geokilla
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Car(s)
- 2018 VW GTI DSG
I got everything installed prior to this year's first track day, which was this past Saturday. This is everything I bought that would affect handling:
Bilstein B14 (Adjusted too low by mechanic)
Whiteline Front Control Arms
Whiteline Front Sway Bars and Sway Bar Links
Whiteline Front Roll Centre/Camber Correction Kit
Whiteline Front Strut Mount Kit
BFI Stage 1 Engine Mount Kit
One of the Whiteline parts weren't installed. I don't remember which as the mechanic said it wasn't required. I'm thinking the front strut mount kit if I remember correctly. Anyways, here's my observations:
The car rides amazing at the track. The steering is definitely a bit heavier and stiffer and there's slightly more steering feel but I don't think it compares to my dad's Infiniti G37S he had or the BMW 528i (E39) we had. Paired with worn out Vitour Tempesta Enzo tires, I managed to shave 2s faster off my previous personal best, hitting a 1:44 at CTMP DDT according to the GTI lap timer. There is a bit more understeer so I'm going to ask the mechanic to adjust the front sway bars. I didn't track last year so I'm pretty proud to achieve a 2s improvement compared to my previous personal best. Of course, different days, different conditions, but still, an achievement.
Now as a daily, the car feels terrible. I know the B14 is too low and my girlfriend actually got car sick. It's extremely firm and harsh. Going over bumps and road imperfections, I feel like I'm on a roller coaster and it makes a knocking or clunking sound. Turning the steering wheel also makes noises. This is my first time driving a car with modified suspension. Is this all normal? I know raising the coilovers will help. How high do you guys recommend setting it? The rear is slammed and I couldn't see how many threads there are in the front but I recall it's not much. Maybe 4 or 5?
As for the engine mounts, the vibrations when driving under 1000 RPM is terrible. There's a lot of vibrations throughout the floor, firewall, steering wheel, everywhere. As my friend said when he rented a Mitsubishi Mirage, the car feels like a woman's vibrator. I'm thinking as the engine mounts get broken in and slightly worn, the vibrations will decrease? It's so bad even the doors vibrate when they're open.
Overall as a car that is a daily first and track toy second, I'm hoping some of these things improve with time. Otherwise, I made a mistake but it's a mistake I'll have to live with for the next few years until I get Bilstein B16.
Bilstein B14 (Adjusted too low by mechanic)
Whiteline Front Control Arms
Whiteline Front Sway Bars and Sway Bar Links
Whiteline Front Roll Centre/Camber Correction Kit
Whiteline Front Strut Mount Kit
BFI Stage 1 Engine Mount Kit
One of the Whiteline parts weren't installed. I don't remember which as the mechanic said it wasn't required. I'm thinking the front strut mount kit if I remember correctly. Anyways, here's my observations:
The car rides amazing at the track. The steering is definitely a bit heavier and stiffer and there's slightly more steering feel but I don't think it compares to my dad's Infiniti G37S he had or the BMW 528i (E39) we had. Paired with worn out Vitour Tempesta Enzo tires, I managed to shave 2s faster off my previous personal best, hitting a 1:44 at CTMP DDT according to the GTI lap timer. There is a bit more understeer so I'm going to ask the mechanic to adjust the front sway bars. I didn't track last year so I'm pretty proud to achieve a 2s improvement compared to my previous personal best. Of course, different days, different conditions, but still, an achievement.
Now as a daily, the car feels terrible. I know the B14 is too low and my girlfriend actually got car sick. It's extremely firm and harsh. Going over bumps and road imperfections, I feel like I'm on a roller coaster and it makes a knocking or clunking sound. Turning the steering wheel also makes noises. This is my first time driving a car with modified suspension. Is this all normal? I know raising the coilovers will help. How high do you guys recommend setting it? The rear is slammed and I couldn't see how many threads there are in the front but I recall it's not much. Maybe 4 or 5?
As for the engine mounts, the vibrations when driving under 1000 RPM is terrible. There's a lot of vibrations throughout the floor, firewall, steering wheel, everywhere. As my friend said when he rented a Mitsubishi Mirage, the car feels like a woman's vibrator. I'm thinking as the engine mounts get broken in and slightly worn, the vibrations will decrease? It's so bad even the doors vibrate when they're open.
Overall as a car that is a daily first and track toy second, I'm hoping some of these things improve with time. Otherwise, I made a mistake but it's a mistake I'll have to live with for the next few years until I get Bilstein B16.