Happy Handling for 9N3 GTi on a budget

[Blue9N3]

Nolathane Front Control Arm Rear Bush ($80) - Repco
Whiteline Front Swaybar BWF18Z ($265) - Fr Whiteline
Whiteline Rear Swaybar BWF19Z ($265) - Fr Whiteline
Whiteline Rear Axle Lock W63198 ($80) - Fr Ebay
New front strut mounts
AP SportsFahrwerke Suspension Kit (non adjustable) SP80-074 - ($450) Ebay (Tunershop-worldwide)

Happy days! Car feels great now. Sits 30mm lower, and even rides slightly better than stock. Mind you it has done 115,000ks on the factory shocks and bushes and what not.

Turn in is still ok, not great, but settles in nicely once you get past that initial softness. None of freaky toe out you get from the stock control arm bushes, or floatiness from the worn shocks / beam axle movement now.

[Stuwey]

Whiteline KCA310 rear toe shims are a great addition for that turn-in if you can find some!

[seangti]

On a budget, I'd forfeit the front sway bar. I'd use that money for better suspension or tyres. For handling, the shims would help. Whilst not critical, it helps with the geometry. Set the car up with front toe out and rear toe-in to get it around the corners.

Great to hear you're a happy camper.

[Blue9N3]

Rear toe out you mean. I've got plenty of rear toe in which promotes understeer


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kaanage]

You want the stability for some adjustability when high speed cornering but the requirement rear toe in with our cars is minimal.

See The Ultimate Guide to Suspension and Handling: Part Seven- Tuning your Toe

Rear toe out is like going to a massive rear anti-roll bar - good for turning you around

[seangti]

I thought the whiteline shim kits induced a toe-in effect, or have I got that back to front (again)?? Toe out front, toe-in rear.

[sambb]

I'm pretty sure they are for toe in minimisation. They don't alter geometry to the point of reaching toe out, they just remove some of the excessive toe in. Genuine toe out at the rear is more for slow speed manoeverability ie series 4 RX7's had passive rears that altered toe when different loads distorted bushes and VR4's had actual motorised racks that moved a tie rod. They had toe out for shopping malls and roundabouts and toe in for high speed stability but most enthusiasts just rebushed or disabled the systems. Less toe in will loosen up the rear on turn in but actual toe out could be too lively - maybe for autocross though or hill climb hairpins?

[seangti]

I'm pretty sure they are for toe in minimisation. They don't alter geometry to the point of reaching toe out, they just remove some of the excessive toe in. Genuine toe out at the rear is more for slow speed manoeverability ie series 4 RX7's had passive rears that altered toe when different loads distorted bushes and VR4's had actual motorised racks that moved a tie rod. They had toe out for shopping malls and roundabouts and toe in for high speed stability but most enthusiasts just rebushed or disabled the systems. Less toe in will loosen up the rear on turn in but actual toe out could be too lively - maybe for autocross though or hill climb hairpins?

Big thanks for clarifying.

There is no doubt my red car with adjustable camber/castor tops and rear shims provides better feel in the corners. Though TBH, I'm dubious that it makes the car much/any faster in the corners. Feel better - yes, faster - ???. Refer to my build thread, page 22 and 23 for some comparison - http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...-97132-22.html

Sorry, I may be going off topic.

[Blue9N3]

Was going quickly round a bumpy, tightening left hander which I go through on my way home, and thinking, wow! That wooliness/lack of stability mid corner is gone!

Now was it the new shocks and springs or the rear beam lock bushes? I actually think that it was the bushes and the original shocks felt fine... Any opinions?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sambb]

sorry is your AP suspension kit springs only and you're running it with original dampers, or do you have AP springs and dampers?

[Blue9N3]

Springs and dampers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk