MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Sammy on April 15, 2012, 10:14:47 pm

Title: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Sammy on April 15, 2012, 10:14:47 pm
Right ATM I have just eibach sport lines and il be doing the k04 conversion soon so no doubt I will be needing it, I was wondering which are the best handling mods to do price for price, what I mean which mod should I do first which will be best to do without breaking the bank.
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: berg on April 15, 2012, 10:22:17 pm
bilstein dampers to compliment your springs, uprated arb's front and rear (eibach, autotech etc) whiteline ALK quite cheap - you will need them all if going big power  :driver:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Black9 on April 15, 2012, 10:29:56 pm
I'd be going for a WALK, Rear ARB, B12 suspension, BS kit and any worn bushes. Think these would help the most, an LSD would transform grip
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Sammy on April 15, 2012, 10:32:11 pm
Thanks guys, It seems WALK is definately first on the list, If i go for anti roll bars which one would help most the front or rear, As in if i was to do 1 which should i do first?
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Sammy on April 15, 2012, 10:34:10 pm
Also what is a BS kit and which bushes should i be checking?
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Janner_Sy on April 15, 2012, 10:34:41 pm
Whats your budget?

The uprated lower engine mount should be an early modification.  That'll help reduce wheel hop and maintain traction a little more. circa £200

The rear anti roll bar is a fantastic modification with awesome results for not to much cash.  circa £200

Audi TT Lower arms will save you a nice chunk of weight and allow you to run more camber on the front.  circa £350

Bilstein B8 dampers will compliment the springs you have very well. not to sure how much but nothing crazy.

You also need to look at the brakes.  R32 kits go for around £350-400 regularily, DaveBs NQSBBK is good value at about £600 iirc or big brake kits for £1000+

Id do WALK after all of the above.  Maybe the same time as the TT lower arms to save on labour
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on April 15, 2012, 10:54:05 pm

Id recommend if doinf TT lower arms, doing super pro inserts over WALK

Otherwise Cupra arms for weight saving & WALK or SupePro kit & if you want to play with camber then top mounts
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Sammy on April 15, 2012, 11:01:04 pm
Well ATM I only want to do 1 modification till next pay and want the car to feel more flat during bends (less lift), budget is around £250, it seems anti roll bar is what I need so go for the rear first? Anyone got positive feedback for them and also what brand to go for?
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Janner_Sy on April 15, 2012, 11:04:25 pm
Whiteline, H&R, Autotech, eibach, BSH are all one and the same.

Think the BSH will be the stiffest.  The eibackh the leaststiff.  The whiteline is a good bet &is adjustable as well and pretty cheap
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Top Cat on April 15, 2012, 11:05:34 pm
Simple tyres.  :wink:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on April 15, 2012, 11:07:10 pm
Neuspeed have done a great job at keeping mine flat in the bends, If buying again I would maybe get autotech due to being lighter but as stiff if not stiffer than other brands.

Unsprung Weight loss (Brakes, wheels, suspension etc) =  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: vRS Carl on April 15, 2012, 11:09:19 pm
Simple tyres.  :wink:

Amazing how many people overlook this :happy2:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: monte on April 15, 2012, 11:10:14 pm
Tyres and Brakes first  :happy2:

Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Janner_Sy on April 15, 2012, 11:11:59 pm
Simple tyres.  :wink:

Good point.  Be interested to know what tyres he's running as theres probably big improvements to made there straight away.
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: rich83 on April 15, 2012, 11:13:02 pm
Simple tyres.  :wink:

Amazing how many people overlook this :happy2:

So true... No point in spending a wedge on chassis mods and running Falken 452 tyres or worse..... is there TFSI-Mike....  :evilgrin:

Goodyear F1v2 is what i would recommend... the grip they provide is silly, they grip so well in the bends.  :driver:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on April 15, 2012, 11:13:58 pm
A recent swap from Falkens :ashamed: (Stop gap) to Toyo R888 have transformed my car  :driver:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: rich83 on April 15, 2012, 11:14:40 pm
Simple tyres.  :wink:

Amazing how many people overlook this :happy2:

So true... No point in spending a wedge on chassis mods and running Falken 452 tyres or worse..... is there TFSI-Mike....  :evilgrin:

Goodyear F1v2 is what i would recommend... the grip they provide is silly, they grip so well in the bends.  :driver:

Good job mike saw the light.  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Beddie on April 15, 2012, 11:15:43 pm
£25 per session instructor training at a trackday of your choice  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Sammy on April 15, 2012, 11:15:50 pm
I have good tyres and try are not my issue as I don't feel am losing grip rather the car is lifting too much, I think it really is down to the roll bars for me, I am running p zeros.
Do anti roll bars make the car stiffer like on bumps and generally?
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Janner_Sy on April 15, 2012, 11:16:17 pm

