Ways of reducing the weight of our cars

[fuscobal]

No polybush. Install was easy but needed some coding with VAS since the wiring of the new generation was different !

[the bruce]

Any change in steering feel?

[fuscobal]

Just much more responsive. The old one had some sort of a lag lately wich got really bad in the last few months !

[the bruce]

 

I guess the newer steering rack is bolted directly to the subframe without any rubber.

Am I right?

[fuscobal]

Didn't pay attention to that as I was speaking on the phone at the time my mechanic was installing it on the subframe 

[david25]

Hi, I'd just like to add some further info to this thread, my car has been acting "funny" (alarm light constant red and trip mileage resetting by magic after locking).

So, I checked the battery indicator and it was clear (with a warning message to replace if clear or yellow).

Looking online for part number 000 915 105 AF I found this link:

http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/pdf/SpecChart02_VartaAndQuantum-03.xls

This spreadsheet claims my 000 915 105 AF battery is 19.2Kg the 70Ah battery also mentioned in this thread is 17.9kg

If you're still using your factory battery use this sheet to check weights (assuming its accurate...)


I need 72Ah / 640amps so I could save a couple of KGs by simply swapping like for like.

[the bruce]

I'd go for this one:

http://audittmk1.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html

I don't understand why a gasoline GTI should need such a massive 72 Ah 'tank'.
Keep in mind most A3 2.0 TFSI just have 60 Ah and that's way more than neccessary.



OEM:

TT 312mm - 14.5 kg
GTI 312mm - 15.6 kg
TT-S 340mm - 18.5kg
S3/R32 345mm - 21.5 kg
TT-RS 370mm - 17 kg
RS4/RS6 365mm - 17 kg
RS6 V10 390mm - 21.5 kg


Non OEM:

AP Racing 330x28mm - 10.6 kg
VW-R 352x32mm - 12 kg
K-Sport 330x32er - 13.8 kg
K-Sport 356x32mm - 15.9 kg (with AP Racing rotor: 14.2 kg)
D2 - dito
Brembo 355x32mm - 13 kg


(one caliper + disc + pads + bolts + adapter)

[fuscobal]

Ap Racing Pro 5000+ 362x32mm - 13.9 Kg (measured and owned by me  )

I will probably buy this battery > http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/er40.htm wich only has 12.5Kg and 45Ah (should be enough for a gas engine)

[the bruce]

Fuscobal,  you need to loose a lot of weight.  
Throw away all the hifi - it's the age of racing now !!





OEM:

TT 312mm - 14.5 kg 
GTI 312mm - 15.6 kg* 
TT-S 340mm - 18.5kg
S3/R32 345mm - 21.5 kg
TT-RS 370mm - 17 kg
RS4/RS6 365mm - 17 kg
RS6 V10 390mm - 21.5 kg


Non OEM:

AP Racing 330x28mm - 10.6 kg
VW-R 352x32mm - 12 kg
K-Sport 330x32er - 13.8 kg
AP Racing 362x32mm - 13.9 Kg Pro 5000+
K-Sport 356x32mm - 15.9 kg (with AP Racing rotor: 14.2 kg)
D2 - dito
Brembo 355x32mm - 13 kg


(one caliper + disc + pads + bolts + bracket)


* rotor 8 kg / caliper 6 kg / pads about 500 g

[fuscobal]

Ok, here's some new data :

- TD 1.2 8x18'', ET45 + 235/40/18 > 20.5Kg as compared to 21Kg for my OEM 7.5x17'', ET51 + 225/45/17. I only saved 0.5Kg/wheel but the tires are 20mm wider (235 R888 have 245 in reality) wich should give me much more grip
- Recaro Poleposition + steel sidemounts > 10Kg, baseframes > 7Kg. Unfortunately I got a total of 17Kg wich is much more than what I was expecting. Only 9Kg/seat. For those who don't need to slide the seats back/forward, you can get fixed sidemounts and stay with the 10Kg/seat !

[the bruce]

After all you've done with your GTI it would be a fantastic car if you sell the hifi.

 

More seriously:
Yes, I'm sure these wheels and tyres will improve grip. The heavier a car is
the more it will usually benefit from wider tyres.

