OliverJ's Leon Cupra R : OZ AP Racing upgrades...

[oliverj]

Yes, Donnington (SCnet track day) on the standard setup and the car rolled like a pig and the brakes faded......warped disks etc

It was then I set about upgrading brakes and suspension on my car.

For suspension in detail follow the link in my sig for Leon FAQ's where there is an LCR suspension 'sticky'.

I think your plan is spot on leaving the engine as std.

Oh btw (the toolbox in your boot for trackdays, chuck in 70mm and 80mm jubilee clips) boost hoses blowing off are common.........I had to be towed off track twice at Donny

Are SCnet doing another Donington day? Would love to meet up with like minded individuals. I get a hard time at work - they just don't understand

I'll have a look through your link to the Leon FAQs. Thanks.

I think leaving the engine as standard makes sense - the car is more than capable for me. 70 and 80mm j clips on order!! Great tip!! I am getting quite excited now - only four days to go. Any other track day gems of knowledge....

 

[oliverj]

Jesus dude

Its not going your way this past while, how the brakes bedding in?
They must be up to speed now
If your washing your car you really need to get yourself a cup for tea and read through this web site.
www.polishedbliss.co.uk
VAG com is very good and there are loads of uses for it.
Resetting your service indicator when you service it yourself, checking for fault codes prior and during track days.
You can get your 0-60, 0-100 and find out what your intake temps are doing during track days to see if you need a FMIC or not.

Hi JS,

I have uploaded some new shots of the brakes (recently replaced bells and pads).

Spending a few hours this weekend swapping wheels back to front ready for Monday. Need to pick up a few supplies and some petrol too! Hope the weather stays nice!!

 

[Willie]

CAR P O R N

Very nice dude, I'm very jealous

 

[Ruddmeister]

Nothing arranged track day wise, it was popular last time though

The only SCN event on is the Awesome Gti RR day and plans for a national meet.......Oh and the BTCC events

I think leaving the engine as standard makes sense - the car is more than capable for me. 70 and 80mm j clips on order!! Great tip!! I am getting quite excited now - only four days to go. Any other track day gems of knowledge....

Usual bits and pieces, socket set, cable ties etc and smaller jubilee clips for other pipes. You touched on one item earlier a good tyre pressure gauge and a pump, to lower tyres pressures during the session and re-inflate for the trip home.

Two other things you will notice when (if) you get the coilovers on, the braking will improve again less nose dive under braking (less nose lift under acceleration too) makes the car feel more surefooted. Secondly if you only drop the car 15-20mm you'll notice better (yes better!) ground clearance for the front splitter. Especially downhill turns, suspension compresses less.

 

[oliverj]

CAR P O R N

Very nice dude, I'm very jealous

You have no need to be!! She handles like a cruise-liner made from jelly but stops like the Bugatti Veyron!!

I have made a life changing decision. I am going to get my CBT and Direct Access in September and start tracking bikes next year!!!!

I will be able to spend loads more time on the track, it will be more cost-effective and it should make me a better driver! Only down side I can see is that I might die

 

[oliverj]

Nothing arranged track day wise, it was popular last time though

The only SCN event on is the Awesome Gti RR day and plans for a national meet.......Oh and the BTCC events



Usual bits and pieces, socket set, cable ties etc and smaller jubilee clips for other pipes. You touched on one item earlier a good tyre pressure gauge and a pump, to lower tyres pressures during the session and re-inflate for the trip home.

Two other things you will notice when (if) you get the coilovers on, the braking will improve again less nose dive under braking (less nose lift under acceleration too) makes the car feel more surefooted. Secondly if you only drop the car 15-20mm you'll notice better (yes better!) ground clearance for the front splitter. Especially downhill turns, suspension compresses less.

I think you make a great point about the suspension - I hadn't considered it like that. You assume that lowering the car makes it more susceptible to grounding

I have the day off tomorrow to prepare the car for Monday and I have a shopping list (courtesy of yourself) of things to get. I am impressed with the new Michelin pump and gauage - should have got one years ago!