So true... No point in spending a wedge on chassis mods and running Falken 452 tyres or worse..... is there TFSI-Mike....  :evilgrin:

 :grin:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on April 15, 2012, 11:16:50 pm
The light has always been on and burning brightly for F1s on the Leon Rich, just last time round Money pit 2 was on his way  :scared: :scared:

 :signLOL:

Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: vRS Carl on April 15, 2012, 11:17:10 pm
Goodyear F1v2 is what i would recommend... the grip they provide is silly, they grip so well in the bends.  :driver:

Fully agree. Best tyres I've had :happy2:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Janner_Sy on April 15, 2012, 11:18:34 pm
I have good tyres and try are not my issue as I don't feel am losing grip rather the car is lifting too much, I think it really is down to the roll bars for me, I am running p zeros.
Do anti roll bars make the car stiffer like on bumps and generally?

If you go too stiff then yes to a certain degree, but if you go for the normal bars you wont notice any downsides IMO.  The biggest difference is on direction changes.

Goodyear F1v2 is what i would recommend... the grip they provide is silly, they grip so well in the bends.  :driver:

Fully agree. Best tyres I've had :happy2:

Was going to get these myself but thught id try out the Federals.  Cant seem them lasting tolong (treadwear 140) but they are good in the wet and dry
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: rich83 on April 15, 2012, 11:19:44 pm
I have good tyres and try are not my issue as I don't feel am losing grip rather the car is lifting too much, I think it really is down to the roll bars for me, I am running p zeros.
Do anti roll bars make the car stiffer like on bumps and generally?

Errm, I've not noticed any increase in ride quality since having my rear ARB put of, but it does make the car much more settled and planted. Understeer is a thing of the past, except if its wet... then all sorts of things can occur :scared:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on April 15, 2012, 11:19:58 pm
Goodyear F1v2 is what i would recommend... the grip they provide is silly, they grip so well in the bends.  :driver:

Fully agree. Best tyres I've had :happy2:

Have had P zero Rosso, F1 Assy V1 (2x), Falkens  :ashamed:, Avon icetouring, R888, R1r, would be interested in trying the F1 assy V2
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Sammy on April 15, 2012, 11:24:17 pm
Ok I have made up my mind and want to get one, which one is the most recommended 1 to go for? Also how is the fitting on them?
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: rich83 on April 15, 2012, 11:33:15 pm
Ok I have made up my mind and want to get one, which one is the most recommended 1 to go for? Also how is the fitting on them?

Dead easy to fit... the rear involves 4 bolts in the middle section and 2 nuts at each end/
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: vRS Carl on April 15, 2012, 11:39:21 pm
Piece of advice

Soak the end bolts/nuts on the drop links in WD40 or similar for a good 10-15 mins before you take them off. I replaced my rear ARB on my last car when it was 2 years old and one side the end of the nut had corroded so bad it wouldn't budge and started to break away at the edges. I had to use a hack saw to get it off and luckily I'd had the forethought to get some spare nuts & bolts.
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: GNJ_Motorsport on April 15, 2012, 11:49:55 pm
I'd go for the Whiteline RARB  :happy2:

http://www.gnjmotorsport.com/products/Whiteline-Adjustable-24mm-Rear-Anti%252dRoll-Bar-Golf-5-%7B47%7D-Golf-5-Plus-1.4%2C-1.4T-SI%2C-1.6%2C-1.9TDi%2C-2.0FSi%2C-GTi-2.0T-FSi%2C-2.0SDi%2C-2.0TDi-FWD-%2810%7B47%7D03%252d%29.html
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: dan930 on April 16, 2012, 12:12:27 am
I also feel that the car is a bit unsettled at the rear..will a rear anti roll bar cure this??
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: andygo on April 19, 2012, 01:03:59 am
My mapped ed30 feels a bit floaty at the back. Interestingly its an inch higher all round than my standard GTi. That cannot help, and it must be down to the 18" wheels.

I would think it needs springs all round, with the rears a tad lower in proportion to the fronts, eg 1.5 inches lower on the rear and 1 inch lower on the front. A bit lower at the back would help with weight transfer under braking, which is when the car feels floaty at the back. IMHO of course..
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: chris s on April 19, 2012, 09:03:25 am
Glad i am not the only one to have the floating rear end on their ed30
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: gazon69 on April 19, 2012, 09:29:37 am
Ok I have made up my mind and want to get one, which one is the most recommended 1 to go for? Also how is the fitting on them?
Autotech, very light, stiff and adjustable.
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: RedRobin on April 19, 2012, 09:40:01 am
.
No floaty rear on my Mk5 GTI - Not since KW V3 coilovers plus some rear camber adjustment by VWR. I believe that the stock Mk5 GTI rear suspension allows for a small amount of rear camber adjustment anyway. Also, S3 rear brakes (AP's on the front) make the car feel very well planted under any heavy braking.

