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RE: Tires is now Cornering
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Hussey [SMTP:vfrboy@home.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2000 12:39 PM
> To: jettaglx@igtc.com
> Subject: Tires is now Cornering
>
> 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),
>
The stock struts are actually the culprits here. They are WAY underdamped.
The factory struts cannot handle shorter, stiffer springs. You will get even
more of the oingo-boingo effect once the struts have blown. Do it right the
first time and replace the entire suspension.
> 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.
>
The stock springs, if I remember correctly, are 120lb front, 75lb rear.
> 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.
>
The cheapest way to upgrade the stock suspension would be to mate Bilstein
HD's with cut stock springs. Cut anywhere from 1/2 a coil to a full coil
depending on your tastes. If you got a grand burning a hole in your pocket,
coilovers baby!
Kevin Ng
97 Jetta GLX Windsor Blue "Porsche 911 GT3 suspension" edition