Re: Suspension Impessions, and other questions...

[ANDREW_ATWELL@HP-PaloAlto-om20.om.hp.com]

     I ordered my SPAX kit from Ron's Auto Parts in Canada.  They were 
     extremely friendly (I spoke with Ron himself) and informative.  Prices 
     are fair and no sales tax!  I live about 15min from New Dimensions, 
     they are good people too.  SPAX is really popular in the UK, where it 
     is from.  How did you remove the snorkel from your airbox?  I have 
     tried, but just short of breaking it or cutting, I haven't been able 
     to remove it.  A little louder than stock appeals to me.  I have the 
     spax kit and Neuspeed front and rear sways 25,28mm respectively.  The 
     car handles very flat and depending on how the shocks are set I can 
     make it oversteer, understeer, or neutral.  I have the rear bar set to 
     the firmest setting because of the Jetta being heavier.  You wont 
     believe the difference when you change the suspension!  If you do 
     springs, and S&S you should really add an upperstrut tie bar in the 
     front, you may not need the anti-sways, it is a matter of taste, I 
     like them becuase I can keep my S&S set soft (3 out of 14) and still 
     have really flat cornering, but you could get the same effect with no 
     bars and just tighter S&S (which I did before I got the bars).  I 
     haven't autocrossed, I live in Northern Californian and most races are 
     quite a drive to get to, between work and my girlfriend, I haven't 
     gone to one.  I assume that once I tried it I would be hooked.  I have 
     a feeling though that the mods I have would bump me into a class that 
     I would not be good enough to compete in, but the car sure is fun on 
     the road, especially since I live just under the Santa Cruz mountains 
     and the curvies are just a short drive away.  
     andy


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Suspension Impessions, and other questions...
Author:  Non-HP-anderson (anderson@msai.mea.com) at HP-PaloAlto,mimegw6
Date:    4/2/97 9:03 AM


Hi!
     
Thanks for your reply about my suspension questions...  I had forgotten about 
SPAX shocks and struts. ...Definitely something to look into.  By the way, who 
carries SPAX?  I usually deal with Velocity Sport Tuning, and New Dimensions, 
but I don't think either one carries SPAX...
     
You asked about my ABT filter.  Well, actually, I'm in the same boat as you - I 
ordered it last week, and it should be here this week.  I "borrowed" a friend's 
K&N, and I'm assuming the ABT filter will work at least as well.  (The guy at 
Velocity said ABT claims it flows better than K&N.)  I also removed the snorkel 
out of the top of my airbox.  It may be a little louder than stock (or it may 
be my imagination).  But not nearly as loud as the P-flo (too loud for my 
tastes!).  And it seems to pull a little stronger throughout the rpm band than 
stock (or again, maybe it's my imagination).  Many people claim removing the 
snorkel and using a K&N (or ABT) actually matches to performace of the P-flo.
     
Autocross - well, I live in North Carolina, and autocross with the Tarheel 
Sports Car Club.  Actually, I've only done it once, but was IMMEDIATELY hooked.
 Have a race coming up this weekend!  (Hope my filter gets here in time!)  The
problem with the GLX is it has too much body roll to be extremely competitive 
in autocross.  It needs a suspension upgrade.  (But then, it'll take me out of 
stock class.)
     
Dave