Neuspeed/Eibach fitted - grossly disappointed

[cuprajim]

After having quite a bit of suspension work done this week I have just come back from my first drive in anger and am left feeling a little hollow to say the least.

Basically I had the front end bushes and top mounts changed, a Neuspeed Front ARB and a set of Eibach Pro Kit Springs fitted to original LCR dampers. I then went and had a full laser alignment done (front toe was out).

The cars handling has indeed changed but I feel it is for the worse. There is much less body roll, a slightly better (stiffer) ride; however the car feels like it wants to understeer everywhere! Over the slightest of bumps the front feels nervous. The faster bends just feel scary.

Is there something wrong with the combination of the components that have been fitted or maybe something a little more sinister underlying?

Just for reference - I am running on GSD3s all set to 33PSI.

Hope I can resolve this as feel that it has been money wasted at this point.

James

 

[paullec]

well i know the std damper are very soft, maybe its underdamped ?

 

[muttly]

have you not got a rear arb fiited?...im no expert but from what ive read in the past a stiffer front arb on its own will create more understeer so if you have not got 1 at the rear to even things out you would get understeer..you would need 1 of at least the same thickness or bigger at the rear depending on how you like your set up

as for the springs with original dampers i not sure but would of thought the springs n dampers would have to be matched

 

[cap r 225]

have you not got a rear arb fiited?...im no expert but from what ive read in the past a stiffer front arb on its own will create more understeer so if you have not got 1 at the rear to even things out you would get understeer..you would need 1 of at least the same thickness or bigger at the rear depending on how you like your set up


i've read this too!

 

[wild willy]

The good news is you haven't wasted your money.
The bad news is you need to spend another 200 bucks on a rear arb and the car will be ACE. Now go and stand in the naughty corner for not reading the forums fully .

 

[cap r 225]

true, true. a know all the admin bods moan about repeatadly asked questions but the search really is an amaizing tool.

i'm assuming you have an lcr by the way. what drop did you get out of the eibach springs? when i asked about these i was told that they didnt make them for an lcr, just an lc. and as the lcr is lower than the lc anyway they don't make a difference even though they fit??? could you help me with this as i'm not 100% about the coilover route!

 

[UncleFester]

As above - get the rear ARB and it will transform the cars handling.

 

[dsrr]

GET THE REAR ARB as with only the front ARB the handling will be dangerous to say the least, the rear is the one that really trasforms the cars handling, only doing the front just makes things worse......you will not be disappointed!!

 

[cuprajim]

I thought that I would get these answers WRT to the rear ARB. I was considering doing the rear but have run out of spare sheckels as we have just had our first baby.

Can anyone actually tell me why a rear ARB would sort the understeer out? I really need a technical explanation.

Looks like another visit to the Awesome website!!

As for the Pro Kit springs, they are the same as all the rest of the range it seems. The front ARB is the same as a VRS Octavia, 225TT and the R32 Golf.

Yes, my car is an LCR.

 

[cuprajim]

true, true. a know all the admin bods moan about repeatadly asked questions but the search really is an amaizing tool.

i'm assuming you have an lcr by the way. what drop did you get out of the eibach springs? when i asked about these i was told that they didnt make them for an lcr, just an lc. and as the lcr is lower than the lc anyway they don't make a difference even though they fit??? could you help me with this as i'm not 100% about the coilover route!

The drop was around 35mm front and 25mm rear. TBH I wasnt going for drop, I wanted a more compliant ride, which the Eibachs are supposed to deliver.

I used to have coilovers on my last LC and I would not recommend them unless you are serious about track days OR live around very smooth tarmac! They are very unforgiving.

 

[UncleFester]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question432.htm Explains quite well.

 

[cuprajim]

That explains ARBs but doesnt really tell me what is happening with my car

 

[MrJohnnyB]

I agree, Id of thought the lack of rear arb would make it oversteer, but then again im a bit tired (stupid) and it is friday! Theres guys on here who can explain it though im sure! The reason for understeer is very simple, there's a lack of friction between the front tyres and the road. Whats causing this could be a number of things but would assume its how the suspension is set up!

 

[ibizacupra]

After having quite a bit of suspension work done this week I have just come back from my first drive in anger and am left feeling a little hollow to say the least.

Basically I had the front end bushes and top mounts changed, a Neuspeed Front ARB and a set of Eibach Pro Kit Springs fitted to original LCR dampers. I then went and had a full laser alignment done (front toe was out).

The cars handling has indeed changed but I feel it is for the worse. There is much less body roll, a slightly better (stiffer) ride; however the car feels like it wants to understeer everywhere! Over the slightest of bumps the front feels nervous. The faster bends just feel scary.

Is there something wrong with the combination of the components that have been fitted or maybe something a little more sinister underlying?

Just for reference - I am running on GSD3s all set to 33PSI.

Hope I can resolve this as feel that it has been money wasted at this point.

James

Why only added front bar?
you have an understeering car worse by doing front only.
If doing one end only, do the rear first if you want a more +ve turning car

Add a large rear and it will work better IMHO

 

[ibizacupra]

GET THE REAR ARB as with only the front ARB the handling will be dangerous to say the least, the rear is the one that really trasforms the cars handling, only doing the front just makes things worse......you will not be disappointed!!

I would'nt go as far as to say dangerous.. not more than a std car pushed too hard it will push its nose sooner.

 

[traumapat]

ive only had the rear fitted.

squares the rear and seems to hold the rear true keeping the wheels down flat.

i think if you only do the fronts it ends up carrying the rear... more pressure to the front and turning the wheels. otherwise it rolled equally. now only your rear rolls.

with eibach matching springs and dampers + rear arb my lc resists understeer well.. was told by the fitter that a front arb can increase it.

 

[CupraMVR]

Ive only added a rear ARB and it changed my car for the better holds the road so much better.

You need your tyres to grip the road, more tyre on the road mean more speed and braking force can be used.with having no anti roll bar on the rear and too stiff on the front you wont be getting better surface area of your tyres on the road.

im goin to fit coilovers on mine soon but its mainly for looks want it to sit better in the arches but also to handle like a track rocket

 

[caveo]

I had front and rear done @ same time and made a huge + difference , hardly any roll and with the diff , not a bit of under steer .

 

[jonjay]

I personally would have gone for a proper suspension kit than just doing bushes, springs and front arb.

Get the Neuspeed 28mm rear arb and that should definately reduce that understeer in fact it should give you more oversteer.

 

[Dyscontinued]

I had both ARBs on my Cupra TDi.

I would expect just adding a thicked front to increase understeer, mine now sticks to roundabouts amazingly and changes direction so swiftly.

I'm no technical expert but I believe the rear ARB acheives it's results as because the back can't roll it has to 'swing out' (not noticably withhout liftoff) hence achieving a more controlled front end.