Interesting article on suspension tuning (not VW related).

[splashalot]

Not sure where to post this - hopefully this is OK.

Whilst searching for info on suspension mods I found this article on Hyundai's local suspension tuning crew in Australia and their work setting up the new i30 for Australian conditions.  Whilst not VW Golf related, I found the article and video a fascinating insight into the complexities of setting up a car's suspension - and how one change has a knock-on effect, often unforeseen, elsewhere.

I assume as this article/video is in the public domain it is OK to post here.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/492255/hyundai-australia-suspension-tuning-we-go-behind-the-scenes-with-the-new-i30/

[pudding]

Interesting stuff!  It's good to see a car maker tailor their suspension for a specific market, unlike the Germans who fit the same granite like springs and dampers for every country.

Suspension and engine calibration are the 2 areas that take the longest to develop, sometimes years.  And then we go and throw all that good work in the bin and fit aftermarket stuff 

Something to bear in mind with the MK5 GTI is how old it is now.   Suspension technology has come a long way in 12 years.  Some of the aftermarket kits out there are really good, and there are some I wouldn't fit to my wheel barrow, let alone a car.  The GTI is a low car to begin with - and I'm not talking about scene arch gaps - so doesn't have masses of suspension travel from the factory.  Lowering it can have a worse affect on the handling than predicted.  My VWR kit is only -15mm but I've bottomed it out several times already, with one passenger!  How people manage with coilovers dropped -50mm or more, I have no idea.

[splashalot]

Cheers Pudding. 

My thoughts exactly re. modifying factory suspension.

I sent you a PM re. your VWR suspension set up, but not sure if you received it?  My "messages sent" is showing zero.  Edit:  Just realised I have to tick the "do you want to save a copy in your sent messages" box!

[Stig_gti]

@Pudding you bottom out on steep bumps or dips in the road from rebound.
I'm on h&r on standard shocks and have never bottomed out on dips in the road just sometimes catch speeds bumps.
Interesting that because h&r lower 30mm

[pudding]

Hi Steve, I have just replied 

A slight amendment to my post above, VWR quote -20 to -30mm on GTI models for their springs.  I'd say mine is closer to -30mm, especially now I have put more than 1000 miles on it.  The positives outweigh the negatives, but using the OEM springs with the VWR dampers would minimize the bottoming out problem.  I'm not sure how it would affect the primary ride jiggliness because the OEM springs aren't progressive rate, whereas the VWR ones are, which is why they ride so well.

[pudding]

@Pudding you bottom out on steep bumps or dips in the road from rebound.
I'm on h&r on standard shocks and have never bottomed out on dips in the road just sometimes catch speeds bumps.
Interesting that because h&r lower 30mm

I just remembered I fitted the front bump stops incorrectly.  They should be fitted fat side up and clipped into the protective boot, but I put them at the bottom of the damper fat side down.  That may have something to do with it, but I doubt it. Or it could just be because the VWRs are progressive rate and they stiffen up considerably as the springs approach their limit of travel, not sure, but it certainly felt like a bottom out.  It's a very rare occurrence either way, and I haven't clouted any speed humps yet.

[xjay1337]

I catch my undertray on some speed bumps but I've never bottomed out on my Scirocco which has less underbody clearance, or my GTI even on air (unless I was absolutely dickhead low) or the 1.9 with Eibach Sportlines.

The only time I bottomed out was 4 up in the 1.9 getting out of a multi story and it was only a small scrape on the underbody plastic wind deflector lol
Unless your dampers are buggered you won't be bottoming out. Easy way to check is put a cable tie on the strut and see how it goes. Old motorcycle trick.


The article was interesting :) Thank you for sharing.

[pudding]

Just to clarify, when I say 'bottom out', I mean the suspension runs out of travel and hits the bump stops......not the car hitting the ground     Christ no, the VWR kit is nowhere near low enough to do that, not even on the sharp ramps you get in multistory carparks, all good there