Whiteline Anti Lift Kit

[sub39h]

had my WALK fitted along with an Autotech rear ARB today. had a 4 wheel alignment done at the same time

now the car is pulling to the left? i had them fitted by Midland VW, so a tried, tested and trusted set of blokes. they had it on the tracker 3 or 4 times and couldn't get it to steer straight. is this normal? Jody (gaffer at Midland VW) seems to think once the bushes have softened a bit it'll sort itself, but i bought the kit 2nd hand with 3k miles on it 

[rich83]

Thats a lot of cobblers. You should be able to get it aligned and it should drive true!

[mkviken]

 I had my 4 wheel alignment done at a reputable tuning shop on the hunters machine and mine pulled like hell to the left even though the print out looked perfect afterwards so a few days later had them re check it and they adjusted it.

They had just had the machine re calibrated which they say had something to do with it but now it's good and the print out looks very good.


A thing you will notice with the stiffer bushes on the WALK is it will want to follow imperfections in the road more as there is less slop in the suspension now.

I would give it a few days or take it for a decent drive and get them to do it again once bedded in. The 2 print outs I got (maybe 200miles. Between the 2 alignments) were very different.

[mkviken]

Also how do you find the rear sway bar? I want a whiteline adjustable one but don't want the back end to be too loose. Does it feel like the back end wants to come round more?

[sub39h]

i don't have the alignment print out but Jody's said they've put it as close to the border of factory tolerance to get it straight? i would have thought any product that made the car pull to the left would never be as popular as the WALK is, but i'm not local to Midland VW i just happened to be in the area for a day, i trust them and they were cheaper than another well known VAG specialist i live close to so i had them do it. BUT now taking it back to them is a problem because they're quite far away

no the car is VERY neutral now. i lose my nerve before it wants to understeer, and it does not at all feel like it's gonna oversteer even slightly

[mkviken]

Ok thanks. I'm going to look into getting a rear sway bar next


As flor the alignment the WALK certainly shouldn't make it pull to the left just more sensitive to camber and imperfections.

If you find a clear road and drive right down the centre so the white lines are between your wheels the car should go perfectly straight - I tried this and mine still pulled left as it was aligned 'wrong' but was still within tolerance

When I went back the 2nd time the guy barely had to change anything t get it to run straight. I suppose they're quite sensitive to alignment.


Your best bet is to find a hunter alignment machine as it more accurate than what most dealers use and you can watch the screen to see what's happening to the car as its all computerised and you get a print out so you see the before and after.

[snapey]

Sub39h, I thought I recognised your car when you pulled into the car park yesterday, have to say it looked pretty sweet. I was there having the tracking sorted on the R, which turned out to be an offset steering wheel 

Luke

[sub39h]

Sub39h, I thought I recognised your car when you pulled into the car park yesterday, have to say it looked pretty sweet. I was there having the tracking sorted on the R, which turned out to be an offset steering wheel 

Luke

LMAO I was hoping nobody would recognise it, it's FILTHY at the moment!!! I was wondering whose that Scirocco's was, Rising Blue is definitely the best colour

[sub39h]

problem sorted - Midland VW had their tracker calibrated and the gaffer asked me back to have another look. one minor tweak later and all is well

[W8 Performance]

Good news! Glad all is well.

[dan930]

Is it really worth doing this mod??i have to drive 60ish miles to get it done at vagtech then drive another 60ish miles to r-tech to get a stg1 remap on my ed30

[sub39h]

I can't comment on the mod in isolation as I had it fitted with an Autotech rear ARB but together they've totally transformed my car. Grip and handling are something else now. I had to readjust my limits when driving

[mkviken]

adds a lot of weight and feel to the steering which i prefer

[the bruce]

If you have read this topic you now it is.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Probably a dum question this - but is there any down side to fitting a WALK onto a Mk5 GTI?

NO

However in chats with my local tuner about a change of suspension, I'm thinking Bilstein B12, I asked about fitting WALK too and his thoughts are that it too falls into the general "engine mounts = harsh as hell" category. Which I really don't want. I really respect his view but wondered on other peoples thoughts.

With respect, I suggest your 'tuner' either has little experience with the Mk5 platform, or plainly hasn't got a clue about the WALK. 

When fitted in isolation, the WALK will not make the car ride or feel any harsher than standard rear TCA mounts.  As others have said, the only thing felt will be by the driver only - in the form of very slightly 'heavier' steering. 

The WALK basically does two things: (a) improves the self-centering of the steering during forward motion (through an increase in castor), and (b) provides far greater control to the front roadwheel assemblies during harsh driving and/or road conditions (maintains geometery due to semi-solid nylon bushing).

I ran a Vibratechnics front mount years back on my old Mk2 GTi and never felt it 'harsh' but then a Mk2 on 195/50/15 is somewhat more 'comfy' than a Mk5 on 18" 40 section tyres. So I'm erring away from engine mounts per se, but would like to know if WALK does transfer vibes into the car and make it harder/more choppy for road use.

ALL areas of the Mk5 have come on in leaps and bounds compared to the Mk2 - not just engines or electronics, but also chassis dynamics and 'noise vibration and harshness'. 

There are many of us on here with WALK, AND uprated engine mounts - and they are still perfectly refined enough to be a daily driver for peeps with knackered backs, SWMBOs, oldies, etc! 

I appreciate it's a tricky thing to judge, but if anyone has fitted WALK and then compared the drive afterwards did it make the ride harsher and less compliant.

When I fitted my WALK - thats all I did, so I could try the 'before and after' drive soley on the WALK.  It makes ZERO effect on the harshness or compliance of the ride. 

I'm probably at the opposite end to RR in terms of wanting to hear and feel the engine working and the transmission doing it stuff. Really want to minimise harsh vibes through the car. So would just like people's views.

Get it fitted man, you'll wonder what all the fuss you are fretting over was about . . . honestly - you wont regret it.