Lowering springs for track use advice
Discussion
Hello chaps and chapettes
I have a bit of a financial dilemma with getting the cheapest suspension setup for a budget 6 hour endurance race. Basically, my team and I are building the cheapest race car (sort of) for as little money as possible. I'm confident it will be some sort of VAG 1.9tdi but my problem is I need a stiff suspension setup. I did a similar 4 hour race in March and used some Maxpeedingrods Chinese coilovers and they were utter s
te. I know a set of used coilovers from a decent company would be the best shout but I kind of doubt I can find some. What I am thinking is a set of stiff lowering springs and shocks that are compatible with the spring rate. The budget is realistically £200, so think 24 hours of Lemons but without the "safety" components loophole.
Does anyone have any experience doing track days/racing with seriously cheap setups like this?
I have a bit of a financial dilemma with getting the cheapest suspension setup for a budget 6 hour endurance race. Basically, my team and I are building the cheapest race car (sort of) for as little money as possible. I'm confident it will be some sort of VAG 1.9tdi but my problem is I need a stiff suspension setup. I did a similar 4 hour race in March and used some Maxpeedingrods Chinese coilovers and they were utter s
te. I know a set of used coilovers from a decent company would be the best shout but I kind of doubt I can find some. What I am thinking is a set of stiff lowering springs and shocks that are compatible with the spring rate. The budget is realistically £200, so think 24 hours of Lemons but without the "safety" components loophole. Does anyone have any experience doing track days/racing with seriously cheap setups like this?
No experience, but I wonder if it's worth investigating whether the spring size is shared with larger heavier cars. If so, you could look for used springs from a heavy sporty model - say something like a R36 or big diesel Passat, and perhaps cut them a bit for lowering as well.
I think it's what people have done on Merc 190Es - fitting springs from a W124 (maybe even the 500E).
I think it's what people have done on Merc 190Es - fitting springs from a W124 (maybe even the 500E).
braddo said:
No experience, but I wonder if it's worth investigating whether the spring size is shared with larger heavier cars. If so, you could look for used springs from a heavy sporty model - say something like a R36 or big diesel Passat, and perhaps cut them a bit for lowering as well.
I think it's what people have done on Merc 190Es - fitting springs from a W124 (maybe even the 500E).
I was wondering if that would work but its essentially the same as buying lowering springs. Suppose I've got some research to do. I think it's what people have done on Merc 190Es - fitting springs from a W124 (maybe even the 500E).
cozmcrae said:
I was wondering if that would work but its essentially the same as buying lowering springs. Suppose I've got some research to do.
Yep, depends on whether the lowering springs have a much higher spring rate.By coincidence I've just put H&R lowering springs on the front of an old E-class estate. Over speed humps the ride has gone from plush to firmish - probably the same as most modern cars. Nowhere near stiff.
But for a FWD car that might be no bad thing where you need the front spring rates relatively soft and the rear hard.
I did a couple of track days some years back with VAG Octy vRS 1.8T. Standard suspension but with R888’s. It was like a Jam Roley Poley! Absolutely terrible.
My current vRS, (MK4 Golf platform has a set of cheap AP coilovers, R32 thicker front arb and an after market rear ARB, (as the octy doesn’t come with a rear but I believe the golf gti does).
It corners on rails and the cheaply AP’s haven’t failed.
If you are going VAG, there are loads of parts out there. Don’t forget, you can swap parts from Octy/Seat/Audi A3/Golf etc as they all share same platform.
Hope that helps…
Also.
Why go smokey when the 1.8T is pretty unburstable?
My current vRS, (MK4 Golf platform has a set of cheap AP coilovers, R32 thicker front arb and an after market rear ARB, (as the octy doesn’t come with a rear but I believe the golf gti does).
It corners on rails and the cheaply AP’s haven’t failed.
If you are going VAG, there are loads of parts out there. Don’t forget, you can swap parts from Octy/Seat/Audi A3/Golf etc as they all share same platform.
Hope that helps…
Also.
Why go smokey when the 1.8T is pretty unburstable?
phazed said:
Why go smokey when the 1.8T is pretty unburstable?
Where I am and for the budget, the 1.9s and the 1.8ts have the same sort of mileage. There's a few guys I've spoke to about this and the general consensus is the 1.8t is unreliable garbage compared to the PDs. Plus, there way more PDs around, parts are really cheap, one of the most reliable engines available and for endurance racing a diesel is a hell of a lot better on fuel. The thought behind a MK4 golf was because of that parts availability. I dont think theres another group of cars in Europe with better aftermarket support tbh. The only drawback is the suspension since they are almost all floaty, wafty things on the roads. I had a MK4 golf and I currently have a fabia and they are both so soft for German cars.
The 1.8 T engine is a super strong motor.
Mine has done 80 K and at least 24 Track Days in the last two years. Doesn’t use a drop of oil and has been 100% reliable even running at 250 bhp so I don’t know where they get their info from.
There is also a lot about that engine on YouTube from tuners as it is the strongest engine in its class.
I see your point about the diesel and economy, and if the cap fits, then wear it!
As for suspension, as I stated above, you don’t have to spend a fortune and you can get a very stiff set up that handles extremely well.
Mine has done 80 K and at least 24 Track Days in the last two years. Doesn’t use a drop of oil and has been 100% reliable even running at 250 bhp so I don’t know where they get their info from.
There is also a lot about that engine on YouTube from tuners as it is the strongest engine in its class.
I see your point about the diesel and economy, and if the cap fits, then wear it!
As for suspension, as I stated above, you don’t have to spend a fortune and you can get a very stiff set up that handles extremely well.
Edited by phazed on Sunday 11th June 10:29
phazed said:
The 1.8 T engine is a super strong motor.
Mine has done 80 K and at least 24 Track Days in the last two years. Doesn’t use a drop of oil and has been 100% reliable even running at 250 bhp so I don’t know where they get their info from.
The last guy was a Czech mechanic and the guy before that was a Spanish VAG tuning specialist. Mine has done 80 K and at least 24 Track Days in the last two years. Doesn’t use a drop of oil and has been 100% reliable even running at 250 bhp so I don’t know where they get their info from.
Edited by phazed on Sunday 11th June 10:29
All of the 1.8ts in my price range have done over 200k miles. PDs will do that easily but I'm not willing to take that risk with a petrol engine that I've heard negative things about from a specialist.
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