Wheel and lowering advice :)

[AC74]

like this wee laddie?

I'm probably of the same school of thought as gavs. If I had a set amount of money to spend, first I would make my car faster for mountain-type roads (more power, less weight, better grip) without sacrificing too much comfort and practicality.

I tend to favour a car that looks very stock because I prefer to blend in rather than stand out and I doubt that I would spend money on anything that didn't make the car do something better or feel better doing it. Purely cosmetic mods would be a very hard sell and any mods that actually degraded the performance of the vehicle would not even be considered.

Having said that, I do love non-stock mods that you might expect to see on a factory-special or motorsports/tuning arm version of an already decent car. To me, the car above is a stunning example! Big wheels that fill the guards and look like they were made for it, aggressive stance without looking like something has failed or collapsed and an overall stealthy look that oozes controlled aggression.

But! ...as much as some of the more outlandish and purely cosmetic mods get me muttering under my breath like an old Grandpa, I genuinely appreciate the diversity, individuality and creativity that car enthusiasts display. Some make me shake my head in disbelief (seriously, what is the deal with tyre stretch??), some make me LOL and some make me go "WOW!" (that matte grey vinyl-wrapped jobbie). I wouldn't dream of doing even 1% of what I see to my own car and if you did it for me I'd have you charged with vandalism, but the enthusiasm is genuinely infectious and makes me constantly question my mental/emotional boundaries which is awesome.

So keep the awesomeness and ridiculousness coming!!!

[gavs]

Wheel and lowering advice

can anyone confirm if when putting lowered springs into the car, the hub nuts need to be replaced as well ?

im getting some people saying i should, and others saying they didnt

Hub nuts?! How are you replacing the springs? Are you popping the drive shafts out? There is a way that used to work very well on the mk4 golf that didn't require removing the hubs but it could be hit and miss if it would be easy to remove the struts....

[kaanage]

I'm not having a go

Yes you are but there's nothing wrong with what you are trying to point out

This was my last tilt at this particular windmill (for now...) http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...nds-82194.html

[gavs]

Yes you are but there's nothing wrong with what you are trying to point out

Hmmm, it could be construed as that but I was pointing out that because of the geometry of this platform that when lowering is done for "performance" regards, it is to detrimentally effect perfomance, not increase it. That's all.

i apologise for any offense, it was meant as a factual comment, not an offensive one.

Final point from me on the subject (I can hear the sighs of relief!)

Those of you considering lowering your vehicle for "handling" reasons, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read what Greg (kaanage) has written. There is A LOT of information in there explaining in technical detail as to why I harp on about this point.

[discodave83]

It always amazes me that people buy a performance model of a vehicle and render it completely useless of its intended purpose.... I'm not pointing fingers here I just, well, I don't get it. Buy the model that can get you around and dress it up, why buy a car with basically double the performance of the next lowest model and then hamstring the hell out of it. It's like pulling the turbo off to "neaten the engine bay".

Anyhow, just make sure that as you go lower you get rear wheel centering adapters because the 6R geometry will move the rear wheel forward in the wheel arch as you lower it and it looks rubbish. You can buy the mk4 golf ones from ECS Tuning and I'm pretty sure they will fit up

Rear wheel centering adaptors? Is the 6r honestly that bad after you lower it?? Anyone else on here had that problem with their polo?

[nightphotographer]

Rear wheel centering adaptors? Is the 6r honestly that bad after you lower it?? Anyone else on here had that problem with their polo?

I doubt it - the 6R is no different to the 9N3 in it's suspension set up (I'm assuming) - none of us guys have had to do it. You can tell it goes off centre when you're at max lows and then have 50-100kg in the boot - but it doesn't look bad.

I'd rather wheels off centre by a few mm than the wheel gap you 6R boys are running

[MarcusAurelius]

^^^^^^ what he said

I doubt it - the 6R is no different to the 9N3 in it's suspension set up (I'm assuming) - none of us guys have had to do it. You can tell it goes off centre when you're at max lows and then have 50-100kg in the boot - but it doesn't look bad.

I'd rather wheels off centre by a few mm than the wheel gap you 6R boys are running

hahaha well put bud, hard to look at an amarok spec polo...

[ATYPIC]

Rear wheel centering adaptors? Is the 6r honestly that bad after you lower it?? Anyone else on here had that problem with their polo?

Yes it is that bad but I probably I hate it moreso because I'm a symmetrical right brained graphic artist lol

[gavs]

Wheel and lowering advice

Yes, it really is that bad. Not so much with 18" wheels but the wheel arch is too big for 17" wheels to go that low.

[Bflat]

For those playing at home: Pick your camp (AFAIC there are 4).

1) Leave it stock height (change your wheels if you so wish).
2) Lower it for lowering the body's sake (through the use of springs, coilovers, smaller wheels, smaller tyres). If this is your goal, you will get that rear wheel tilt forward (beam rear end will result in this, only drop plates will remedy it) which is only exaggerated when using small/smaller wheels/tyres.
3) Lower to improve arch gap. This is a popular one for those who want to fit aftermarket wheels (often a bigger diameter with smaller profile tyres). This school of thought pays little attention to the actual clearance of the car and more to the arch gap. Probably the most visually appealing to the majority (but we can't please everyone, can we?)
4) Address your suspension (amongst other things) for handling sake (Kaanage, Buller_Scott and Gavs have all made valid and educated comments on how to best go about this so don't expect a set of springs, let alone coilovers, to dramatically improve the cars handling prowess).

Feel free to chime in if I've missed anything, guys. Just trying to provide some material for people to absorb.

[discodave83]

Gotta be number 3 for myself. Although i agree with both arguments, and I can see gavs point (it does kinda ruin my gti's handling characteristics) but as ive said before, I'm a sucker for a sturdy, smart looking wee car, nice wheels (not too huge) and lowered but not to the point of impractical.
A few tuning mods, remap, induction kit, and that's perfect for me

[kam]

Hub nuts?! How are you replacing the springs? Are you popping the drive shafts out? There is a way that used to work very well on the mk4 golf that didn't require removing the hubs but it could be hit and miss if it would be easy to remove the struts....

im just installing 25/40mm H&R lowered springs

when 'fastlane' got his installed, his mechanic advised him to replace his hub nuts at the same time

but having asked other polo 6r owners who have just installed springs, they have said they didnt do this

so im a bit confused

[fastlane]

Kam, I think Gav and my mechanic are aluding to how the installation of springs are done. I wish I paid more attention when he was explaining (too excited by lowered car), but he had to replace the hub nuts as he took them out to assist taking out the struts (IIRC).

All the best!!! Just ask if they are taking off the hub nuts, if they say yes and don't replace the strech bolts, then ask if they have put loctite on them. If they don't, nothing to worry about

[kam]

Kam, I think Gav and my mechanic are aluding to how the installation of springs are done. I wish I paid more attention when he was explaining (too excited by lowered car), but he had to replace the hub nuts as he took them out to assist taking out the struts (IIRC).

All the best!!! Just ask if they are taking off the hub nuts, if they say yes and don't replace the strech bolts, then ask if they have put loctite on them. If they don't, nothing to worry about

to be honest i have no idea, he is just installing them !

ill call him up and confirm though, as obviously installing lowering springs on a vw polo is a bit different than normal cars

[gavs]

Wheel and lowering advice

He must be popping the driveshafts out. Easiest but also most effort-involving method.