And, if you don't already know, it's very important on our FWD cars to put your deepest tread tyres on the rear - So, new ones on the rear and move the previous rears to the front when the fronts have got down to 2mm.
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: monte on April 19, 2012, 10:05:32 am
.
No floaty rear on my Mk5 GTI - Not since KW V3 coilovers plus some rear camber adjustment by VWR. I believe that the stock Mk5 GTI rear suspension allows for a small amount of rear camber adjustment anyway. Also, S3 rear brakes (AP's on the front) make the car feel very well planted under any heavy braking.

And, if you don't already know, it's very important on our FWD cars to put your deepest tread tyres on the rear - So, new ones on the rear and move the previous rears to the front when the fronts have got down to 2mm.


I gotta agree Robin. The S3/R32 brakes on the rear make a massive difference. It was when braking with the standard setup when I felt the rear wallow/float the most.
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: rich83 on April 19, 2012, 10:23:00 am
Small brakes on the back FTW  :driver:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: andygo on April 19, 2012, 10:59:19 am
.
No floaty rear on my Mk5 GTI - Not since KW V3 coilovers plus some rear camber adjustment by VWR. I believe that the stock Mk5 GTI rear suspension allows for a small amount of rear camber adjustment anyway. Also, S3 rear brakes (AP's on the front) make the car feel very well planted under any heavy braking.

And, if you don't already know, it's very important on our FWD cars to put your deepest tread tyres on the rear - So, new ones on the rear and move the previous rears to the front when the fronts have got down to 2mm.

Why is it very important to have the tyres with most tread on the back. I was told that by a Thick Fit Fitter once, but he didn't know why. Personally, I think that is a load of tosh.
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: RedRobin on April 19, 2012, 01:30:42 pm

And, if you don't already know, it's very important on our FWD cars to put your deepest tread tyres on the rear - So, new ones on the rear and move the previous rears to the front when the fronts have got down to 2mm.


Why is it very important to have the tyres with most tread on the back. I was told that by a Thick Fit Fitter once, but he didn't know why. Personally, I think that is a load of tosh.


....Discussed here: http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,46218.0.html  < Read Reply #2 by ianv5.

What/who is "a Thick Fit Fitter"? A dumb blonde babe tyre fitter who is very fit?  :confused:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: justsean on April 19, 2012, 03:19:11 pm
I'm getting the porsche 996TT brake setup in the front next month, comments suggest I should be doing the rears too at least to S3/R32? I'm planning on sorting out the handling next as I agree with all the above, ed30 feels 'light' in the rear in the bends! I see atleast another 1k disappearing quicker than i had planned here   :pomppomp:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: andygo on April 19, 2012, 04:44:18 pm
Anything that makes the gti a bit oversteery is a bonus, not a hindrance. Its a real nuisance and pretty much impossible to do these days with all the nannying built into the car. You can't even left foot brake.

And the extra tread depth at the back only lasts for a while, so how on earth do people cope when they are at 5 or 6mm and the fronts at 3 or 4? If they can't cope, then maybe they should get something even easier to drive..

And talking a bit from experience, I have had golf gti mk1's, 2's and 5's. I used to tarmac special stage rally the 1 and 2's...

Having said that, I'll chuck it off next time it rains, lol.


Oh, Kwick Fit Fitter by the way.  :)
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on April 19, 2012, 05:06:32 pm
I'm getting the porsche 996TT brake setup in the front next month, comments suggest I should be doing the rears too at least to S3/R32? I'm planning on sorting out the handling next as I agree with all the above, ed30 feels 'light' in the rear in the bends! I see atleast another 1k disappearing quicker than i had planned here   :pomppomp:

I have that setup & with the S3 rears heavy braking is very good & stable  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: black-a4 on April 19, 2012, 06:15:26 pm
I've just bought a WALK for my GTI, as well as Sportline lowering springs. When I'm in there I will probably replace the front control arm bushes as well. What is recommended..... SuperPro?
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: Russ_leeds on April 19, 2012, 07:36:02 pm
i have the autotech arb's and they're brilliant, 3 way adjustable aswell :happy2:
Title: Re: Best handling mods to do
Post by: berg on April 19, 2012, 10:17:28 pm
dont do what i did and do it arse about tit.

i fitted walk. 

then i fitted tt arms at same time as putting eibach arb's on front and rear setting the rear to stiff.

the handling was at best "twitchy" as i still had the oem dampers and springs and they could not react quick enough to the aggressive rear arb setting.

put bilstein b12 kit and 4 wheel alignment with some negative camber and the difference was... :pomppomp: