So I've finally done it. :happyanim:
It's been sitting in the garage for almost a year...
I sourced my HPA from WJ after he swapped out for a MK6.
I was after suspension which would improve handling while not overly affecting ride comfort (i.e. close to stock feel) and allowing close to OEM ride height. Bearing in mind I am coming from 60K old stock suspension (albeit with rear bar already in) and the wife will be driving the car more than me (and with somewhat less care than me over bumps) here's my review. The H&R 22mm (small) rear bar is on soft.
Thanks to Derek at European Autotech for the install.
One minor oversight was the HID (xenon) leveler which was still disconnected at the front and going the wrong way at the back. Nothing the VAGCOM couldn't let me know and a jack up couldn't fix. For anyone with the same issue ("Why is my xenon now pointing at the floor?") the levelers are on the left side of the car. Turn the fronts to the right for better access. Get in from the back to do the rear. Rear points to the left.
Also had the Forge catch can and cam follower done as well plus the DSG filter which VW didn't change when doing the mechatronic.
So felt almost like stock driving it out. It's comfortable enough that I don't think my wife or parents would notice the difference (at least when in the front).
Lift/dive is greatly reduced, i'd say at least 50%. Not eliminated when pushing throttle and brake at higher speed but for sedate day-day speeds it is almost non-existent.
Improvements in rear damping can be felt easily from the driver's seat. The bounciness that is present with stock just isn't there. It's like having your hand suspended between 2 walls with rubber bands - OEM is softer band, HPA is a stiffer one and takes less time to return you to the equilibrium position.
Road intrusions like lane markers, bridge expansion gaps and ruts have a similar feel to stock. Perhaps you "feel" them a bit more, probably not so much from the spring stiffness but from improved damping. Certainly not harsh but a muted thud similar to stock.
You do feel undulations in the road more as the car is now tracking the road better. Unlike OEM which smooths out the ride at the expense of contact/control, the HPA maintains control which means you note more vertical movement. This may not be so noticeable to someone who is not "looking" for it.
Body roll has improved, probably not quite as much as the change with the rear bar. Maybe 25-50%.
Overall cornering grip has improved. I noted less lift-off oversteer in the wet around local roundabouts where it could easily be induced without much effort (when you know how). A local off-camber turn which would cause wheelsping when powering out of the corner now has no wheelspin in the dry.
The transition from neutral to lift-off oversteer almost seems less abrupt and the "severity" of the oversteer is lessened. This is probably due to the suspension and WALK reducing dynamic weight changes front-rear. Uphill twisties with power on also wheelspin less resulting in less understeer.
No scrapes yet with very mild lowering. You'd probably be really hard pressed to tell anything.
Stock hub centre to fender is 360mm front, 365mm rear.
HPA at max height is 365 front (yes 5mm higher than stock!) and 360 rear.
After initially having it at max height, then finding the difference between OEM and HPA hub centre to fender distances, I have dropped the front 15mm so compared to stock it is now 10mm down front, 5mm down rear. Not huge as i often carry pretty heavy stuff in the boot and still want front clearance. Note that with this drop the car is still compliant with all road rules including 100mm underbody clearance (I had 18mm extra when stock from the lowest DSG point near the front left tyre - Masterfoods large jar of black peppercorns is EXACTLY 10cm!). Note the springs haven't fully settled yet so it may droop up to another 5mm.
Have yet to hit the local Westfields to test their "rut" type speed bumps and underbody clearance (i scraped going over a funny shape hump before with passengers on board)
NVH:
There is an increase when going over ruts, joints, etc. It is not a big increase but noticeable when you listen for it. Certainly not dissimilar from stock and not enough to bother you on long haul (the tyre roar from the 94Y F1's is worse).
EDIT: I previously had a comment regarding suspicion of noise from the WALK. There is NO NOISE FROM WALK. The squeak/groan is coming from the front right shock/damper. Will update more soon.
There is no noise from the suspension (no spring slap, tug & release, etc) at all save the hiss of damper which is similar to stock in volume but shorter in duration.
No change to vibration/steering wheel feel - the TAI did more (and those of you with one know it's not that much difference)
Harshness depends on whether you are looking for crash/bang (which is so far nil) or un/down amplitude (see prev comments).
Did a quick vid to check wheel clearance whilst driving unspiritedly.
Worst bit is going over the "tabletop" type speed humps as the car weight moves forward when you go off the end.
The 2 pics show the highest movement of the tyre which occurs when full weight of the car is on the fronts. The first is straight over, the 2nd at slower speed but with slight turn. I think it is not likely to rub even on the RNP Garie Beach hairpin, but will have to wait for that one.
Going over normal suburban speed humps at 40kph is no problem and does not induce banging at all. In fact I think the car handles speed humps MUCH better now than with OEM as the end "bounce" was noticeable with stock.
Note pics are screen caps of interlaced footage so aren't the greatest.
Will make a note again after some more testing and the GTG on the 20th.
Hope this helps anyone making a decision on "entry-level" suspension.
This wouldn't be decent for track as it just isn't stiff enough, but it sure is great for a DD.:thumbsup:
It's been sitting in the garage for almost a year...
