2017 GTi PP at VIR

[Mini7]

Are you lowered? Measure the center to center length of your current endlinks.
I need to dig up the number. See if Powergrid has a contact number on their website.

Im brain farting and cannot remember the guys name to look it up in my contacts.

 

[Mini7]

Found it.

Chip Minich 586-484-seven one eight 5

 

[Rossmonster]

Are you lowered? Measure the center to center length of your current endlinks.
I need to dig up the number. See if Powergrid has a contact number on their website.

Im brain farting and cannot remember the guys name to look it up in my contacts.

Yeah I am lowered on coilovers. Appreciate you digging that up!

 

[Klrider44]

PowerGrid Endlinks

One of my concerns about gaining more negative camber was inner fender clearance.

I sourced a set of PowerGrid front end-links. These have a much slimmer profile than my SuperPro end-links, which were nibbling the sealer out of the inner fender welded joint.

Another mod was to slim down the profile of the mounting bracket on my Ohlins. It sucks to do this on such nice coilovers but rather that, then shearing the bracket off.

Here are some photos.
View attachment 188799View attachment 188800View attachment 188801View attachment 188802View attachment 188803

So I have EQT coilovers and I am having issues with the passenger side endlink contacting the mounting tab. I’m not low at all, I still have a decent amount of wheel gap so I’m not entirely sure why I am having this issue as no one else seems to be complaining about clearance issues. At least until I found this post. I installed 034 RCA ball joints at the same time as the coilovers for added camber. Could the ball joints be changing the suspension geometry in such a way that it could cause issues with the sway bar endlinks hitting the mounting tab? I tried going back to stock links since they are quite a bit thinner than the whiteline adjustables that I installed the same time as the coilovers and ball joints and had issues. Still having contact issues even with OEM links although it seems to be less often than the whitlines.

I might try reinstalling the whitelines and try spacing them out at the mounting tab. They did come with extra washers but the directions did not say to install them. There is a spacer at the bottom and I used the specified number of washers that the directions stated, so maybe I will throw two more on the passenger side if there sufficient threads.

Otherwise I could shave off some of the mounting tab but I really would rather not do that. If anyone has anymore insight on this issue please let me know, thanks.

 

[FlyingNugget]

So I have EQT coilovers and I am having issues with the passenger side endlink contacting the mounting tab. I’m not low at all, I still have a decent amount of wheel gap so I’m not entirely sure why I am having this issue as no one else seems to be complaining about clearance issues. At least until I found this post. I installed 034 RCA ball joints at the same time as the coilovers for added camber. Could the ball joints be changing the suspension geometry in such a way that it could cause issues with the sway bar endlinks hitting the mounting tab? I tried going back to stock links since they are quite a bit thinner than the whiteline adjustables that I installed the same time as the coilovers and ball joints and had issues. Still having contact issues even with OEM links although it seems to be less often than the whitlines.

I might try reinstalling the whitelines and try spacing them out at the mounting tab. They did come with extra washers but the directions did not say to install them. There is a spacer at the bottom and I used the specified number of washers that the directions stated, so maybe I will throw two more on the passenger side if there sufficient threads.

Otherwise I could shave off some of the mounting tab but I really would rather not do that. If anyone has anymore insight on this issue please let me know, thanks.

Could you post a picture? I have my endlinks mounted on the forward side and have no issues and there is no way they could make contact with the strut tab. It sounds like you have them mounted on the rearward side of the tab -- the solution would be to mount them on the forward side.

 

[Klrider44]

Could you post a picture? I have my endlinks mounted on the forward side and have no issues and there is no way they could make contact with the strut tab. It sounds like you have them mounted on the rearward side of the tab -- the solution would be to mount them on the forward side.

I will grab a picture tonight. tried orienting them forward facing but it didn’t seem like there was anyway that it would work. The passenger side has them mounted on the rearward side originally so I didn’t imagine that anything would be any different when installing the coilovers.

 

[Rossmonster]

I will grab a picture tonight. tried orienting them forward facing but it didn’t seem like there was anyway that it would work. The passenger side has them mounted on the rearward side originally so I didn’t imagine that anything would be any different when installing the coilovers.

I'll try to get you a picture of mine. I'm also running the EQT coilovers and whiteline end links. Only slight rub at full tilt as I've etched the paint on the links. Was going to replace these as I thought the ball joints were bad but they just needed tightened up.

 

[Rossmonster]

So I have EQT coilovers and I am having issues with the passenger side endlink contacting the mounting tab. I’m not low at all, I still have a decent amount of wheel gap so I’m not entirely sure why I am having this issue as no one else seems to be complaining about clearance issues. At least until I found this post. I installed 034 RCA ball joints at the same time as the coilovers for added camber. Could the ball joints be changing the suspension geometry in such a way that it could cause issues with the sway bar endlinks hitting the mounting tab? I tried going back to stock links since they are quite a bit thinner than the whiteline adjustables that I installed the same time as the coilovers and ball joints and had issues. Still having contact issues even with OEM links although it seems to be less often than the whitlines.

