Gti suspension into a Tdi?

[ellie]

I'm a mechanic and a fairly new owner of a Tdi. I'd really appreciate it if someone has first hand knowledge and can answer a few questions for me?

Has anyone swapped the factory Gti suspension into a Tdi before?
Has anyone got pics?
Does to front sit lower because of the heavier motor?
What is ride quality like?
Is thier any one in brisbane that would be willing to take me for a quick spin to gauge for myself? (Tdi with Gti suspension or a standard Gti)
For a very compliant ride (for the standard set up with eco-contact tyres), it actually has good balance and a lot a grip in my opinion (relative to what it is obviously). But the handling is pretty poor (body roll etc.)
I will probably get a rear sway bar first because it is the easiest/cheapest option but I can't help but think it will actually upset the balance of the standard set up. Keeping in mind that I don't have unrealistic expectations - I just want to improve the package so it isn't so laboursome in corners.

[philthy]

Maybe consider installing an uprated front sway bar if you're going to add a rear one.. lift off oversteer is a biatch

[kaanage]

I don't think the handling of the TDi is that bad apart from the understeer. Yes there is a LOT of body roll but that really only has an impact with sudden reversal of direction (s bends) IME. I find the roll helps the car settle into the turn even if it feels a bit unnerving and the compliance helps grip.

To my mind a light rear sway bar to lose a bit of rear grip will help balance the car so that a rather than the dogged understeer it has built in, you can get a bit of lift off oversteer to help it point in the tight stuff (I'm used to lift off oversteer from older FWD cars).

If you get a stiffer front roll bar as well a rear one, the balance of the car may well remain the same with a bit less overall grip and comfort. Wider tyres would then be needed to take advantage of the increased roll stiffness.

With the GTi suspension, I think you will need to also fit GTi front brakes as the brake mount on the strut is apparently different to that of other Polos.

[noone]

Unless it's cheap, go straight to after market. GTI suspension is pretty basic IMO.

[Stuwey]

I've got a full compliment of GTI suspension here, and you can have it for nix if you like.

It's all done about 30,000kms, and is yours to have if you wanna pay freight.


Worth a shot!

[ellie]

I agree Kaanage, that it has good road holding for what it is (very tall with a narrow track) and that a light rear sway bar should reduce body roll quite a bit.
I wouldn't want to mislead people to think that I want to push this car to the point where I would ever experience "lift off over steer" etc. I've owned my evos etc. and bought a polo diesel for a reason - cheap, economical comfortable motoring. That said, there are many cars that share a practically identical suspension layout that handle quite well. Which Is all I really want as cheaply as possible (agreeing with "noone")! So, if a gti suspension (possibly a Gti front swaybar as Philthy said) (which is far from brilliant by all accounts) with possibly an added sway bar, gives a handling increase of even 10% over my current set up, It would be great.
I just don't think it handles as good as a european car should. I don't expect any where near what I would regard as "good handling" in general but an intellegently, economically improved drive.
Thanks for that offer too stuwey I'll send you a PM and look into it!