I will go for this battery:  http://www.em-racing.de/Motorsport-Batterie-ETX-30-26Ah-98kg

[fuscobal]

I'm modifying the audio system right now. Pulled out the amplifier rack from the back + rear bench and they weighed 45Kg. Instead, I will install 4 lightweight amplifiers (Sinfoni wich are also high-end) wich shouldn't be more than 15Kg. Therefore, the final result should be 45-15 = 30Kg from the rear wheels. Next on the list are the fenders, battery and maybe some lightweight bonnet. Should rach 1480Kg with me (as compared to 1664 wich was the original weight) !

[Poverty]

19" 8.5x19 RS4 reps polished/matt black et45 13.6kg
team dynamics race pro 1.2 8x18 et50 9kg
team dynamics race pro 1.3 8.5x18 et50 9.8kg
ATS racelight 8.5x19 ET45 10.9kg
oz ultraleggera hlt 9x19 et42 10.4kg
OZ Ultraleggera HLT 8.5x19 9.6 kg
BBS RE 040 19x9 et50 10.7kg
HRE P40S 9x19 ET52 is 9.25kg

275/35/18 ps2 11.8kg
255/35/19 ps2 10.4kg
255/30/20 conti 10.3kg
265/35/18 cup sport 11.4kg
245/35/19 Cup Sport 9.9 kg
255/35/19 pss 11.1kg

245/35/19 wintrak extreme 11.2kg

brakes per side inc disk/caliper/carrier
tt 312mm 14.5kg
tts 340mm 20kg
s3/r32 345mm 21.4kg
ttrs 370mm 17kg
rs6 390mm 21.5kg
b7 RS4 8pot caliper with ttrs 370 disks 17.5kg

vwr 352x32 12kg
ksport 356x32 12.25kg
brembo 355x32 13kg

VAG Buckets
Front L Seat. 23.4kg
Front R Seat. 23.4kg

OEM battery 23.0kg

[Bikerz]

.


Monza 17's weigh 11kg, Monza 18's weigh 12kg, and the lightest 18's are 8kg - All without tyres.

Nope. Volk P1's 8x18" are 6.7kg each. I have a set

[the bruce]

@fuscobal:  yes, I read about it in your thread.


Found this:



As far as I know - All the CCA for the manufacturers is done at 0F, and the CA is at 32F, all this info is off the manufacturer website.
Acording to Autozone website the 240sx needs 360 CA.
So if you want 100% factory reliability even at 0F you want to be shoping around for something that will have at least 360CCA.
For those of you where the weather gets in the negative digits (F) you will want somethign that has a CCA > 360 at 0F
The battery I had in (Advance Auto Parts stock replacement stuff) weights 37lb..
READ THIS:
In BLUE are the brands whose CCA Ratings seems either off or make it hard to find their testing methods.
Deka Batteries are more than likely to be Deka ETX rebadged -- Their advirtised CCA IS PROBABLY NOT PERFOMED AT 0F.

By Brand:
Braille**:
Braille B3121 ----------CCA: 550 ---- weight: 21lb ---------------- CA: 742
Braille B2015 ----------CCA: 425 ---- weight: 15lb ---------------- CA: 574
Braille B14115 ---------CCA: 360 ---- weight: 11lb,8oz ------------ CA: 486
Braille B106 -----------CCA: 210 ---- weight: 6lb,6oz ------------- CA: 283
Westco:
Westco Miata ---------CCA: 475 ---- weight: 25lb
Deka:
Deka ETX30 -----------CCA: 370 ---- weight: 21.7lb
Deka ETX20 -----------CCA: 270 ---- weight: 15.5lb
Deka ETX18 -----------CCA: 300 ---- weight: 18lb
Deka ETX16 -----------CCA: 275 ---- weight: 17lb
Deka ETX14 -----------CCA: 200 ---- weight: 12lb
Deka ETX12 -----------CCA: 180 ---- weight: 9.4lb
Deka ETX9 -----------CCA: 120 ---- weight: 6.3lb
Odyssey:
Odyssey PC680 --------CCA: 220 --- weight: 15lb / 16lb For MJT*
Odyssey PC925/MJT ---CCA: 380 --- weight: 24lb / 26lb For MJT*
Optima:
Optima 34&34R --------CCA 800 -----weight: 37.9lb --------------- CA: 1000
Optima 37/78 ----------CCA 800 ---- weight: 38.8lb --------------- CA: 1000
Optima 75/25 ----------CCA 720 ---- weight: 33.1lb --------------- CA: 910
Optima 25&35 ---------CCA 720 ----- weight: 31.7lb --------------- CA: 910
Duralast:
Duralast 8AMU1R ------CCA: 330 ---- weight: 25lb
Marathon:
Marathon MAR-8AMU1R-CCA: 320 ---- weight: 25lb

