Mkv r32 planned mods

[Stalker]

Hi all. Am hopefully only a week or so from having my r32 and am trying to kill some time by planning some initial mods. I'm sure this is a common topic, and have done a fair bit of reading, so please bear with me.

To startwith i'm thinking whiteline 22mm rsb, whiteline alk, and a pendulum mount of some sort (vf engineering perhaps). Will consider the haldex upgrade a bit later down the track. Am just looking for some good value upgrades to start with.

Any thoughts on the above or suggestions for other must have mods are appreciated.

Ps. It's a 2008 3dr manual.

thanks Brad.

[thezoneR32]

Gday Brad,

Congrats on the car mate! This has been done to death but unlike other people here I won't jump down your throat and tell you to "look around" as I too were a newb to this site at some stage.

If you're going to get sway bars you need front and rears. Otherwise you're really messing with the geometry of the suspension/chassis. These are the ones to get from ECS tuning in US. H & R 24mm front, 26mm rear. The dollar is so good they cost about $700 shipped! I ordered some on the 27 Oct and they are already in Melbourne!

Then starts the chain of spending. If you change the sway bars you should really get some coilvers. Not sure how long the stock suspension will last with more solid sways. The best ones that combine a blend of handling and comfort are the HPA KW SHS. See extensive review here. They give you much better rebound and take away that "underdamped" feel of the oem ones. I also noticed after installing these that noise vibration from the engine reduced significantly making the whole car feel smoother.

The best value for money mod is by far the Gen 2 Haldex controller upgrade. This completely transforms the handling of the R32. But you really need the switch installed as well so you can access the "Race" mode which mine is set to permanently so it feels more like a torsen awd. (I don't like fwd cars). The beauty of this mod is that it can re-direct torque to the rear wheels under deceleration as well as acceleration which gives excellent control over the car in hills cornering.

A less bang for your buck mod is an ecu tune. There are many good ones but I went for the APR one. It's expensive at around $1100 but it does noticeably increase mid range torque and responsiveness.

If your after handling get rid of the contisport rubbish and get some Bridgestone RE050a's.

Finally for that extra bit of R32 sound you need to do the flapper mod. Which is as simple as cutting the vacuum hose under the exhaust and plugging it with a golf tee.

Enjoy!

[Stalker]

Thanks mate. I appreciated your time to respond and have already read a fair few of your posts. I was (still am?) very tempted to follow your line of mods. Just trying to work out whether to pace myself or belt my Mastercard. =D


P.s. Is the APR a standard mail order tune or custom jobby?
P.p.s. Why no pendulum mount or WALK? These seem to be a fairly popular mods as well?

Cheers, Brad.

[thezoneR32]

Not sure about the pendulum mount but everyone I know who is in the industry always scoffs at the anti-lift kits. My understanding is that you're better off with a good coilover/sway bar combo. The haldex gen 2 is only US$995! thats half what it cost here. For the APR tune you need to go to an APR equipped workshop.

Cheers

[Nathan_B]

If you change the sway bars you should really get some coilvers. Not sure how long the stock suspension will last with more solid sways.

Your sure about that?

Congrats on the purchase Brad, i love my 3 door!

Bought mine stock and have done the following

- BMC Intake
- GIAC ecu reflash
- Milltek cat back exhaust (You think they sound good stock....)
- 24mm rear sway bar (whiteline)
- Hawk Ceramic pads

I have ordered the Haldex Gen II stealth unit with remote control switch, hope to have it soon!

G'luck, you will love the car!

[Stalker]

Thanks Nathan.

Where'd you order your Haldex unit from?

Any thoughts on the car pre and post the Whiteline RSB?

[Nathan_B]

You should go buy a RSB tomorrow

Sourced the Haldex from overseas whilst the aussie $ is strong!

[Stalker]

You should go buy a RSB tomorrow

Sourced the Haldex from overseas whilst the aussie $ is strong!

