Re: Tires is now Cornering

["Billy T." <btylaska@onramp.net>]

Eibach Pro Kit springs will work with the factory setup.  Not too stiff, but a bit
lower, and stiffer than stock.  Better than the SofSports, in my opinion

b-

Bill Hussey wrote:

> Seann Dorand wrote:
>
> > First, how the hell do you do a four wheel drift at 75 mph?
>
> The cars handling characteristics will change only slightly from 50mph to 80mph,
> gradually build your speed up each day through a favorite, familiar corner that
> you can see all the way around.  Keep in mind that as much as your brain is
> telling you that your car is about to break loose and do something drastic ...
> it isn't.  This car is EXTREMELY predictable and there isn't much you can do to
> really upset it.  The balance is so good that you can just keep increasing speed
> until you feel the car begin to gently move off it's intended line.  This is the
> point where you lightly back off the throttle and modulate the gas to get you
> through the turn, do this properly and keep to the correct line and you have
> just cornered as hard as the car can.
>
> > I drive 60 miles each way to work (120 round-trip) every day on from North
> > of Philly to Newark Delaware on a daily basis.  I have a 100% stock 2000
> > Jetta VR6 5-spd with the GA's 205/55/R16's.  I usually cruise between 85 and
> > 95mph but have never come close to drifting this thing.
>
> Not many places to do it safely in Jersey ... you can probably find a specific
> turn or two on your commute to attack each day.
>
> > How do you tell the difference between what the chasis is doing and what the
> > suspension is doing?  I used to drive an 88 Cavalier Z24... it was not very
> > predictable... you either stuck like glue with no body roll whatsover or the
> > ass end was GONE if you went in too hot.
>
> I've been sitting here with my cursor blinking at this paragraph for a few
> minutes now trying to figure out how to explain this to you ... unfortunately,
> there's no easy way to do it.  If you're in North Jersey some time though ...
> I'll be happy to show you.
>
> > I drive about 60,000 miles a year and have been driving fast my entire life,
> > but I am STILL not very confident taking corners at very high speeds in this
> > Jetta either due to the chasis or suspension.. not sure which one.  I feel
> > like if I take an exit ramp too hot or something that the car would roll
> > over or flip before ANY of the tires would consider sliding or drifting
> > especially with the ASR turned on.  I do agree with Bill though that hitting
> > a bump going while going around a corner the car soaks it up really good..
> > the car feels a bit floaty at 100mph+
>
> This has to do with the amount of lift built into the aerodynamics of the car
> and poor calibration of the stock suspension.  Almost every production car in
> the world is designed to produce lift rather than downforce from the factory.
> Not a lot mind you, usually less than 200 lbs worth at 80mph, but it is still
> lift none-the-less.  They do this to increase gas mileage ratings and reduce
> wear on tires.  All stock Jetta's have the same floaty feel at over 100.  Best
> thing you can do is put in stiffer springs.  They will hold tighter as the car
> increases speed over the stock ones and many people on this list have reported a
> complete loss of the "float" after installing aftermarket springs.
>
> > and yes... the gas mileage sux bigtime.  I have about 145 miles on the car
> > by the time I hit half a tank.
>
> A men.
>
> > I either want to improve my ability to sense what the car is going to do or
> > do away with the body roll.....  any suggestions?
>
> The stock shocks are damped pretty damn well.  The stock springs could use some
> improvement, they dive way too much under threshold braking.  Aftermarket
> springs will do fine, but they usually come out a little too stiff.  Springs can
> and will reduce body roll, but thicker sway bars will do a much better job of it
> and they will not bring anywhere near the same level of harshness that springs
> bring.  My personaly opinion, leave the shocks (maybe go to sport Bilsteins, but
> the stockers are very decent), throw on thicker sway bars from and rear (not too
> much thicker in the rear, you will increase oversteer), and I'd try to find out
> what the stock spring rate is from VW and find a shop that will cut you new
> springs under your specs.  Increase spring rate by about 20% and have the spring
> cut about 3/4 of an inch to 1 inch lower.  20% stiffer shouldn't be that harsh,
> but it will be enough to arrest some of the brake dive and the sway bars will
> all but eliminate body roll completely.
>
> Again, this is just my opinion, I have not tested this setup at all, but judging
> from my seat of the pants feel on the stock car, that setup should provide
> exactly what you are looking for.
>
> Bill
> '98 GLX