APR Dump pipe stage 2 noise

Ok more traction is required for the Stage 2 tune to put it to better use...... Currently running stock suspension setup and things get a little crazy laying the power down.

Thinking about Eibach springs (20mm drop) and Superaloy lower control arms with anti lift kit or just the Eibachs and the Whiteline ALK this setup I'm hoping will give the car a better stance and keep the nose down on power application increasing traction. Want to keep the stock shocks as they are only 10k old.

Turn in and feedback through the steering wheel is quite doughy and does not give that connected feeling with the stock setup so I'm also hoping the above mods will improve this too.

Can anyone comment on this setup or something similar? Maybe Martin can chime in as your setup is similar, are you running the APR lower control arm kit with caster adjustment anti lift etc?

Thanks in advance for any feedback. :)

MGT

You want to think about this - you're not going to win unless you spend a stupid amount of money

The car has adequate traction for most circumstances
It's only in the wet and when wanting to blast away from the lights that traction is the limiting your usage of power
You really need to progressively ease into it - but a poor road surface will still be a problem

I have tried to improve this with high end tyres which helped but does not go far enough
Running 235~245 tyres is likely to help but there are issues and costs going down that path
My current thinking is FWD with 180kw+ needs haldex 4WD
I will factor this into my next car purchase decision

The Eibach springs on stock shocks work well
They help overall handling but not acceleration from standing start
(I have Bilstien shocks and they make the stock shocks look bad)
The Octavia should be a little nose down when unladen to allow for full rear load

The Octavia should not feel doughy on turn in - even when fully stock
Due to the power steering there is not much feel (especially at lower speeds)
but car reaction to steering was always good for me (that was one reason why I bought the Octavia)
What tyres do you have and what pressures do you run?

The superloy control arms have built in anti lift - so you don't need an anti lift kit
(The nuts that come with these are not strong enough - use the original VAG nuts)
These are excellent for handling and eliminating axle tramp when launching
I've got them setup to give me more caster and 1.75 degrees of negative camber
The added caster has made the car track very straight without holding the steering wheel
The negative camber has improved initial turn in bite and raised cornering speeds - it's very sure footed
Another thing you notice with the negative camber, you can brake and steer into a corner
Ian was behind me judging his braking point from my brake lights, he nearly turned my wagon into a hatchback
(Although I have a BBK so my car brakes a fair bit quicker than a stock Octavia)

My Octavia is very sure footed and fun to drive
It's quick on standing starts but I can't use all the power until 3rd gear (maybe 2nd gear on good road surfaces)
Even so
- average cars have little hope of beating me off the line (but you need to control that right foot - restraint!)
- powerful cars get close until they reach for 2nd gear when my DSG laughs at them

I can 2nd Martin's comments on the superaloy control arms. Whilst my car is still stock (ECU I mean), these superaloy arms have eliminated 95% of my axle tramping, although as Martin has stated, this comes back on ****ty/bumpy roads. Turning into cornering under hard acceleration is much more response with these control arms also. Best investment I've made on the car thus far. Just debating whether to go Stage 1 or not if Martin is saying he can't use all of the power anyway??

Oh and still deliberating over the Jetex exhaust as I'm hoping Mrs Donweather won't complain about the added noise like some other's better halves have on here.

Martin,

Thanks for your detailed feedback, probably poor choice of words when I said doughy, just feels abit lost around centre is what I was getting at and I want the car to track better as you say yours does. My tyres are the Conti's Sport Contact 2 inflated to 31-32 psi.

Next car will be an R or S3 if I win lotto then we can get serious, you cannot beat the VRS for value, it ticks every box for me!!!

I want the Eibachs for the slightly lowered look which the car needs and the LCA ant lift I guess to eliminate some of the front end lift and axle tramp. Understand that with stage 2 wheelspin cannot be eliminated in the low gears but just want that slight improvement in handling and feel through the steering wheel.

Are you running the Supaloy LCA with the adjustable lower ball joints? I noticed you can buy the Supaloy LCA on ebay with out the ball joints at around $550 as opposed to APR's $750 just wondering if the ball joints are totally necessary?

Can anyone comment on overall ride quality with this type of setup as opposed to stock? I definitely do not want a bouncy ride that is too firm, have had this before on previous rides and don't like it, I do not plan on doing any track work with the car, just want to keep it a nice daily drive but a bit of a sleeper. :) :)

Donweather,

Thanks for your feedback too, so are you just running stock suspension with the Supaloy LCA's? How is the ride quality over stock?

You have to go straight to Stage 2 with dump pipe only you will not regret it worth every cent IMO. Car will still almost sound stock without getting unwanted attention and more than enough power than you could ever want keeps you, cops and the Mrs happy! :) :)


MGT

geez......how often do u guys drag race off the lights to b worried about axle tramp or loss of traction?!?!?

for me, stage 2 is the about the instantaneous overtaking.
for me, stage 2 is about blasting from 40km/h to 110km/h (joining a freeway for example) before you can finish saying "forty kilometers per hours to a hundred and ten kilometers per hour"

the stage 2 combined with the eibach springs and rear swaybar - cornering speeds r comfortably hair-raising quick :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by donweather

Just debating whether to go Stage 1 or not if Martin is saying he can't use all of the power anyway?

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Only in the wet and when taking off from stationary
You can fully use the power during overtaking and enthusiastic driving
Stage 1 top end from ~5400rpm to 6500rpm is worse than stock
Stage 2 is optional but breaths much better and has more urgency

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MGT

My tyres are the Conti's Sport Contact 2 inflated to 31-32 psi.

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That will be a factor
Increase to 36~38 PSI for better feel while maintaining reasonable comfort
Increase to 40~42 PSI for best turn in but they become very harsh over rough roads

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MGT

Next car will be an R or S3 if I win lotto then we can get serious, you cannot beat the VRS for value, it ticks every box for me!!!

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Fully agree!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MGT

Are you running the Supaloy LCA with the adjustable lower ball joints? I noticed you can buy the Supaloy LCA on ebay with out the ball joints at around $550 as opposed to APR's $750 just wondering if the ball joints are totally necessary?

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Yes - I have the adjustable ball joints
If you don't get them you only get 1/3rd of the benefit
I really wanted the caster/camber - the steering and cornering grip is awesome

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MGT

Can anyone comment on overall ride quality with this type of setup as opposed to stock?

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The Eibach do give a firmer ride but it's still very acceptable - however wife may not agree

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MGT

My tyres are the Conti's Sport Contact 2 inflated to 31-32 psi.

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Those pressures will be great for maintaining cornering grip but will increase the chance of axle tramp & make the car feel unresponsive on initial turn of the wheel.

You need 34psi minimum, preferably 36psi. A few of the guys here run 38 to 42.

36 all round is my pick but you might wish to run 36F/32-34R. I definately wouldn't run less than 32psi - no matter what it says on the tyre placard.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brad

I definately wouldn't run less than 32psi - no matter what it says on the tyre placard.

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+1

i'm running 38 allround now on my contisportcontact 5s.
i ran the same pressures on my contisportcontact 2 prior to these.

I'm running 40psi in my 235/40R18 Hankooks on 18x7.5 rims.
I know you're not really supposed to, but I've had no issues whatsoever. :) Grip is fantastic.

I also have a torque arm insert, and thats gotten rid of all axle tramp. $20 shipped and $50 to borrow a hoist and air gun to install it. :)
When getting out of a line of traffic waiting to turn and into the moving flow its brilliant: turn steering wheel, dump clutch, shoot forwards on even bad road surfaces.