I just might do that .....still trying to decide on Whiteline vs H&R and rear only vs front and rear. I have Whiteline RSB's on both our Forester XT and my soon to be sold Mazda 3 and love them. Easy install, no issues with noise, noticeable improvement to handling and very well priced. I know people with H&R are going to say get H&R and people with whiteline are going to say get whiteline. Depending on shipping, I might splurge and get the H&R set from ECS. Hard to go past the Whiteline RSB on it's own for value though. Hmmm....

What setting do you have your bar on?

[Nathan_B]

Stiff stiff stiff

I simply choose whiteline as i was able to purchase it locally

[thezoneR32]

Your sure about that?

Congrats on the purchase Brad, i love my 3 door!

Bought mine stock and have done the following

- BMC Intake
- GIAC ecu reflash
- Milltek cat back exhaust (You think they sound good stock....)
- 24mm rear sway bar (whiteline)
- Hawk Ceramic pads

I have ordered the Haldex Gen II stealth unit with remote control switch, hope to have it soon!

G'luck, you will love the car!

With the intake do you notice any difference? Sound/performance?

The H&R are better build quality than the whiteline. I did research this before the plunge. And you definately wanna get front and rear.

Here is a part of WJ review from mkv.com.
Comparison: Small -v- Large Sway bars - Coilovers -v- Strut Dampers - VW GTI Forum / VW Rabbit Forum / VW R32 Forum / VW Golf Forum - Golfmkv.com

This is the bit you need to read...

".......The addition of a rear bar only gives you better turn in response; but that’s about it. Depending on you choice of rear sway bar, you may induce undesirable tendencies into your chassis tune. Original equipment springs/dampers are tailor made to the OEM anti-roll bars and vice versa – all are made to induce under-steer approaching limit. The owner of the rear only sway bar GTI is serious considering adding a front sway bar to improve handling.

Add front and rear anti-rolls bars is definitely an advantage despite some trade-off in ride comfort. If you’re sitting on stock springs/dampers, difference to handling with introduction of sways bars front and rear will not be as great as changing the whole package of springs/bars/dampers and possibly even bushes. In addition; if you’re looking to stay with the stock springs/dampers – the smaller set of H&R anti-roll bars may be more fitting as a compromise between ride and handling – also depends where you live and drive. The owner of this vehicle is looking at a Bilstein Sports Strut + Bilstein spring as a matched pair to compliment his big mother H&R anti-roll bars.

If you don’t have much to spend, but want a real boost in street-sports style handling and even an improvement in ride for your vehicle – conventional strut damper/spring packages with addition of a well front and rear sorted anti-roll kit will transform your vehicle..........


........rear only aftermarket stabilizer bar improves turn in response; but little else. The addition of a rear bar may prove better than sticking with the stock rear bar; but a mismatched front and rear bar may introduce undesirable tendencies in the chasis. Postive camber change causing loss of tyre contact patch at fronts wheels may be an issue.

Cheers
WJ"

[Stalker]

Thanks for that. Will probably pony up for the H&R's from ECS just to try something new. Might grab an engine mount insert as well. Haldex and coilovers will have to wait I think.

[thezoneR32]

keep us posted. Would be interested to hear how you go with the engine mount. If it makes any difference. I'm always up for a new mod. Keeps the boredom away and wife at my throat!

[Stalker]

keep us posted. Would be interested to hear how you go with the engine mount. If it makes any difference. I'm always up for a new mod. Keeps the boredom away and wife at my throat!

Will do.

[Stalker]

Am now leaning towards the BSH Billet Mount (over the ECS Tuning insert) and H&R swaybars while the dollar is basically at parity with the US.

Haldex and new rubber will be next, but will have to wait as I still have stamp duty to pay...grrrr

[NabzGTI]

keep us posted. Would be interested to hear how you go with the engine mount. If it makes any difference. I'm always up for a new mod. Keeps the boredom away and wife at my throat!

The engine mount insert from ECS works a gem on my car, and im sure will be the same on the 32.. It's main job is to reduce axle tramp during wheelspin when taking off.. although it also makes gear changes so much nicer. Best $50 mod ive spent on the car.