are under power out of a corner??

Stiffer front bar? Same again I doubt its req.
Try one change at a time.
Who knows you may only need driving lessons Just kidding
Bazzle