I assume you would endorse Eibach coilovers? Would be an opportunity to see if there are any issues with my dampers while she is up on a ramp. Are coilovers the kind of thing a dealership could fit or would you recommend somewhere more specialised?

You should definitely organise another Donny day for next year.

 

[Willie]

Oliver, thats a big change there with the bikes, they scare the **** out of me but each to their own. If you want to go fast thats the right way to go. Not alot of cars will pass a bike in a straight line.

I'd doubt you'd get a Dealer to fit an aftermarket bits including coilovers.
Best off to go for a specialised supplier that can also set the 4 wheel alignment.
Remember the key to good handling is to have the Lower Control Arms as level with the ground as possible. An drop in ride height over standard will effect this so it's not always that the more drop the better.
Good luck for Monday, remember the pictures and videos if possible

 

[Ruddmeister]

If you are in Nottingham then JBS in Chesterfield aren't that far (30miles ish?), go to the dealer / discounts section and put up a thread and I'm sure they will PM you a price for fitting only......not sure what kits they do themselves.

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=146

Eibach kit is excellent I think Zboyd had the Eibach Pro Street from Awesome Gti he rated the kit very highly

http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/seat leon/suspension.html

Whatever kit you get remember the LCR is different to all other leons with the brackets for the ARB on the bottom of the damper.

Oh and Eibach rear ARB's don't fit the LCR they clash with the OEM exhaust

Keep us updated

 

[oliverj]

Oliver, thats a big change there with the bikes, they scare the **** out of me but each to their own. If you want to go fast thats the right way to go. Not alot of cars will pass a bike in a straight line.

I'd doubt you'd get a Dealer to fit an aftermarket bits including coilovers.
Best off to go for a specialised supplier that can also set the 4 wheel alignment.
Remember the key to good handling is to have the Lower Control Arms as level with the ground as possible. An drop in ride height over standard will effect this so it's not always that the more drop the better.
Good luck for Monday, remember the pictures and videos if possible

Hi JS! Do not fear my friend, the intention is to get my CBT and Direct Access then look at doing some track days on a bike next year (they have courses where complete novices can learn). I have no intention of going on the road with one. I think it will give me a better appreciation, better awareness, and it is a nice skill to have.

The lad I live with had a Ducati and he is keen to get back into his biking. He would go halves with me on a track bike. The other thing is it wouldn't be so expensive for me to track a bike. Taking the beasty to Donington keeps my credit card at a steady body temperature!!!!

I have to fill the car and Gerry tanks with fuel today as well as get some spares for Monday. I hope the weather for Monday is as nice as today!

The official track photographers should get some nice stills, a friend from work is bring his camera but i suppose it depends where he stands as to what footage he gets as the pit straight is a little dull.

Have you had any thoughts abou what to do with your car?

Watch this space!!

 

[oliverj]

If you are in Nottingham then JBS in Chesterfield aren't that far (30miles ish?), go to the dealer / discounts section and put up a thread and I'm sure they will PM you a price for fitting only......not sure what kits they do themselves.

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=146

Eibach kit is excellent I think Zboyd had the Eibach Pro Street from Awesome Gti he rated the kit very highly

http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/seat leon/suspension.html

Whatever kit you get remember the LCR is different to all other leons with the brackets for the ARB on the bottom of the damper.

Oh and Eibach rear ARB's don't fit the LCR they clash with the OEM exhaust

Keep us updated

Thanks for the tips Rudd, I have being researching... Did you know that the Veyron uses Bilstein suspension. I have posted a thread for JBS as recommended. Been looking into the B14/16 coilover kits but I assume you can swap the OEM springs with Eibachs.

I would assume that when I have the suspension sorted it would be the perfect time to sort the bushes too. Powerflex seem to be the manufacturer of choice in the forum.

Not sure about ARBs etc yet. Happy to keep the car as pure as possible by just sorting brakes and suspension until my skill increases. I have an expensive month coming in January as she will need new disks, pads and tyres all round plus I am looking to introduce a second set of wheels with R888s on for next years track stints. I would have done it sooner but 18" R88s are on back-oorder till October and there is little point in getting them for that time of year.

