ibizacupra
14-10-2001, 21:04
I have now got the PSS9's fitted to my new 210 Ibiza.
"What an improvement or what", "night and day in the handling improvments"
The std suspension on the Ibiza is choppy and allows lots of body roll. This in turn unsettles the cars handling and braking. The latter can even get the car to want to swap ends on braking over an uneven road surface. Nasty. Add a 210 conversion to this and......... Well need I say more?
The PSS9's are the damping adjustable versions of the PSS kit which are coil over and allow ride height adjustment. A similar kit to the PSS is the H&R coil over kit, which are of comparible quality.
The PSS9's are 9 position adjustable. The fronts via knobs on the strut base and the rears via knurled knobs on the strut tops, accessable beneath the parcel shelf.
Both front and rear struts have 2 sets of springs. the main springs and assister springs which retain the main springs when the strut is not compressed via the cars weight. (airborn moments etc!!)
position 9 is soft and 1 is rigid.
i am running 4 front and 5 rear at the moment, which gives a firm but not crashy ride. Ride height is approx 50mm lower at the moment and level front rear, but will be adjusted to be nose down by approx 10mm.
the cars handling is transformed.
I have been able to do back to back tests at Castle Combe on stock suspension and now the PSS9 and the change is superb. From lapping 1m33s laps down to 1m26s laps by this single change. By the suspension controlling the body roll and bounce, it did'nt upset the ABS system like it did when standard (promoting a swaying motion which brought the rear end round !!!) this allowed much better braking and corner entry/exit speed. - 7 seconds per lap better.
It still has too much body roll, and needs some more negative camber on the front. RSD set this to 1/4 degree negative, but on track it needs a bit more. I run 1.75 degrees negative camber on by Jetta and that works a treat with no tyre wear problems.
If you want to maximise you Ibiza's potential, sort out the factory suspension. It just sucks compared to the likes of Bilsteins PSS kit. The major downside is price though. at near £1000 fitted, its BIG money.
A good intermediate step I think would be the Bilstein Sprintline kits with good qualityy lowering/uprated springs. Its would cost a lot less, not be adjustable, but more than likely transform the handling.
I can happily say that I can drive the Ibiza to its limit and not be bitten by its nasty handling as I was so many times when it ran on stock suspension.
if you were wondering should I/should'nt I? especially if you run a 210. Go For It. It will save your life and bring a big grin to your face.
RSD and Amethyst can supply and fit the kit if you want one.
it does make the car a real gem, and nearly untouchable on the road or track :)
regards
Bill
"What an improvement or what", "night and day in the handling improvments"
The std suspension on the Ibiza is choppy and allows lots of body roll. This in turn unsettles the cars handling and braking. The latter can even get the car to want to swap ends on braking over an uneven road surface. Nasty. Add a 210 conversion to this and......... Well need I say more?
The PSS9's are the damping adjustable versions of the PSS kit which are coil over and allow ride height adjustment. A similar kit to the PSS is the H&R coil over kit, which are of comparible quality.
The PSS9's are 9 position adjustable. The fronts via knobs on the strut base and the rears via knurled knobs on the strut tops, accessable beneath the parcel shelf.
Both front and rear struts have 2 sets of springs. the main springs and assister springs which retain the main springs when the strut is not compressed via the cars weight. (airborn moments etc!!)
position 9 is soft and 1 is rigid.
i am running 4 front and 5 rear at the moment, which gives a firm but not crashy ride. Ride height is approx 50mm lower at the moment and level front rear, but will be adjusted to be nose down by approx 10mm.
the cars handling is transformed.
I have been able to do back to back tests at Castle Combe on stock suspension and now the PSS9 and the change is superb. From lapping 1m33s laps down to 1m26s laps by this single change. By the suspension controlling the body roll and bounce, it did'nt upset the ABS system like it did when standard (promoting a swaying motion which brought the rear end round !!!) this allowed much better braking and corner entry/exit speed. - 7 seconds per lap better.
It still has too much body roll, and needs some more negative camber on the front. RSD set this to 1/4 degree negative, but on track it needs a bit more. I run 1.75 degrees negative camber on by Jetta and that works a treat with no tyre wear problems.
If you want to maximise you Ibiza's potential, sort out the factory suspension. It just sucks compared to the likes of Bilsteins PSS kit. The major downside is price though. at near £1000 fitted, its BIG money.
A good intermediate step I think would be the Bilstein Sprintline kits with good qualityy lowering/uprated springs. Its would cost a lot less, not be adjustable, but more than likely transform the handling.
I can happily say that I can drive the Ibiza to its limit and not be bitten by its nasty handling as I was so many times when it ran on stock suspension.
if you were wondering should I/should'nt I? especially if you run a 210. Go For It. It will save your life and bring a big grin to your face.
RSD and Amethyst can supply and fit the kit if you want one.
it does make the car a real gem, and nearly untouchable on the road or track :)
regards
Bill