mk1 handling woes

Redders · Post by **Redders** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:43 pm

my mk1 gti isn't as it should be

it should be a ninble, agile , and poised . it isn't its nose heavy , unresponsive and at times scary . its as if the steering wheel has no input to the direction of travel until you really hurl it at a bend and then your not sure if it will respond in the desired way !

it has
fx coil overs (its set very low and the damping is set,but even with the old suspension it handled badly )
which when fitted were laser aligned at auto point (can supply toe ,camber etc)
bbs rm's with et 36
toyo tx1 195 45 15s

it has not
got polly bushes
or a lower or upper strut brace front or rear

it could do with
maybe the rack bushes or rear beam bushes but nothing knocks or bangs

the gti was famed for being a quite good handling car so where has it gone wrong ? i'm completely stumped
i'll be honest my bn3 diesal passat far better and yet has covered 177k

any ideas :help:

Fast Eddy · Post by **Fast Eddy** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:03 pm

Well,
Do you mean Autotest in Norwich?
If the angles are correct static, it must be some tired bushes/joints somewhere causing the chassis to 'float' on the suspension.
I would go polybushes and perhaps an uprated rear anti roll bar.
Of course it would need a set up again.

Pike · Post by **Pike** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:28 am

It sounds like somethings got some give in it. As Eddy said its ok setting things static but when you are braking into a corner with the angles and forces involved things tend to move around quite alot.
With this in mind the 1st thing I would do would be to polybush the front end and rear beam.
It might pay to seam weld the subframe while its all in bits to help stop it flexing too much.
The other thing is that your G60 lump is probably slightly heavier than the FK's are sprung for. Going up 25lb on the springs may help.

steveVR6 · Post by **steveVR6** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:01 am

Sounds like somethings amiss somewhere. I noticed a difference when I strut braced the front and rear, this made handling alot better. I would go with Pike and replace with polybushes and try changing the suspension setup.

Redders · Post by **Redders** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:12 pm

Brilliant

Thanxs chaps ,
I must admit it it does float alot so i will order poly bushes in the new year ,
I think the G-Ladder adds another 9 kg and the intercooler is another 2 kg but this is added in in line/front of the front wheels which is quite a bit really , if i go direct to fx should they be able to supply stiffer front springs or is it gonna be a special order job?,the only thing is the suspension is rock hard already :? :smut:
Here's where the mk1 differs from a mk2 it doesn't have a front subframe ! (and why a vr into a mk1 is a big deal) do you sugest bracing between the front wishbone mounting (front lower brace) as there is no direct link between the two points as on a mk2
will order rear brace anyway as i hear they're awsome \:D/

oh sorry , yes auto test in norwich

James Breadvan · Post by **James Breadvan** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:38 pm

What camber/toe settings did you go for?

Fast Eddy · Post by **Fast Eddy** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:54 pm

James,
I have just launched a deal in the Traders section.

Redders · Post by **Redders** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:07 pm

thanks fast eddy will run across and see you soon 8)

here goes
here's the front suspension set up
left spec Right
castor 3"14' 1"00' to 2"00' 3"27'
camber 0"10' 0"00' to 0"40 0"10'
toe 0.8 1"6 to 0"2 0.8

looks t me like the caster is all over the place?

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:12 pm

You need way more negative camber

Pike · Post by **Pike** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:35 am

The caster would be all over the shot if the front it moving about James. I'd go for factory caster and -1 to -1.5 camber for road use, and a bit more for the track.