Candy White Golf GTI Ed. 30 - 8th track day at Estoril

[Shoduchi]

In August I booked 2 sessions in Estoril for the 1st of October. Due to family demands I barely had time to bed the brake pads to the discs so I never pushed hard when braking to avoid activating the ABS.

Both sessions were temporarily suspended to remove a car from the track so I this time I didn't drive much with hot tyres. I also didn't get any proper camera to film. Just used my old Iphone 5 on a phone holder. It ran out of memory on the 2nd session .

Here's my best lap on the 1st session:

Second half of the 1st session:

And just a picture:


It was fun, the car was better this time but I left feeling unsatisfied. I wanted more time on track.

[Shoduchi]

I still have some more bits planned to fit during the next months.

Parts:
-Powerflex engine mounts inserts (PFF85-530 e PFF85-531) -> ordered 2 weeks ago


-LSD for the DSG from MFactory (Link) -> at home


-Bigger OEM DSG cooler (02E409061C) 18 lines instead of 10 -> at home


I've ordered the needed list of small bits to get the LSD fitted too:
-DSG diff bearings: 002517185M (SKF LM 503349/310) + SKF LM 102949/910
-Diff shaft seal kit: 02T409189K x1
-Gasket: 02E301580C x1 -> not sold by VW so it's DSG.GAS04 from Automatic Choice
-Shaft seal (right): 02T409189K x1
-Shaft seal (left): 02M301189G x1
-O-ring (15x2.5): N91027901 x1
-Shift rod oil seal (24.3x6.4): 02A301227M x1
-Cover: 02E301205C x1
-Seal ring: 02E323557B x1
-O-ring (27x3.2): WHT001403 x2
-Pan gasket: 02E321371E x1
-Pump to case gasket: 02E321385A x1
-Drain plug seal (24x29): N0438092 x1
-Sealing grease for radial shaft oil seal (50 g): G052128A1 x1
-DSG shim set: 02E398321 x1
-Round head screw: N10554002 x10
-DSG oil: G052182A2 x8
-DSG oil filter: 02E305051C x1
-DSG oil filter o-ring: N91084501 x1
-Oil cooler o-ring: N91027901 x2
-Oil cooler bolt: N90986102 x3

According to an American forum the bigger DSG cooler can decrease the oil temp up to 10ºC. I've asked AutoPolar to add the DSG oil temp to the list of parameters available. They told me that they were already working on it for a future firmware update.

[pudding]

Good updates 

How do you find the rear brace?  Notice any difference in tight turns at speed?

Plastic pistons in the brake calipers    Not seen that before.  Not surprised they melted!

[Shoduchi]

Good updates 

How do you find the rear brace?  Notice any difference in tight turns at speed?

Plastic pistons in the brake calipers    Not seen that before.  Not surprised they melted!

Thanks Pudding!

The rear brace could be better made. My mechanic recognised its shape from many years ago sold by Raceland. He doesn't like to put holes in the body since he worries about what's behind the holes. He also didn't like much the bolts that came with the nutsert kit (very weak) so he advised me to avoid removing the brace. It's secure and tight but the fixing points won't like to be much messed with.

The car feels more like a go-kart. It's very solid and due to the H&R ARB it also doesn't roll much. Since my mechanic also adjusted the front Koni dampers I think most of the gains that I had on the reduction of the understeering were from that. The rear brace just helped a little by keeping the rear solid and the wheels aligned on tight corners. He also told me that he needed to reinforce the lower centre brace so it can make a noticeable increase in car's rigidity.

I also didn't know that there were pistons made of resin in Brembo calipers.

[pudding]

Good updates 

How do you find the rear brace?  Notice any difference in tight turns at speed?

Plastic pistons in the brake calipers    Not seen that before.  Not surprised they melted!

Thanks Pudding!

The rear brace could be better made. My mechanic recognised its shape from many years ago sold by Raceland. He doesn't like to put holes in the body since he worries about what's behind the holes. He also didn't like much the bolts that came with the nutsert kit (very weak) so he advised me to avoid removing the brace. It's secure and tight but the fixing points won't like to be much messed with.

