Handling help

[matylad]

Hi guys for a little handling help.

Recently had the car lowered and have been struggling to like the setup ever since. The rear always seems slow to react when you flick gentley from side toside and I seem to have understeer and front end feels vague. I have no real confidence and I'm starting to wish I hadnt fitted the shocks and springs.

Specs are as follows:

28mm Rear ARB middle setting
25mm Front ARB
Weitec springs and dampers
TT wishbone bushes
INA engine mounts (all 3)
15mm spacers on the rear
All fully aligned whe fitted
Tyre pressures are 33PSI all round

So any ideas? Im thinking that it might be the rear end being to stiff

Cheers,

Matt.

 

[Willie]

What tyres are you running?

Are you sure these are XL?

Try stiffening up the rear ARB, its easy done and easy to put back if you don't like it.

Did you fit new strutt top mounts when the shocks and springs were fitted?

 

[matylad]

Im running Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta Willie, which are only around a month old and definately XL. New top monts were fitted to both front and rear. The fronts also had the top mount bearings. One thing I have have noticed since all of this was fitted is that the strut top caps no longer fit they just sort of sit there and wobble around, as if they are sat on the top nut (hope that makes sense) does this sound right?

I'll have to give the stiffest setting a try. Last time I tried it didnt feel nice at all, very fidgity. This was with the standard shocks and springs though.

Cheers, Matt.

 

[Willie]

Did you fit the suspension yourself?

By the sounds of your description these have been wrongly fitted

 

[matylad]

No I didn’t Willie. These were fitted by a “VAG specialist” down here. Do you think something is fitted incorrectly?

Thanks, Matt.

 

[sheffboy]

could it be the fact you've only spaced the rear 15mm. maybe try taking them off or spacing the front slightly.

 

[matylad]

could it be the fact you've only spaced the rear 15mm. maybe try taking them off or spacing the front slightly.

It could be. I’m just after suggestions from others experience.
I’m kind of curious about the strut top caps after what Willie said, could something be on the wrong way round. I have spoken to other local owners with similar mods and they have not mentioned the understeer/vague feeling. I suppose the next question should be about the strut top caps and weather these should fit properly with after market shocks and springs.

Matt.

 

[Willie]

No I didn’t Willie. These were fitted by a “VAG specialist” down here. Do you think something is fitted incorrectly?

Thanks, Matt.

Not too sure but something sounds wrong
With the mods you have listed you should have excellent handling

 

[DannyC87]

Get the spacers off the back and stick them on the front..should transform the car

 

[sheffboy]

just checked the strut top caps on mine and their the same, just sat there

maybe get a pic up for comparison with other weitec owners.

 

[matylad]

OK cheers Willie. I think I’ll give the place that fitted the suspension a call and see what they say, fingers crossed they’ll agree that something doesn’t sound right and have it back to take a look.

Get the spacers off the back and stick them on the front..should transform the car

Really? I can imagine that looks ridiculous, but I’m willing to give anything a go

I think my plan of attack will be, ring the place who fitted the suspension and see what they say and then depending on what they say try various spacers locations, and ARB settings

Thanks again, Matt.

 

[matylad]

just checked the strut top caps on mine and their the same, just sat there

Thanks for taking the time to do that. When you say just sat there you mean you can pull them off with no effort, like they're not gripping the threaded section?

Cheers, Matt.

 

[sheffboy]

yep, exactly like that.

 

[The Terminator]

Matt,

i have ultracs fitted to my 2nd car (VXR) and i know exactly what your on about.... ive now done approx 1500 miles in them and im starting to gain more confidence in the tyres, these are the only tyres ive ever felt i couldnt go full welly with after a couple hundred miles.. but now the rear grip is starting to show, thankf3ck!!!!

to easily explain, right now you feel as though your tyres are coated in substance and have no grip???.. that feeling will dissappear soon mate.

I wont be buying ultracs again though.

hope this hepls..

 

[matylad]

Thanks for your input Terminator.

Do you get the same delayed rear end if for instance you drive down a smooth straight road and you roll the steering from side to side? You can see and feel the rear end reacting slower than the front? I noticed last night that if you have confidence and ignore the vagueness the grip is there it just doesn’t feel planted and is a little unnerving. The car is booked in for Friday afternoon for a check over and an alignment check to be on the safe side.

Thanks, Matt.

 

[The Terminator]

Thanks for your input Terminator.

Do you get the same delayed rear end if for instance you drive down a smooth straight road and you roll the steering from side to side? You can see and feel the rear end reacting slower than the front? I noticed last night that if you have confidence and ignore the vagueness the grip is there it just doesn’t feel planted and is a little unnerving. The car is booked in for Friday afternoon for a check over and an alignment check to be on the safe side.

Thanks, Matt.

i get exactly the same feeling matt and never had this until i changed over from my old conti's!!! its a weird one, but there could still be something detrimentally wrong with your handling other than the tyres, so its best to get it checked bud.

how is your grip on sudden straighline acceleration?? i find it hard to plant, unless controlled.

hope you get it sorted mate.

 

[matylad]

Putting the power down is fine, no issues at all with that.

For once I’m hoping they find something wrong with the car! LOL.

Matt.

 

[DannyC87]

I used ultracs and found them to be far superior to any other tyre I've tried (michi, dunlop sport maxx, falken etc etc).

 

[The Terminator]

I used ultracs and found them to be far superior to any other tyre I've tried (michi, dunlop sport maxx, falken etc etc).

how long did you find they took to scrub in?? and what tyre pressures were you running?

I found them very vague to start with, but getting better

 

[BoomhaueR]

I doubt it would be spacers. I have very similar set up to you, but without arbs. I have 15mm on rear and 5mm front and it feels very planted. The front track is much wider than the rear anyway.

I think you just need to readjust your arbs since your centre of gravity has changed.