I will most likely do this all in one hit as it keeps insurance policy change premiums down and I can organise a car while the work is being done.

Thanks again for the advice Rudd it is much appreciated. Right I had better go and get all my bits for Monday, take out the rear seats and then swap the wheels round.

I have seen some nice lap timing kit but you are not allowed to use that kind of stuff on these days plus i can't afford to keep throwing money at these things.

Photos (and possibly footage) to come Monday evening

 

[jonjay]

AmD are doing free fitting on KW Variant 3's at the moment so that could save you a few £££.

 

[oliverj]

Cheers JonJay the KWs seem pretty good. What do you have on yours? Too much choice

 

[jonjay]

Cheers JonJay the KWs seem pretty good. What do you have on yours? Too much choice

suspension wise? Everything

+ H&R Cup Kit suspension
+ Eibach Anti Roll Bars 25mm front & rear
+ Audi S3 upper & lower strut brace
+ Hughes Engineering rear strut Brace
+ Forge 10mm rear hubcentric spacers w/ longer bolts and locking wheel nuts
+ Superflex front & rear wishbone bushes with camber
+ Powerflex rear beam bushes
+ Powerflex dogbone mount

 

[Willie]

Hi JS! Do not fear my friend, the intention is to get my CBT and Direct Access then look at doing some track days on a bike next year (they have courses where complete novices can learn). I have no intention of going on the road with one. I think it will give me a better appreciation, better awareness, and it is a nice skill to have.

The lad I live with had a Ducati and he is keen to get back into his biking. He would go halves with me on a track bike. The other thing is it wouldn't be so expensive for me to track a bike. Taking the beasty to Donington keeps my credit card at a steady body temperature!!!!

I have to fill the car and Gerry tanks with fuel today as well as get some spares for Monday. I hope the weather for Monday is as nice as today!

The official track photographers should get some nice stills, a friend from work is bring his camera but i suppose it depends where he stands as to what footage he gets as the pit straight is a little dull.

Have you had any thoughts abou what to do with your car?

Watch this space!!

Well Oliver its Monday at 15.00 so you should be having a serious amount of fun just now
Tracking a bike will be awesome, I think you'll find yourself wanting more power out of the LCR very soon after getting the bike sussed as it will feel very very slow

As for my car it will be off the road on October, November and a bit of December. During this time I hope to change both CV joints, fit a 23mm front ARB, change the LCA rear bushes for the TT roadster ones, change the engine mount for my uprated one, run a cold air feed to my induction kit, fit my uprated Dog Bone mount and perhaps change the pads and discs for 2 piece fronts and plain rears, run ducting to the front brake discs from the fog light holes and a service of course.
This will set me up for getting the car on the track next year.
I don't think I'm going to bother this year, I'll just collect all the bits I need and fit them as above and be ready for next years summer track days.
As is the case with most people money is not a free as I would like it to be this year
BUT bring it on next year

 

[oliverj]

suspension wise? Everything

+ H&R Cup Kit suspension
+ Eibach Anti Roll Bars 25mm front & rear
+ Audi S3 upper & lower strut brace
+ Hughes Engineering rear strut Brace
+ Forge 10mm rear hubcentric spacers w/ longer bolts and locking wheel nuts
+ Superflex front & rear wishbone bushes with camber
+ Powerflex rear beam bushes
+ Powerflex dogbone mount

Hi JonJay,

Wow - that is quite a shopping list!!!

I really noticed the squidgy handling today at Donington. The morning was fab but I struggled this afternoon through being overtired and sheer exhaustion so called it quits mid afternoon before I had an accident.

I am just sorting through the pics so will hopefully be posting those shortly!

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?p=2045741

I think suspension is next on the cards - I swapped the wheels round yesterday and took the rear seats out. I cannot explain how much better she handles now although the worn tyres on the rear and virtually no weight above them (mixed with some enthusiastic M3/EVO evading) led to me spinning the car just after Craner I don't want that feeling again in a hurry!

