Proposed Suspension upgrades

[sim]

Just wondering what you guys think about the following.

1) Bilstein B8s
2) H&R 35mm Springs
3) Whiteline Front Sway Bar
4) Whiteline Rear Sway Bar
5) Forge Front Strut Brace

[seangti]

From what I understand of the bilsteins, it'll be reasonably firm at lower speeds, but as the speed increases will be awesome. She'll handle sensational with the sways bars and bracing.

I intend to eventually run very similar, except with Koni.

May I ask where you're getting the whiteline gear from and prices, you can PM me if you'd prefer to keep it off the forum, or tell me to mind my own business if it's secret

[sim]

For the whiteline i was just going off the pricing on the whiteline.com.au website, seems you can ever buy direct from them.

[VWindahouse]

I have the H&R and Koni Yellow set up, and love the fact the konis are fully damper adjustable!

[sim]

Hmmm, damper adjustable would be nice.

[noone]

PM Quattrokid if you are getting Whiteline, he's been very helpfull for me recently and was the most price competitive.

I'd start with the rear sway and front brace, this has been a great combo for me, cheap to buy and easy to fit! Once you're used to these components, then its time to start thinking about whats next.

The H&R's with Bilstens get a good write up, but when you compare the cost to importing some Weitec's or KW's, it might be worth a look...

Hopefully I will have my AP Coilovers on soon, they've cost me <$900 including freight form the UK.

My mechanic always said that suspension changes should me small and slow, but the obvious issue with that is paying someone every time you want to make a small change.

If you start with the brace and sway, the handling will be greatly improved. If you want to have a nice drop, the H&R's get you most of the way there, then you need AP's, Weitec, theres another one, supersports or something...

Once you've picked your suspension, then i'd be doing the control arm bushes at the same time, as it takes time to get all the parts off to press the old ones out.

Awesome GTI have been helpful, but can be slow to reply. Their frieght was competitive for transit from UK.

[Stuwey]

In this order - Shocks (dampers), spings, then strut brace, THEN the sway bars if you feel you really have to.

Adding a sway bar can (and will) introduce handling characteristics that were never there from factory. Lift off oversteer isn't always your choice when you have a car with ESP. I have the Bilstein/H&R setup and if you need more than that, you need to stop and have a think about what you're chasing and how hard you're driving on the street.

[seangti]

In this order - Shocks (dampers), spings, then strut brace, THEN the sway bars if you feel you really have to.

Adding a sway bar can (and will) introduce handling characteristics that were never there from factory. Lift off oversteer isn't always your choice when you have a car with ESP. I have the Bilstein/H&R setup and if you need more than that, you need to stop and have a think about what you're chasing and how hard you're driving on the street.

Stuwey raises a good point, if you're not tracking the car you may be wasting money on stuff that gives marginal improvement, yet rarely utilised on the street.

So do it and come to the track days

[noone]

In this order - Shocks (dampers), spings, then strut brace, THEN the sway bars if you feel you really have to.

I like your theory, but if budget is a consideration (when is it not) then i'm not sure it makes sense. If you're not after the visual drop that coilovers or shorter springs provide, a rsb and front brace may provide enough improvement, removing the requirement to spend a thousand or more on other suspension parts plus the 200-400 for fitting (assuming you're not doing it yourself).

Adding a sway bar can (and will) introduce handling characteristics that were never there from factory

How is this different to changing any suspension component, even changing bushes, toe, etc are altering the original design, how do you see a sway bar making a different difference to stock than replacing the stock parts?

Not having a go, I'm newish to this and curious...

[Bubu]

How is this different to changing any suspension component, even changing bushes, toe, etc are altering the original design, how do you see a sway bar making a different difference to stock than replacing the stock parts?

Not having a go, I'm newish to this and curious...

I think what he is implying is that the Polo and most FWD cars are setup so that they understeer. Engineers have decided that for the average (and probably unexperienced) driver it is safer to have understeer. If you think about it its probably is easier to control understeer than oversteer.

Adding just a rear swaybar or upgrading the rear swaybar causes the front to bite harder while the rear has relatively little or no extra rear grip from that upgrade alone. In some cases this can cause the rear end to slide out.