I might try reinstalling the whitelines and try spacing them out at the mounting tab. They did come with extra washers but the directions did not say to install them. There is a spacer at the bottom and I used the specified number of washers that the directions stated, so maybe I will throw two more on the passenger side if there sufficient threads.

Otherwise I could shave off some of the mounting tab but I really would rather not do that. If anyone has anymore insight on this issue please let me know, thanks.

Posted some pictures of my clearance with those parts, starting with the passenger side with no turn, full turn right, then full turn left. Drivers side shows the same but there is some slight rubbing in the wheel well that I tried to show. Not enough to get through all the paint tho. This car does see track time fwiw.

 

[Klrider44]

Posted some pictures of my clearance with those parts, starting with the passenger side with no turn, full turn right, then full turn left. Drivers side shows the same but there is some slight rubbing in the wheel well that I tried to show. Not enough to get through all the paint tho. This car does see track time fwiw.

Yea mine were hitting further down on the endlinks, but I am not low at all so that may actually not be helping the situation idk though. I just checked on my stock endlinks, i had put some paint on the passenger one to see if it is still contacting. It is but it is so minimal that I am just gonna leave it as is. With the whitelines it would actually get to the point where it would loosen the shock body from hitting. I could shave some off of the mounting tab and be fine most likely but I’m just gonna leave the stock links on for now. Like I said I am not low at all so I don’t think they are giving too much preload on the bar as is. Thanks for the pics though. Now I know I’m not the only one with an issue.

 

[00Zero]

Posted some pictures of my clearance with those parts, starting with the passenger side with no turn, full turn right, then full turn left. Drivers side shows the same but there is some slight rubbing in the wheel well that I tried to show. Not enough to get through all the paint tho. This car does see track time fwiw.

No criticisms as I have certainly done it before but you have the end links mounted different on the drivers and passenger sides.

Passenger side is mounted on the back side of the strut opposite the brake caliper (I think this is backwards)
Driver side is mounted on the front side of the strut closer to the brake caliper

 

[Klrider44]

No criticisms as I have certainly done it before but you have the end links mounted different on the drivers and passenger sides.

Passenger side is mounted on the back side of the strut opposite the brake caliper (I think this is backwards)
Driver side is mounted on the front side of the strut closer to the brake caliper

That is how the endlinks are supposed to be mounted. That is how they are from the factory.

 

[00Zero]

That is how the endlinks are supposed to be mounted. That is how they are from the factory.

Well you learn somethin new every day then.

I can see how with the factory design you cannot swap the passenger side to mount to be on the front . I wonder if you could do it on that EQT coilover, ?I a bet a message to them would verify

 

[victorofhavoc]

That is how the endlinks are supposed to be mounted. That is how they are from the factory.

The reason it's done this way from factory is because the strut on the left and right are the same. For all intents, the oem only produces driver side struts and the passenger strut is a driver's side strut mounted backwards.

Not all aftermarket struts are identical. If they have a definitive left and right, then you'd typically mount the left the same as oem and the right in mirror image to left.

Some endlinks will ship with a spacer to mount on the endlink and add space on the passenger side for flexibility in the type of strut used. Superpro I know for a fact sends their endlinks with a passenger side spacer in case you're using oem style struts.

 

[Mini7]

VAQ ECU Replacement

It’s been a hot minute since I last posted. Nov ‘22 was my last track event. Anyhoo hit some road shrapnel I couldn’t avoid May 2023, which took out my oil level sensor, VAQ ECU and the connector for my VAQ Pump.
Had to replace the ECU, pump and oil level sensor. Had to de-pin the oil level sensor connector and the VAQ ECU connector and replaced with new connectors.

After clearing all the codes with OBD11, I fired everything back up. Still had a Christmass tree full of lights. OBD11 was not seeing the VAQ. Communication error.
After clearing codes a couple time. OBD11 asked whether I wanted to streamline my gateway modules. I do not recall the exact verbiage?? I clicked Yes.
Post in thread '2017 GTi PP at VIR'
https://golfmk7.com/forums/index.php?threads/2017-gti-pp-at-vir.351754/post-8004435

I inadvertently deleted Module 32 Lock Electronis as a result. I was mad at myself and took a hiatus from my car until labor day.
A big thank you to @DerHase for finding out how to reload the module 32 via module 19 Gateway.

I rechecked all my work. Compared my before and after photos to the wiring schematic. I had pinned the wiring to the correct pin locations. I presumed that I may have a damaged power wire and figured I would have to take the car in to the dealer. Electrical is not my strong suit.
As a last resort I decided to check my fuse box and after pulling a bunch of fuses, I found fuse 34 blown.
BINGO!!!

Drove the car a couple of times before taking it in for the NC Inspection. Passed and renewed my tag,
Figured I would post as I did not find anything on VAQ ECU replacements.

 

[Mini7]

Busy prepping the car for VIR. Doing a nut and bolt check. Fluid change for engine and trans. Rear slide pins clean and lube. Brake flush and bleed.

It’s been a 2-year break from the track. It’s been way too long. Looking forward to joining TSCC. Cool December temps will make for HP and slippery track conditions.