xXDavidCXx
Autocross Champion
- Location
- AZ
- Car(s)
- 2017 GTI SE DSG
I ran a big bar two seasons ago and did not notice any issues with the XDF.
Keep the rules in mind here:Also - I wonder if some bump stop changes would be worth pursuing.
Stock rear stop is 112mm long. And the stock front stop is 57mm.
Except for my mastering the release of the plastic emissions container in the right wheelwell... Anybody got a simple way to release the clips that hold it in place that a moron like me can understand? The canister has to be removed to get to the third bolt of the upper shock mount on that side. Left side is easy-peasy.Absolutely. Like a lot of people on this thread I've been at this for a pretty long time. The CS and ES Miata crowds have been messing with bump stops for years.
I'm thinking if I do the front bar change, a stiffer rear bump stop package might help add some of the lost rear rate back. However, I don't know how close the top of the shock is to the bumpstop at static, stock ride height though. So it might not do much, or worse, a too-hard replacement bump stop could make the car really wild when it does make contact, and make the ESC even angrier than it already was.
Seems like a reasonably easy thing to test, though, since the rear shocks are pretty easy to remove even between heats at an event.
There are a few bolts. Remove the inner fender liner, or at least pull it back towards the rear of the wheel well.Except for my mastering the release of the plastic emissions container in the right wheelwell... Anybody got a simple way to release the clips that hold it in place that a moron like me can understand? The canister has to be removed to get to the third bolt of the upper shock mount on that side. Left side is easy-peasy.
I'm thinking that the original bump stop really doesn't want to be shortened, but it would be easy enough to check out.
Good points. Back in the G Stock & E Stock days I doubt the Phoenix Stahlflex & Yokohama A001R's we ran on had anywhere near the stick of the Hoosiers or even the 200TW tires we use today. I speak from first hand experience on both... What we didn't have was a rear bar (except for the GTI's)I think for a GS trim where the stock balance is not really there to help rotating adding more front bar isn't gonna help even if it keeps the front camber in check more. Increase front bar also makes the inside front tire unloaded more which will hurt powerdown even with the VAQ in place. I get the idea of not killing rear grip to gain balance but adding front bar is killing grip on the end that needs it for turning and power. I get in the G-stock days the front bar thing was much more prevalent both being the only bar you could change and also you were on (sometimes) oversized Hoosiers. Making one fat Hoosier get up and working better was ultimately more beneficial but I don't think the 200TWs work like that...
I still differ with Strano on the setup with a big rear bar. He called me out on the podcast for it but I think we had enough ok results on my car before. I mean we are just hacks though so maybe we got lucky in our years running the car.
Also swapping rear bumpstops are not that easy unless you are planning to swap rear shocks(with the bumpstops) wholesale....undoing top shock nut is annoying in anycase...and I don't think we are anywhere rear sitting on the bumpstop enough most of the time on the rear....
I think it's still worth investigating. Would just take one test&tune day.I think for a GS trim where the stock balance is not really there to help rotating adding more front bar isn't gonna help even if it keeps the front camber in check more. Increase front bar also makes the inside front tire unloaded more which will hurt powerdown even with the VAQ in place. I get the idea of not killing rear grip to gain balance but adding front bar is killing grip on the end that needs it for turning and power. I get in the G-stock days the front bar thing was much more prevalent both being the only bar you could change and also you were on (sometimes) oversized Hoosiers. Making one fat Hoosier get up and working better was ultimately more beneficial but I don't think the 200TWs work like that...
I still differ with Strano on the setup with a big rear bar. He called me out on the podcast for it but I think we had enough ok results on my car before. I mean we are just hacks though so maybe we got lucky in our years running the car.
Also swapping rear bumpstops are not that easy unless you are planning to swap rear shocks(with the bumpstops) wholesale....undoing top shock nut is annoying in anycase...and I don't think we are anywhere rear sitting on the bumpstop enough most of the time on the rear....
Agree! (Don't forget the cost of a replacement hardware set if it proves not acceptable)I think it's still worth investigating. Would just take one test&tune day.
Getting the data you want might be harder than you think with a RaceCapture. Pretty sure you'll have to do some wizardry to get steering angle. Brake pressure might be possible but could be hard (not sure what people are doing for that).I’ve decided to leave the car alone, and spend this money on a Racecapture instead. The truth is that my driving needs a whole lot more work than the car does - and when I inevitably trade this in on a BS Camaro or a CS Miata, I get to keep the data stuff.