245 replies to this topic

[NorthernPhil]

Ok, cool, looks like things are moving pretty quickly...

 

S3 subframe (with strut brace fitted), hubs, steering rack, cast wishbones, and R32 ARB have all been either bought, or negotiated for (payday pending).

 

Just got to get the front and rear brake calipers found and purchased now, and choose my discs and pads, and I'll be squared away.

 

Discs and pads I could use some input on if anyone is up for giving advice. I've got EBC Blackstuff (standard/OEM replacement) on at the mo, but I think it might be worth looking at something a bit... higher performance...

 

 

And now, I best have a clear out of the shed and get some of my old bits on ebay. I think I'm going to need some extra cash...

[PokerProTDI150]

Hi bud what calipers do you need?

 

I am just about to upgrade my own brakes (current 312mm front 256mm rear) to Brembo Ibiza cupra R fronts and red 256 rears ..... i have chosen to try some discs from tarox with their F2000 discs front and rear combined with their Corsa pads (fast road/track).

 

I once used EBC drilled and grooved discs with EBC redstuff pads on my previous car 2001 impreza turbo ...... they were very noisey and no better than the standard OEM discs and pads. They are cheap though for "uprated" items. The tarox are a lot more expensive ... maybe for good reason.

[NorthernPhil]

shoot, I grabbed some 312s and 256s on ebay before I saw your reply.

I have noticed a bit of noise from the EBCs, but not an unreasonable amount. I'll have a look at the Tarox combo as an upgrade. Have you had any experience with Pagid stuff?

I've decided to paint the calipers, subframe, wishbones, ARBs, etc. in a very fetching pearlescent purple. Should go nicely with the black. A nice accent, like. The purple is very dark, so it should complement rather than clash.

[PokerProTDI150]

The 312/256 upgrade is spot on for what it costs, i have been running the v6 4mo setup for a few yrs now. I am only upgrading to Brembo and Tarox because i am ready to start doing a few track days.

 

You bought my ebay brakes from the gti 180bhp! ... doh i would of cheapened them up had i know you was after them! Next time you could check to see if i have any parts that you want ... i will do them nice and cheap for you.

 

Is there any small bits and bobs you need off the car? ... i can chuck some smalls in the package with the calipers .... anything broke or missing on your car?

 

I like the sound of black and purple theme ... should work well.

 

Only Pagid stuff i have experience with is their standard road stuff ... which has allways been spot on ... for standard road driving, never had a problem with them.

 

Pagid make some uprated pads too (Pagid RS) but they are around 10 x as expensive as their standard road pads.

[NorthernPhil]

Ebay do allow partial refunds.

On a serious note, I'm not sure if I need anything. Well, not small stuff. Next thing on the list is a rear beam and hubs, and the TT/LCR bits I'll need to defuculate the ESP once the quickrack is on. I will have a look though.

Oh, something I DO need though: replacement lefthand bora headlight protector. I had something hit the car the other day. Obliterated the headlight washer cover and smashed the bottom cornerof the protector.

[PokerProTDI150]

I think you may need the S3/LCR ABS control unit and brake master cylinder .... this is said to be the fix for the "quickrack ESP issue". I can get you these parts off the next s3 i get and give them you very cheap .... however personally i would just save the hasstle and get the ESP fully coded out like i did ..... cost me a 30 mins labour charge at Awesome gti.

 

Unlucky on the damage to the front .... I have no bora bodywork but if i come across any any time soon i will let you know.

 

Calipers will be with you on Tuesday.

[NorthernPhil]

Yup, ABS unit, tandem master cylinder, and two thrust/pressure sensors. Though I think I need to go back and check the wiring diagrams, because I doubt the bora will have the loom for the second sensor already fitted. ABS control unit connector needs somere-wiring too.

I feel the software route is kinda cheating... that and I like trying stuff that no-one/few people have done before.



 

 

...like erotic vinyl graphics....

[PokerProTDI150]

Haha its not cheating .... cheating is using ESP instead of your right foot to control wheelspin! It's a more involving drive without the ESP .... as i have LSD also if i'm not carefull in the wet i can end up with both wheels spinning together and zero steering ability.  Having no ESP stops me from being lazy and keeps my throttle control "skills" sharp.

 

Let me know once you know all the ESP fix parts you will need .... i will get them all for you off the next mk1 s3 i have.

[NorthernPhil]

I'll fish the part numbers out shortly. I know that the parts in question are also on LCRs and certain mk1 TT's.

 

Having ESP is not so much for me, but just in case someone not used to the car wants/needs to drive it (other half, for example).

 

Had a thought about the brakes... do you know who it was that does the black discs?

[PokerProTDI150]

Black diamond do black discs IIRC.

[NorthernPhil]

Black diamond do black discs IIRC.

 

Righto, I will have a look. Black discs aren't essential, but... shiny silver discs with rusty middle bits kinda spoils the look. Even if I can just stop there being orage bits... every little helps.

[xJay1337]

EBC USR discs are also black.

Mtec also do black coatings on their disks. 

[NorthernPhil]

@PokerProTDI150:

 

As far as I know (at this point in time), the parts I need are:

 

ESP/ABS control unit - 8N0907375G.
Tandem Master Cylinder - 8N2614019 (two sensor version).
ESP Thrust Sensors - 1J0907597B (two required).

 

I reckon I'll need the wiring for the sensors, too, given she's probably only hooked up for one sensor at the mo.
 

 

@xJay1337:

 

Cool, I'll have a look.

 

 

 

Also need to pin down what rear ARB to pair with the R32 front ARB. Roughly equally diametered ARBs should given approximately neutral handling, right? Neither understeer nor oversteer?

[PokerProTDI150]

Do you know where the thrust sensors are located?

