MK1 Suspension Opinions

[slylark]

So I am starting to plan the build of my 83 GTI. I would really like to hear some opinions about a good performance street suspension setup. I would like to lower the CG some and stiffen everything up. The GTI has strut tower braces front and rear. Also has a chassis brace.

What springs and shocks? How about anti-sway bars? Engine mounts and suspension bushings?

Thanks

Joel

[Digital K]

just get bilsteins and H*R's. best setup for handling and city use. motor mounts for a stock motor can be stock, but if you want to stiffen it up get the HD mounts from black forest industries. They are basically diesel mounts.

I run no front sway bar, and a bigger rear bar.

Upper rear stress bar, no front upper bar, but I do have a control arm stabilizer bar.

edit: if you are going to have 5 or 6 batteries in the back, you are going to need custom springs.

[JustinT]

Really depends how extreme you want to go. For a basic street set-up, I'd go with something like Digital K mentioned. If you want something that will handle unbelievably, you could go with the set-up used by National-Championship autox'ers driving MK1 Rabbits/Sciroccos. Really wouldn't cost much more, but would feel like it did.

Basic set up would be:

Coilover Kit with 500# rear springs and 300# front springs. Koni "Sport/yellow" shocks, (cuz they're adjustable.) No rear swaybar, and a Big front swaybar (Autotech 25mm Hollow bar.) The big rear bar set-up does work well, but the top autox'ers have found the big front bar set-up to be faster. If you do want to go with a big rear bar instead, then just swap the springs so the 500#'s are in front and the 300#'s are in the rear. It's really about balancing the car out with spring rates.

Now, I realize that you said you want the car to be a good streetable set-up. So I'd basically just lower the springs rates I mentioned above. Springs in the 200-300# range are very streetable. With the Koni shocks, it will be a very comfortable ride that will still handle incredibly well. This was basically the set-up I was going to go with on my MK1 GTi before I sold it.

[Digital K]

I hate understeer. front swaybar FTL.

[JustinT]

I hate understeer.

So do the top-level autox'ers. The BFB actually reduces understeer and helps the car to rotate better. The BFB helps keep the lower control arms parallel to the ground in transitions. If they drop past the point of being parallel, it loses traction in the front end because the inside edge of the outer tire is all that's in contact with the pavement. By keeping the LCA's parallel, it maximizes the contact patch on your outside tire.

Again, this is the preferred set-up for top-level autox'ers. However, road racers still prefer the rear-bar set-up.

[JustinT]

Here are the "Top 8 trophy winners" from the 2005 SCCA Solo II national championships:


1 T 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco Kevin Wenzel
2 T 1976 Volksvagen Scirocco Richard Windberg
3 T 1992 Honda Demon Allen Kugler
4 T 1995 Honda Civic James Harnish



5 T 1981 VW Scirocco John M Bonvouloir
6 T 1982 Volkswagon Rabbit Michael A Burgess
7 T 1970 BMW 2002 Steve Kupper
8 T 1977 VW Rabbit Geoffrey K Zimmer

Every MK1 on this list was using the Big Front Bar set-up. The class was FSP (street-prepared.) They all used to use the Big Rear bar set-up, but switched when the guys with the BFB's started winning all the time.

[EWAustin]

Not to mention that Neal and Katie run a BFB.
Which is all the convincing I need.

[Digital K]

I believe you. my suspension geometry is far beyond different from what those guys are running.