Bullet Fast
25-12-2012, 09:06 AM
So I bought some FSD Konis, Weitec -30mm springs, Cupra bushes, etc and threw it all together over the last week in my workshop. It's had a wheel alignment since as well, so everything is well and good now...
Couple of things:
The rear LCA bushes that came out were a two piece plastic outer and rotating rubber/plastic composite inner. Looked very OEM, is this a VAG fix for the original bush? It looked as if the original bushes had been replaced by a butcher at some stage, the bush bores needed to be cleaned up before the Cupra bushes went in.
I'm surprised at the feel of the Cupra bushes. I really expected an immediate improvement to turn in - ill get to that in a sec - but the mid corner stability, free of bush movement induced bump steer is quite nice. A solid improvement.
I'm also surprised at the supple (soft-ish) rate of the weitec springs. Considering they've dropped 30mm of ride height I expected a relatively harsh ride but its quite the opposite. Progressive is the wrong word, but conveys it conveys the feel. Plush is closer to the mark.
The FSD Konis are an interesting animal. I've owned Yellow sports previously and had good memories but was concerned the fairly robust damping settings would upset the car's poise on ****ty roads - of which Sydney has its more than fair share. Any combination of presumably uprated springs and firm dampers would translate into a car that skips sideways mid corner instead of maintaining road contact. As a number two car, and number four transport option after my sport bikes, this would be totally unacceptable. It was a compromise i made early and stuck to it! So whilst I haven't had a good drive yet, I can qualify the FSD action in combination with the springs above. I chose both accepting I wanted a reasonably comfortable, but rough road racey car.
So in combination they're not a bad compromise. Initial turn in seems to be compromised slightly by a lack of low speed compression damping but settles immediately with great accuracy. Mid corner damper performance is excellent, I suspect the variable rebound settings in the shock are working magic here. Slow and high speed bumps mid corner are eaten up nicely without major chassis disturbance. Balance front to rear is maintained. I suspect slight closer to neutral balance, which is good, I was slightly fearful of lift off snap oversteer in the GIAC tune before hand. The overall feel is of a car using all its travel and settling into each corner before biting hard. More Pug 205 GTI than Clubman, much more predictable than before and certainly faster on ****ty bitumen.
I would like a sharper turn in, the car still takes a little more wheel effort to turn in than I'd like, but without upping spring rates or damper settings I don't think it'll happen. The cars track is too narrow and roll centre & COG look to be too high to get away with any more of a compromise in that direction.
Noise transmission through the cabin is improved for 80% of road conditions, but put power down over square edges and it comes right back through the body of the car rather unpleasantly. I suspect the dog bone bush could have something to do with this. Speaking of which...
I put a superpro dog bone bush in. A little for vibration as many forum members have noted and slightly more direct shift, power transmission etc.
It looks nicer lowered a little. My fiancé said, "it looks less faggy now" - she's a tough girl!
I do have two problems to sort out now. First is I hurt an ABS sensor on the install. This dash is throwing ABS, ESP and tyre pressure warnings. It's the wrong time of the year to be chasing a mechanic for work but it'll be sorted in the short term. Might have the wheels off in the next few days and have another look.
I have a very mysterious flutter through the brake pedal, barely noticeable, on under light braking? Anyone want to hazard a guess? I dont expect this is from a switched off ABS controller, but I'll have a look when I'm looking for the wire problem.
Hope this helps someone
Thanks to JMAC for the patience and perseverance with my bush order.
Pete
Couple of things:
The rear LCA bushes that came out were a two piece plastic outer and rotating rubber/plastic composite inner. Looked very OEM, is this a VAG fix for the original bush? It looked as if the original bushes had been replaced by a butcher at some stage, the bush bores needed to be cleaned up before the Cupra bushes went in.
I'm surprised at the feel of the Cupra bushes. I really expected an immediate improvement to turn in - ill get to that in a sec - but the mid corner stability, free of bush movement induced bump steer is quite nice. A solid improvement.
I'm also surprised at the supple (soft-ish) rate of the weitec springs. Considering they've dropped 30mm of ride height I expected a relatively harsh ride but its quite the opposite. Progressive is the wrong word, but conveys it conveys the feel. Plush is closer to the mark.
The FSD Konis are an interesting animal. I've owned Yellow sports previously and had good memories but was concerned the fairly robust damping settings would upset the car's poise on ****ty roads - of which Sydney has its more than fair share. Any combination of presumably uprated springs and firm dampers would translate into a car that skips sideways mid corner instead of maintaining road contact. As a number two car, and number four transport option after my sport bikes, this would be totally unacceptable. It was a compromise i made early and stuck to it! So whilst I haven't had a good drive yet, I can qualify the FSD action in combination with the springs above. I chose both accepting I wanted a reasonably comfortable, but rough road racey car.
So in combination they're not a bad compromise. Initial turn in seems to be compromised slightly by a lack of low speed compression damping but settles immediately with great accuracy. Mid corner damper performance is excellent, I suspect the variable rebound settings in the shock are working magic here. Slow and high speed bumps mid corner are eaten up nicely without major chassis disturbance. Balance front to rear is maintained. I suspect slight closer to neutral balance, which is good, I was slightly fearful of lift off snap oversteer in the GIAC tune before hand. The overall feel is of a car using all its travel and settling into each corner before biting hard. More Pug 205 GTI than Clubman, much more predictable than before and certainly faster on ****ty bitumen.
I would like a sharper turn in, the car still takes a little more wheel effort to turn in than I'd like, but without upping spring rates or damper settings I don't think it'll happen. The cars track is too narrow and roll centre & COG look to be too high to get away with any more of a compromise in that direction.
Noise transmission through the cabin is improved for 80% of road conditions, but put power down over square edges and it comes right back through the body of the car rather unpleasantly. I suspect the dog bone bush could have something to do with this. Speaking of which...
I put a superpro dog bone bush in. A little for vibration as many forum members have noted and slightly more direct shift, power transmission etc.
It looks nicer lowered a little. My fiancé said, "it looks less faggy now" - she's a tough girl!
I do have two problems to sort out now. First is I hurt an ABS sensor on the install. This dash is throwing ABS, ESP and tyre pressure warnings. It's the wrong time of the year to be chasing a mechanic for work but it'll be sorted in the short term. Might have the wheels off in the next few days and have another look.
I have a very mysterious flutter through the brake pedal, barely noticeable, on under light braking? Anyone want to hazard a guess? I dont expect this is from a switched off ABS controller, but I'll have a look when I'm looking for the wire problem.
Hope this helps someone
Thanks to JMAC for the patience and perseverance with my bush order.
Pete