do you find the suspension setup on these cars tend to understeer as most non V6 drivers moan about? i have a 4mo on standard suspension, not the factory sports setup and it feels ok.

But i know people jusy put rear bars on there 1.8T's to sor out understeer, but given that the V6's have multi link on the rear, does just going for a rear bar have the same impact as they do on the 1.8's? or would it be better to got bigger alround and still keep a smaller bar at the front? but using the H&R set? 

I found mine understeered loads, it was like driving a boat as it was so light and fluffy and bouncy everywhere you went.

I've upgraded both ARB's to slightly bigger H&R's.  We put the rear on first and 2 days later I spun my car on a roundabout and was facing the wrong way but other than that it was great and held the road better.  I've now got the front on too but tbh I haven't noticed any difference with that, although I'm still driving like an OAP in fear of spinning off again.

New suspension set-up goes on soon which I'm hoping will stiffen up the ride a tad, lower a smidge and make it feel like is more at one with the road - I'll update you once it's all fitted.

 to me though that aint understeer that's just the boat like soft handling

If I was to fling my car around a track I'd probably upgrade but I don't see any point for public roads.

I haven't pushed mine as much as I could either but so far I haven't experienced any understeer although compared to the S3 I get to play with, there is a difference in handling, naturally.

I'm pretty easy to please though and anything is better than my old Corsa...

Filby1:

 to me though that aint understeer that's just the boat like soft handling

It is when you throw it round a bend and it don't go in the direction your steering it in

I've had a fair few sporty/performance cars and this is by far the worst one for handling, hence I'm doing my best to rectify, otherwise I'm selling.

 see i never had that, and as above there would be a difference in the S3 and the golf, i want mine to be like an S3, i would of had one of them if it had been a V6, Oh and trust me you would love how much difference the ARBs make just day to day. Get them.

Im not trying to talk myself out of them, more weather i should just get the Neuspeed 25mm race bar for £250 or go for the H&R set at £260

I'm not clued up on Audi's - what is different on the set-up of the S3 compared to the V6 4Mo?

Does a front lower strut brace make a difference in the handling on the 4Mo as I've heard that it may do but still unsure whether to add this to mine yet?

 What suspension set up have you got Hayley?

boranik:

 What suspension set up have you got Hayley?

Currently standard VW 4Mo but have bought Eibach Prokit/KONI FSD shocks which Harveysduvet and Austin21 are fitting for me when they get some spare time - so looks like September

 Get the rear ARB sorted while they've got it up and stripped down that should sort out any understeer problems you have.

boranik:

 Get the rear ARB sorted while they've got it up and stripped down that should sort out any understeer problems you have.

As stated earlier on this thread somewhere, I've already uprated my ARB's to H&R's.  It's a tad better but nothing fantastic

If you look in my build thread (in my signature) you'll see the stuff I've done so far and what I've got planned (page 1) but not if there's something more I can do - what do ya reckon?

Cheeky Chappers:

boranik:

 Get the rear ARB sorted while they've got it up and stripped down that should sort out any understeer problems you have.

As stated earlier on this thread somewhere, I've already uprated my ARB's to H&R's.  It's a tad better but nothing fantastic

If you look in my build thread (in my signature) you'll see the stuff I've done so far and what I've got planned (page 1) but not if there's something more I can do - what do ya reckon?

I'll be surprised if sorting out the dampers doesn't resolve a lot of the handling issues with that car to be honest - standardard dampers that have done over 100k are going to be pretty tired by now.

Jon.

 I'd suggest some adjustable drop links for the ARB's you could stiffen the rear end up as much as you wanted then, I'm looking into custom making some for another member I'll let you know roughly how much they're going to be as soon as I know if you're interested in them? Out of interest have you had the geometry checked since you fitted the ARB's? Its worth getting it all checked if you undo anything on the suspension.

 Get the R32 ARB's most cost effective ARB's, Also coilovers and Haldex upgrade will transform the car,

harveysduvet:

We'll stick the rear arb back on the stiffer setting when we've got the back up - I knocked it down after you'd had your little spin just to try and help get a bit of confidence back in the car. Do you know what the front is set to at the moment? 

I'll be surprised if sorting out the dampers does resolve a lot of the handling issues with that car to be honest - standardard dampers that have done over 100k are going to be pretty tired by now.

Jon.

Haven't a clue about the setting on the front ARB, I'll ask PSI tomorrow as they put it on and are under there tomorrow - if it's not, should I ask them to put onto the stiffest setting?

Oh cool - so there is hope yet!

Cheeky Chappers:

harveysduvet:

We'll stick the rear arb back on the stiffer setting when we've got the back up - I knocked it down after you'd had your little spin just to try and help get a bit of confidence back in the car. Do you know what the front is set to at the moment? 

I'll be surprised if sorting out the dampers does resolve a lot of the handling issues with that car to be honest - standardard dampers that have done over 100k are going to be pretty tired by now.

Jon.

