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Volkswagen Golf: Golf Suspension Makeover Aug 21, 2009

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We got in some quality shop time yesterday with our Golf project—and after six hours, we had completely revitalized the handling of the car. H&R RS coil-overs with Ground Control bolt-in camber plates replaced our MacPherson strut (Ground Control now makes bolt-in camber plates for the Volkswagen that don’t require any cutting or drilling).

The anti-roll bars were were swapped out for Neuspeed units, while the control arms and bushings were from Black Forest Industries.

We set the ride height using H&R’s specified reference points, but we’ll need to fine-tune the final settings.

We topped off the transformation with some reinforcements from Eurosport Accessories and brakes from Powerslot and StopTech.

The car is simply a different animal now. We’re waiting to cornerweight and align it before doing on-track testing, but it looks like this was a straightforward, if not cheap, install.

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Comments

speedblind:

Looks good! How's the suspension for street driving?
Aug 24, 2009 11:39 a.m.

16vCorey:

Just curious, but does that big block of steel that bolts to the sub-frame actually do anything? I've always found it to be pointless, except for occasionally getting in the way and adding weight to the car. They usually don't last too long on my cars.
Aug 24, 2009 3:28 p.m.

jpod999:

It's weird seeing a VW on coilovers that's not dumped. Any way you could be convinced to bottom them out, throw the wheels back on and take a picture? :D
Aug 24, 2009 9:34 p.m.

nderwater:

good call j. they could throw in and extra 5 degrees of negative camber while they're at it :p
Aug 25, 2009 1:19 p.m.

Per Schroeder:

Yikes, we're already past the roll center's 'happy point' with where it's at now. I want to do some testing with this car on “how low is too low.” once it's ready for primetime.
Aug 26, 2009 9:22 a.m.

Paul_VR6:

Front sway bar? I'm going to have Dick Shine call you and tell you how it's done.
Aug 27, 2009 2:14 p.m.

Per Schroeder:

That's fine, but Dick Shine doesn't autocross. He builds road racing cars. Big difference. Road racers tend to like no front bar, huge rear bars. Autocrossers work best with big front bar and sometimes no rear bar. I like it a little of both, but definitely the front bar. I'd need 900 lb./in springs to control my front contact patch—and that would just suck under quick transitions.
Aug 27, 2009 2:23 p.m.

stylngle2003:

Poly for the rear bushing? Most people have very positive results in both ride and roadholding by running R32/TT solid rubber bushings. There's a huge discussion on it on the vortex. I think the car looks awesome as-is. The red wheels really set it off against the white paint.
Aug 28, 2009 8:45 a.m.

Paul_VR6:

That was supposed to be funny, guess not! I ran 300ff/400rr on my Rabbit with a big front after he sold me on the exact opposite. i liked it better with the stock rear and big front with those rates.
Aug 28, 2009 10:21 a.m.

Per Schroeder:

I'll have to try that rear R32 bushing. the red poly that BFI sells seem to work quite well. Yea, I wasn't quite sure if you just being a goof or not Paul
Aug 29, 2009 2:52 a.m.

Travis_K:

I would also suggest the r32 rear bushing. Because of the way it moves, the poly bushings wear out quickly.
Aug 29, 2009 3:04 p.m.

shuttlepilot:

I have 94 sport and looking forward to the progress on this car. I am running the R32 rear bushings and feel they are a better option. I think they are shaped better to allow free movement on the proper axis. Any possibility of covering the suitability of using the shine rear bar in a daily driver/track day scenario? I have one on my car and been caught off guard by oversteer from the back end coming loose a few too many times.
Aug 29, 2009 9:40 p.m.

Paul_VR6:

I'd use the red poly for a bit and see how long it holds out. I put new ones on every season, and I don't turn much. They get pretty beat up. The R32/TT ones are better IMHO.
Aug 31, 2009 2:31 p.m.

i8apylon:

Will info on where the H&R RS coil-overs were purchased be posted? I couldn't find a listing for H&R RS, ar they RSS Club Sports? Excited to see the more on the setup, especially since I hoping to upgrade my setup on my Mk2 Jetta.
Oct 30, 2009 10:34 p.m.

Per Schroeder:

We sourced them from H&R directly. You're right, they are the RSS Club Sports.
Oct 31, 2009 11:14 a.m.

DG:

Per I was thinking of doing the same thing …MK III golf update. I was hoping you would give more details on choosing the springs and setting the ride height. I like H&R but they are not adjustable so the ride back home would be a little too harsh. Did you try to make the lower control arm parallel with the ground and did you try to set the shock height to allow a mid point for rebound and bump? I was trying to figure out the ride height asuming a 2400 lb car 60/40 weight distrubution. Also how do the sway bars affect spring rate and did you use the Fred Puhn formula for bar rate? I was going to use the hollow Autotech bars with about 25% less force but at a 50% unsprung weight advantage. Also will the Shine rear bar 40mm work with the 25mm front bar? I don't want tot use 600lb springs and I don't want to destroy the suspension geometry. I really don't want to just start buying parts and then get stuck with bad handling. I would really like to see some numbers that would help with spring rates and bar rates. I read a recent article on “How to pick the RIght SPring Rate” and they used the formula (F- L) R / T where F =free length of spring L = Loaded length f spring R = base spring rate T = shock compression at ride height The suggestion was a 50/50 rebound bump travel at ride height for road racing with 60/40 better for street.
Jul 6, 2010 4:01 p.m.

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The car is simply a different animal now.