By CCA:
Optima 34&34R --------CCA 800 -----weight: 37.9lb -------------- CA: 1000
Optima 37/78 ----------CCA 800 ---- weight: 38.8lb -------------- CA: 1000
Optima 75/25 ----------CCA 720 ---- weight: 33.1lb -------------- CA: 910
Optima 25&35 ---------CCA 720 ----- weight: 31.7lb -------------- CA: 910
Braille B3121 ----------CCA: 550 ---- weight: 21lb ---------------- CA: 742
Westco Miata ---------CCA: 475 ---- weight: 25lb
Braille B2015 ----------CCA: 425 ---- weight: 15lb ---------------- CA: 574
Odyssey PC925/MJT ---CCA: 380 ---- weight: 24lb / 26lb For MJT*
Deka ETX30 -----------CCA: 370 ---- weight: 21.7lb
Braille B14115 ---------CCA: 360 ---- weight: 11lb,8oz ------------ CA: 486
Duralast 8AMU1R ------CCA: 330 ---- weight: 25lb
Marathon MAR-8AMU1R-CCA: 320 ---- weight: 25lb
Deka ETX18 -----------CCA: 300 ---- weight: 18lb
Deka ETX16 -----------CCA: 275 ---- weight: 17lb
Deka ETX20 -----------CCA: 270 ---- weight: 15.5lb
Odyssey PC680 --------CCA: 220 ---- weight: 15lb / 16lb For MJT*
Braille B106 -----------CCA: 210 ---- weight: 6lb,6oz ------------- CA: 283
Deka ETX14 -----------CCA: 200 ---- weight: 12lb
Deka ETX12 -----------CCA: 180 ---- weight: 9.4lb
Deka ETX9 -----------CCA: 120 ---- weight: 6.3lb

By Weight:
Optima 37/78 ----------CCA 800 ---- weight: 38.8lb --------------- CA: 1000
Optima 34&34R --------CCA 800 -----weight: 37.9lb --------------- CA: 1000
Optima 75/25 ----------CCA 720 ---- weight: 33.1lb --------------- CA: 910
Optima 25&35 ---------CCA 720 ----- weight: 31.7lb --------------- CA: 910
Westco Miata ---------CCA: 475 ---- weight: 25lb
Duralast 8AMU1R ------CCA: 330 ---- weight: 25lb
Marathon MAR-8AMU1R-CCA: 320 ---- weight: 25lb
Odyssey PC925/MJT ---CCA: 380 --- weight: 24lb / 26lb For MJT*
Deka ETX30 -----------CCA: 370 ---- weight: 21.7lb
Braille B3121 ----------CCA: 550 ---- weight: 21lb ---------------- CA: 742
Braille B14115 ---------CCA: 360 ---- weight: 11lb,8oz ------------ CA: 486
Deka ETX18 -----------CCA: 300 ---- weight: 18lb
Deka ETX16 -----------CCA: 275 ---- weight: 17lb
Deka ETX20 -----------CCA: 270 ---- weight: 15.5lb
Odyssey PC680 --------CCA: 220 --- weight: 15lb / 16lb For MJT*
Braille B2015 ----------CCA: 425 ---- weight: 15lb ---------------- CA: 574
Deka ETX14 -----------CCA: 200 ---- weight: 12lb
Deka ETX12 -----------CCA: 180 ---- weight: 9.4lb
Braille B106 -----------CCA: 210 ---- weight: 6lb,6oz ------------- CA: 283
Deka ETX9 -----------CCA: 120 ---- weight: 6.3lb

More info:
Braile:
Probably Deka rebadged
**no info on website on what Temp the CCA and CA test are done at...
DEKA:
Come with M6 Thread on terminals - you will need adapter to SAE automotive Terminals.
Rebadged as BigCrank, Braille and other brands // BigCrank has cheap price .
(Proved and discussed on the vwvortex there is a whole thread about it.)
Odyssey:
*MJT: Metal Jacket + Terminals.
Also the Odysseys have battery mounting brakets avaible.
Miata Battery:
Duralast rates them at 330CCA, Marathon at 320CCA, Westco at 475CCA,
make what you want of this info but personally I'm not getting a Westco Battery
Made by EastPenn Mfg.
Sold under:
Marathon MAR-8AMU1R (1Year Warranty)
Westco 12V31M (4 Year Warranty)
Duralast 8AMU1R (8Year Warranty - apparently WAS avaible at autozone)