Haven't a clue about the setting on the front ARB, I'll ask PSI tomorrow as they put it on and are under there tomorrow - if it's not, should I ask them to put onto the stiffest setting?

Oh cool - so there is hope yet!

Jon.

 I'd do the rear ARB first then see if the front makes much difference, if the front makes more difference(better) go for upper and lower strut braces all round too but make sure they are as light as possible.

I thought the standard R32 suspension was awesome,  you could drive it hard and flat,  cornered and carried loadsa speed into fast curves.

Get on the power too early out of tight corners (aka roundabouts) and the front washes out wide (power understeer),  but this can be overcome by adjusting your driving style.  Take a wider line in, turn in sooner,  power out smoother.  = massive grin!

Or you can take the lairy approach,   into corner fast,  turn in, lift off, turn in MORE, tail immediatly slides,  get on the power, car straightens itself out, and you fire up the road.

I had a Haldex fitted, and what this did was allow me to get onto the throttle much earlier in a bend.  Rather than suffering power understeer, the rear of the car would push harder so you get a much more NEUTRAL stance to cornering.  You don't get power oversteer as people have been bullshitting about,   you get much much less understeer.

H+R roll bars - I had these fitted to my car,  set to hard rear,  soft front.   Car felt understeery to me.

Next I Set the car to hard rear,  hard front - car feels less understeery,  but not much different to the original R32 ARB's if I am brutally honest.

The car still rolls, and didn't feel any flatter ( I was expecting it to roll less).

What I wasn't expecting was how the car now felt snappy,  gone was the ability to lifting off and turning in to induce a nice controllable slide.  

You have to relearn to drive the car once these ARB's are fitted.   The car can corner even faster - fast curves can be attacked with more speed - but you have to be much smoother and commited to the corner.  U can't barrel in, and then back off suddenly.   The extra G-force carried in can make the car snap.

Understeer of the 4motion is really due to the suspension set up,  I've driven one, and the car is on the complete opposite scale to the R32.   4motions have been set up for a nice wallowy ride, and great all weather grip.

An R32 is really hard and crashy compared to a 4mo.

R32's can be understeery if driven in a certain way,   but they are great fun point to point if you alter the way you drive them.

If I had a 4mo,  I'd stick on coilovers, R32 ARB's, and a upgraded haldex.  Trouble is,  you'd spend well over £1200 on that lot?!

Not sure about strut braces, I fitted one to the rear of the car, and I don't think it made the slightest difference.  It just looks cool imo.

Gti Fly:

I thought the standard R32 suspension was awesome,  you could drive it hard and flat,  cornered and carried loadsa speed into fast curves.

 

Get on the power too early out of tight corners (aka roundabouts) and the front washes out wide (power understeer),  but this can be overcome by adjusting your driving style.  Take a wider line in, turn in sooner,  power out smoother.  = massive grin!

Or you can take the lairy approach,   into corner fast,  turn in, lift off, turn in MORE, tail immediatly slides,  get on the power, car straightens itself out, and you fire up the road.

 

I had a Haldex fitted, and what this did was allow me to get onto the throttle much earlier in a bend.  Rather than suffering power understeer, the rear of the car would push harder so you get a much more NEUTRAL stance to cornering.  You don't get power oversteer as people have been bullshitting about,   you get much much less understeer.

 

H+R roll bars - I had these fitted to my car,  set to hard rear,  soft front.   Car felt understeery to me.

Next I Set the car to hard rear,  hard front - car feels less understeery,  but not much different to the original R32 ARB's if I am brutally honest.

 

The car still rolls, and didn't feel any flatter ( I was expecting it to roll less).

What I wasn't expecting was how the car now felt snappy,  gone was the ability to lifting off and turning in to induce a nice controllable slide.  

 

You have to relearn to drive the car once these ARB's are fitted.   The car can corner even faster - fast curves can be attacked with more speed - but you have to be much smoother and commited to the corner.  U can't barrel in, and then back off suddenly.   The extra G-force carried in can make the car snap.

 

Understeer of the 4motion is really due to the suspension set up,  I've driven one, and the car is on the complete opposite scale to the R32.   4motions have been set up for a nice wallowy ride, and great all weather grip.

An R32 is really hard and crashy compared to a 4mo.

 

R32's can be understeery if driven in a certain way,   but they are great fun point to point if you alter the way you drive them.

 

 

If I had a 4mo,  I'd stick on coilovers, R32 ARB's, and a upgraded haldex.  Trouble is,  you'd spend well over £1200 on that lot?!

 

Not sure about strut braces, I fitted one to the rear of the car, and I don't think it made the slightest difference.  It just looks cool imo.

I've found this post quite insightful and gonna get my ARB's adjusted accordingly tomorrow

I had R32 suspension/arb's fitted to my Bora to sort out the wallowy ride and its improved it 110%.  Admittedly I don't really push the Bora hard (yet ) but I feel like thats the set up the 4motion's should have had from the factory.  Also had an S3 lower front brace put on for good measure as well as it was cheap, not sure if this makes any difference or not though.