 

As for ARB .... you can buy a matched kit, you need to order for either a mk1 TT FWD, a mk1 Octavia VRS or a mk1 leon cupra R .... they all run 4wd style front and 2wd rear bars.

 

I got a kit from H & R that was 25mm front 25mm rear ..... very well balanced setup. Its hard to make it understeer or oversteer ... it just go's wherever i point it.

[NorthernPhil]

The thrust sensors are the pressure sensors that plug into the TMC itself. Item 10 on the diagram below. (sorry for any confusion, I was quoting ETKA/VAGCAT directly).

 

 

For the sake of ease of conversion, getting the whole unit (sensors, TMC, and reservoir) as one piece is probably the easiest approach.

 

 

With regards to the ARBs, I've got an R32 23mm front ARB coming from technique over on the R32oc forum, and was looking at something to match with it. The Whiteline rear ARB is 24mm, so should be quite a reasonable partner. Maybe a touch of oversteer, but nothing major. Given the small difference, I'd be reasonably surprised if I noticed it even if I get any.

[NorthernPhil]

Someone appears to have left a box of calipers on my patio, @PokerProTDI150...

[NorthernPhil]

@PokerProTDI150: Looking at Tarox pads at the mo. Have you had the Stradas before? Regardless, I'm tempted by the Corsas. How do they compare with normal fast road pads? (everyday/fast road, rather than fast road/track like the Corsas).

[PokerProTDI150]

Hi bud i have never used tarox before, i decided to try them when i learnt that there was a race class in the VAG trophy race series that all cars run 312mm front 256mm rear standard calipers but with tarox discs and pads ..... they drive hard as possible for x amount of laps with no brake fade.

 

I ordered Corsa pads and F2000 discs .... because i plan to do some track days in the nr future. If i was not going on track i would of probably just tried Strada.

 

The only uprated discs and pads i have used so far were EBC redstuff pads with EBC drilled and grooved discs on a 2001 subaru turbo ..... they were shoot.

[NorthernPhil]

Probably go Strada then, to be honest. Still comes to £630 for the discs and pads though.

[NorthernPhil]

OK, HEL braided brake lines and the R32 front ARB arrived yesterday, and the second S3 subframe (with steering rack attached) should be arriving tomorrow or Tuesday.

 

Parts List for the rest of the conversion has been drawn up (wheel bearings, brackets, and steering rack-related buts, but mostly nuts and bolts). Just got to get all the prices now.

 

All that's left now is to sort out what bushes and top mounts to use.

 

Trying to decide between Superpro-ing everything or using the likes of LCR rear beam bushes and TT/S3 solid control arm bushes. Either way seems good, though I would appreciate any input offered.

 

I decided to go for SuperPro over PowerFlex as what I've read and heard suggests the SP polybushes give a good balance of comfort to handling boosting stiffness.

[PokerProTDI150]

I have been on them all ... rear axle bushes been on worn standards, new standards, LCR axle bushes .. finaly to super-pro rear axle bushes. If i was you i would skip the rest and go straight to super-pro's.

 

I did the same for control arms, i ran them in all specs .... standard arms standard bushes, to standard arms with r32 solid bushes, to r32 arms with standard r32 bushes, to r32 arms with defcon inserts front bush + super-pro caster adjuster bush rear.

 

If you want maximum comfort but better than standard then go for LCR top mounts, LCR axle bushes and standard r32 bushes in the r32 arms. Personaly i would just go straight to super-pro as they are still plenty comfy enough but give the best handling.

 

I run LCR top mounts as they last me 3 x as long as standard top mounts .... i have some 034 motorsport top mounts to try next ... they are still rubber but even stiffer than LCR mounts.

[NorthernPhil]

I was leaning towards getting all SuperPro... I think you've just cemented that (still deciding on top mounts, though).

With regards to the control arms, I'm guessing thr caster correction bushes are going to be pretty much essential, right? Is the defcon insert bush superior to a polybush? I'll admit that I haven't really looked at the defcons.

Final thing... the subframe mount bushes are solid/metal, right?

[NorthernPhil]

Thought for the Day: SuperPro's website is somewhat less helpful than is desired.

 

a.k.a. Trying to sort out bushes, and the website does not explain enough about certain bushes.

[NorthernPhil]

Quick rack arrived. Both it and the hubs are covered in 9 tons of crap, but it's here at least.

 

P/N in 8N2 422 055 T. Trying to confirm if this is actually a quick rack, as it seemed to have more turns than expected.

[Booster]

Thought for the Day: SuperPro's website is somewhat less helpful than is desired.

 

a.k.a. Trying to sort out bushes, and the website does not explain enough about certain bushes.

 

So been there

[Calico]

So been there

Do you have the numbers for yours.

[Booster]

3397 and 3394, I haven't gone defcon as I need to carry the family in the car too.

[Calico]

Thanks just collating info at the moment, this site might help http://www.cbauto-solutions.co.uk/ found it on the TT forum

[PokerProTDI150]

I have no quickrack atm to check pn against. A bit of online googling should confirm what it is.

 

There is 3 type of super-pro wishbone rear bush ... one with the hole in the middle .... one with offset hole for caster adjustment .... and one with caster adjustment and "anti lift" (2 extra poly washers).

 

I run the super-pro caster bush atm. I already have some super-pro caster and anti lift to try next .... probably wont even feel the difference.

 

I would not say the caster bush is needed, or the defcon. The biggest improvement was moving from standard arms to cast arms, regardless what bushes were in them.

[NorthernPhil]

No longer a problem. LCR quickrack sourced in the last few hours, from a specialist breaker. May also be getting the bits I need for the hardware solution to the ESP problem if they have them, too.

 

Also, just won an S3 upper front strut brace on ebay for 36 quid.