The car feels more like a go-kart. It's very solid and due to the H&R ARB it also doesn't roll much. Since my mechanic also adjusted the front Koni dampers I think most of the gains that I had on the reduction of the understeering were from that. The rear brace just helped a little by keeping the rear solid and the wheels aligned on tight corners. He also told me that he needed to reinforce the lower centre brace so it can make a noticeable increase in car's rigidity.

I also didn't know that there were pistons made of resin in Brembo calipers.

I had the same problem with a similar design brace in my MK4.  I upgraded the nutserts to much bigger ones, but even then I would have welded the nutserts to the body in hindsight!   I put bulky things in my car quite often, so I had to go with a brace that comes out easily.

Cool, glad you like the changes!  Did he back the rebound off on the front Konis?  Making the front softer or the rear stiffer usually tunes out the understeer.....but it's always there in these cars no matter what you do! 

Looking forward to your LSD review 

[Shoduchi]

I have my 5 doors diesel Golf to transport bulky stuff. That's why I'm not too worried about this kind of brace. I think he did that to the front dampers. I hope the LSD makes what I've read online about them. 

[RBS]

You been bussy
Keep up the great work! How'z the trackdays?

[Shoduchi]

You been bussy
Keep up the great work! How'z the trackdays?

The track days are addictive.

[ello]

Stunning car!

[Shoduchi]

Stunning car!

Thanks ello!

[Shoduchi]

Really considering getting the Bilstein B16 PSS10 now. I need good coilovers that handle well without lowering too much my car and are TÜV certificated. The Koni I was previously considering are only good if I lower them at about the same ride height I have at the moment, so no gain there.

Sadly the price is almost double of the Koni.

The KW V3 would be my 2nd option but are more expensive and much harder to adjust. Öhlins aren't even an option because they aren't TÜV certificated for the mk5 Golf GTI, just for the mk6 Golf GTI. Same chassis so I don't understand why they aren't certificated as well for the mk5s...

[rich83]

PSS10 are brilliant. Highly recommend

[Shoduchi]

PSS10 are brilliant. Highly recommend

Your feedback about them, the ride height of your Ed. 30 and most of what I've read online makes me want to order them. It might be better to wait for the Black Friday sale if I can't find a killer price till then. 

[pudding]

Why does TUV certification matter?  Is it a legal requirement in Portugal?  We can fit any old random crap to our cars in the UK and no one gives a toss, least of all the government in seems      It's MK6 or nothing now anyway, so comes with the cert!   MK5 and MK6 chassis are identical.

Personally speaking, having owned PSS10 before, I would not buy them again for a road car.   The Ohlins feel very similar in terms of handling and road feel, but the ride quality is just so much more forgiving.  Both are good choices for track work though.   Had KW V3s as well and definitely wouldn't own those again.  Built well but very over rated in terms of handling and the dampers are not even in the same league as Bilstein / Ohlins.

[Shoduchi]

Why does TUV certification matter?  Is it a legal requirement in Portugal?  We can fit any old random crap to our cars in the UK and no one gives a toss, least of all the government in seems      It's MK6 or nothing now anyway, so comes with the cert!   MK5 and MK6 chassis are identical.

Personally speaking, having owned PSS10 before, I would not buy them again for a road car.   The Ohlins feel very similar in terms of handling and road feel, but the ride quality is just so much more forgiving.  Both are good choices for track work though.   Had KW V3s as well and definitely wouldn't own those again.  Built well but very over rated in terms of handling and the dampers are not even in the same league as Bilstein / Ohlins.

Yeah, it's a legal requirement here to get the different suspension part legalised to a car. It has to pass tests made by an auto lab and the lab only accepts parts with a TÜV certification. Most people don't do it but they can have their car impounded until returned to stock and also have to pay a fine.

So unfortunately Ohlins, although being one of the best available in the market, aren't an option for me. Just like the AST 5100 that were also recommended for track use by a friend who has them on his Megane RS3.

I'll have to see if the PSS10 on softer settings are forgiving enough for my needs on road use. They don't have to be really forgiving, just at least the same as my current setup (H&R springs with Koni Sport dampers). I hope they meet that since for a car used on track mine isn't that harsh or that firm, due to how the dampers are set. For what I've read so far, they seem to be soft enough when set with the softer settings.

For track use they should also be easy to adjust by increasing the stiffness and rebound.

Well, that's what I'm hoping for at the moment.

My mechanic has the same opinion about the KW as you.