What do you think to the PowerFlex bushes? I have heard that the OEM VAG parts are just as good if not better and not as likely to fail.....

 

[oliverj]

Hi JS,

Here are the shots of my efforts yesterday in preparation of today...

Actually next door neighbour did most of it

Including the spare wheel it was over 8 stone of weight shed from the beasty!

 

[Willie]

Survived another session with no scrapes

Are you still learning your track skills or are they pretty well honed now?

Did you end up fiddling with the tyre pressures?
If so did you notice any difference with this?

I would bet that fitting an S3 strutt brace and 28mm rear ARB would keep you happy with the handling for a bit longer. Bopth of these are very easily fitted and removed if your not liking that feeling of the car with these on.
Both of these you could sell on very easily if you didn't like them.
Just a thought to help you in your next trrack day without spending £1,000 on coilovers

Great to hear you had a great day, and well done for showings the LCR's skills off again against the big boys

 

[Ruddmeister]

Not sure about ARBs etc yet. Happy to keep the car as pure as possible by just sorting brakes and suspension until my skill increases. I have an expensive month coming in January as she will need new disks, pads and tyres all round plus I am looking to introduce a second set of wheels with R888s on for next years track stints. I would have done it sooner but 18" R88s are on back-oorder till October and there is little point in getting them for that time of year.

As pure as possible.....well the front ARB is a direct replacement just thicker and the rear is a piece of cake to remove if you ever wanted to.

In my experience I would be doing ARB's first and keep all other suspension mod's till later when funds allow.

The rear ARB is the best value for money modification I ever did.

If you are not sure you'll like them rem you could always flog them on the forums and recoup 90% of the cost (fitting exlcuded) But I'll bet you £20 you'll never have them removed once fitted

 

[oliverj]

Survived another session with no scrapes

Are you still learning your track skills or are they pretty well honed now?

Did you end up fiddling with the tyre pressures?
If so did you notice any difference with this?

I would bet that fitting an S3 strutt brace and 28mm rear ARB would keep you happy with the handling for a bit longer. Bopth of these are very easily fitted and removed if your not liking that feeling of the car with these on.
Both of these you could sell on very easily if you didn't like them.
Just a thought to help you in your next trrack day without spending £1,000 on coilovers

Great to hear you had a great day, and well done for showings the LCR's skills off again against the big boys

Hi JS,

I have just posted a breakdown of yesterday on your other post. I have a long way to go with track skills... that was only my 6th day - i am a long way off being happy with my performance. I get too excited and the speed creeps up and my technical accuracy goes down.

The tyres were dropped to 29 at the front (from 33) and 30 at the rear - they had risen to 34 after the first session so I returned them to 33 all round while they were still hot and let them naturally cool. After my spin I dropped the backs a bit to give me some grip. The bloke in the M3 had the Ultras in black with R888s on and I think that is my next purchase (possibly early 2009). I was able to leave him on corners due to my powerband but he just had so much more grip than little old me.

I'll have a think about the SBs and ARBs, the car feels better having been transformed into an Estate but the body roll is evident and the shots I posted show the kind of movement I was getting through corners. I am hesitant to spend money on her as I am effectively masking my own inability. i would rather get better and then see the difference in the way the car handles through being smoother and more technically accurate around the track. if that makes sense - I think that is a better way to go....

Be great to meet up with you once yours is ready and do Oulton Park or something half way between us

 

[oliverj]

As pure as possible.....well the front ARB is a direct replacement just thicker and the rear is a piece of cake to remove if you ever wanted to.

In my experience I would be doing ARB's first and keep all other suspension mod's till later when funds allow.

The rear ARB is the best value for money modification I ever did.

If you are not sure you'll like them rem you could always flog them on the forums and recoup 90% of the cost (fitting exlcuded) But I'll bet you £20 you'll never have them removed once fitted

You make a very good point, it's weird to think a thicker ARB would make such a difference. Now that I have no back seats I think I do need to restore a little rigidity to the back of the car.... ooooooooooh so many decisions!!!

I need a track sponsor!! For your £20 i would put SCN on my helmet