I sourced my HPA from WJ after he swapped out for a MK6.
I was after suspension which would improve handling while not overly affecting ride comfort (i.e. close to stock feel) and allowing close to OEM ride height. Bearing in mind I am coming from 60K old stock suspension (albeit with rear bar already in) and the wife will be driving the car more than me (and with somewhat less care than me over bumps) here's my review. The H&R 22mm (small) rear bar is on soft.
Thanks to Derek at European Autotech for the install.
One minor oversight was the HID (xenon) leveler which was still disconnected at the front and going the wrong way at the back. Nothing the VAGCOM couldn't let me know and a jack up couldn't fix. For anyone with the same issue ("Why is my xenon now pointing at the floor?") the levelers are on the left side of the car. Turn the fronts to the right for better access. Get in from the back to do the rear. Rear points to the left.
Also had the Forge catch can and cam follower done as well plus the DSG filter which VW didn't change when doing the mechatronic.
So felt almost like stock driving it out. It's comfortable enough that I don't think my wife or parents would notice the difference (at least when in the front).
Lift/dive is greatly reduced, i'd say at least 50%. Not eliminated when pushing throttle and brake at higher speed but for sedate day-day speeds it is almost non-existent.
Improvements in rear damping can be felt easily from the driver's seat. The bounciness that is present with stock just isn't there. It's like having your hand suspended between 2 walls with rubber bands - OEM is softer band, HPA is a stiffer one and takes less time to return you to the equilibrium position.
Road intrusions like lane markers, bridge expansion gaps and ruts have a similar feel to stock. Perhaps you "feel" them a bit more, probably not so much from the spring stiffness but from improved damping. Certainly not harsh but a muted thud similar to stock.
You do feel undulations in the road more as the car is now tracking the road better. Unlike OEM which smooths out the ride at the expense of contact/control, the HPA maintains control which means you note more vertical movement. This may not be so noticeable to someone who is not "looking" for it.
Body roll has improved, probably not quite as much as the change with the rear bar. Maybe 25-50%.
Overall cornering grip has improved. I noted less lift-off oversteer in the wet around local roundabouts where it could easily be induced without much effort (when you know how). A local off-camber turn which would cause wheelsping when powering out of the corner now has no wheelspin in the dry.
The transition from neutral to lift-off oversteer almost seems less abrupt and the "severity" of the oversteer is lessened. This is probably due to the suspension and WALK reducing dynamic weight changes front-rear. Uphill twisties with power on also wheelspin less resulting in less understeer.
No scrapes yet with very mild lowering. You'd probably be really hard pressed to tell anything.
Stock hub centre to fender is 360mm front, 365mm rear.
HPA at max height is 365 front (yes 5mm higher than stock!) and 360 rear.
After initially having it at max height, then finding the difference between OEM and HPA hub centre to fender distances, I have dropped the front 15mm so compared to stock it is now 10mm down front, 5mm down rear. Not huge as i often carry pretty heavy stuff in the boot and still want front clearance. Note that with this drop the car is still compliant with all road rules including 100mm underbody clearance (I had 18mm extra when stock from the lowest DSG point near the front left tyre - Masterfoods large jar of black peppercorns is EXACTLY 10cm!). Note the springs haven't fully settled yet so it may droop up to another 5mm.
Have yet to hit the local Westfields to test their "rut" type speed bumps and underbody clearance (i scraped going over a funny shape hump before with passengers on board)
NVH:
There is an increase when going over ruts, joints, etc. It is not a big increase but noticeable when you listen for it. Certainly not dissimilar from stock and not enough to bother you on long haul (the tyre roar from the 94Y F1's is worse).
EDIT: I previously had a comment regarding suspicion of noise from the WALK. There is NO NOISE FROM WALK. The squeak/groan is coming from the front right shock/damper. Will update more soon.
There is no noise from the suspension (no spring slap, tug & release, etc) at all save the hiss of damper which is similar to stock in volume but shorter in duration.
No change to vibration/steering wheel feel - the TAI did more (and those of you with one know it's not that much difference)
Harshness depends on whether you are looking for crash/bang (which is so far nil) or un/down amplitude (see prev comments).
Did a quick vid to check wheel clearance whilst driving unspiritedly.
Worst bit is going over the "tabletop" type speed humps as the car weight moves forward when you go off the end.
The 2 pics show the highest movement of the tyre which occurs when full weight of the car is on the fronts. The first is straight over, the 2nd at slower speed but with slight turn. I think it is not likely to rub even on the RNP Garie Beach hairpin, but will have to wait for that one.
Going over normal suburban speed humps at 40kph is no problem and does not induce banging at all. In fact I think the car handles speed humps MUCH better now than with OEM as the end "bounce" was noticeable with stock.
Note pics are screen caps of interlaced footage so aren't the greatest.
Will make a note again after some more testing and the GTG on the 20th.
Hope this helps anyone making a decision on "entry-level" suspension.
This wouldn't be decent for track as it just isn't stiff enough, but it sure is great for a DD.:thumbsup:
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