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PowerZone: Rear WaveTrac install into Differential *In Progress*
- Thread starter mmdb
- Start date
mmdb
Drag Racing Champion
- Location
- California
Did a couple off ramp excursions powering out of the turn. The car definitely wants the rear to rotate on power. A bit too much. I took off the rear sway bar (H&R... solid bar and pretty damn stiff) and the car transistioned back to under steer on power... (I’m using H&R in the front as well on the stiffest setting). I’ll either install the stock sway bar or pick up a super pro sway rear bar to load the rear a bit more to tighten the turning radius.
mmdb
Drag Racing Champion
- Location
- California
Update: pushed the car a bit in the rain. Just grips even in the wet. Rear traction is increased with the rear outer wheel pushing the car around the corner. I guess it didn’t help that I swapped my H&R sway bar back to stock to dial in a bit more under steer (awd cars prefer no swap bar or stock)... I don’t feel that I need a stiff sway bar in the rear to rotate the car. I’m pretty happy with the upgrade. The car feels more all wheel drive than a fwd if that makes any sense. In other words I feel the back end plays more of a role in accelerating the car rather than playing a sort of implicit role or a minor role.
scrapin240
Drag Racing Champion
- Location
- IzzaGolf
- Car(s)
- Golf
i so want this for my track car. very nice find!!!
mmdb
Drag Racing Champion
- Location
- California
Update: I was curious to know how folks over in Europe were setting up their R's so I reached out to PowerZone. Here's what they had to say:
We usually set them rather soft at the front and harder at the rear. This increases the effectiveness of the rear LSD and also helps these cars to balance the nose heavy weight distribution, but can also additionally promote the tendency to oversteer
I was doing the exact opposite by stiffening the front and softening the rear. My issue was that the rear give out a bit during corner exit. Though through corner entry and mid, the car felt a tad bit understeer if pushed at the limit. Ultimately, I wasn't taxing the rear end enough!... That's why I got the mod in the first place (duh)!!!
And being part dummy, I sold my H&R rear swaybar to revert back to using the stock swaybar. Needless to say, that thing (H&R rear swaybar) was damn stiff (I'd recommend it prior to having a rear LSD however). So rather than pout, I ordered up a SuperPro 24mm adjustable swaybar. I'll also set the front swaybar to the soft setting.
Anyone experience oversteer in their R? I'm guessing the pool there is a bit small... as you'd probably need a wavetrac and/or really stiff rear swaybar.
We usually set them rather soft at the front and harder at the rear. This increases the effectiveness of the rear LSD and also helps these cars to balance the nose heavy weight distribution, but can also additionally promote the tendency to oversteer
I was doing the exact opposite by stiffening the front and softening the rear. My issue was that the rear give out a bit during corner exit. Though through corner entry and mid, the car felt a tad bit understeer if pushed at the limit. Ultimately, I wasn't taxing the rear end enough!... That's why I got the mod in the first place (duh)!!!
And being part dummy, I sold my H&R rear swaybar to revert back to using the stock swaybar. Needless to say, that thing (H&R rear swaybar) was damn stiff (I'd recommend it prior to having a rear LSD however). So rather than pout, I ordered up a SuperPro 24mm adjustable swaybar. I'll also set the front swaybar to the soft setting.
Anyone experience oversteer in their R? I'm guessing the pool there is a bit small... as you'd probably need a wavetrac and/or really stiff rear swaybar.
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mmdb
Drag Racing Champion
- Location
- California
Yeap the rear diff helps 100%. Zero issues with launch from what I can tell. I currently don't have a haldex controller, but will probably invest in one as I get familiar with the car all over again. Firstly, I'll modify the sway and see how that changes the dynamics.
Dog Dad Wagon
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Go Birds
- Car(s)
- 16 Touareg TDI
Does the rear diff help with rear rotation even off-throttle when the haldex is disengaged?
Raguvian
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Bay Area, CA
- Car(s)
- 2019 GSW 4MO 6MT
Oh god, I'm going to end up spending $10k on diffs for my $20k car.
Dog Dad Wagon
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Go Birds
- Car(s)
- 16 Touareg TDI
seriously... that’s also part of why I can justify it lol. At least my Alltrack was 25K, not 40-45 like a Golf R lol
q74
Go Kart Newbie
- Car(s)
- R
so for less money, even with the mods you end up with a more capable car?
mmdb
Drag Racing Champion
- Location
- California
About 5 months using this unit and feeling grateful. It really transforms the car into what was predominitely a FWD with rear assist, into a 4wd. It's not to say I can do 4 wheel drifts with it, and I've really been trying to break the rear end loose, but no matter how much I try and power out of tight turns I just get a bit of oversteer. It might be an exaggeration to say oversteer, but rotation is more like it (good).
Powerzone recommends using the stiffest rear sway bar I can get my hands on, and I'd have to agree. As the weight transfers to the outer rear wheels, you'd really want to tax that wheel to really push out of the turn. This is where the biggest difference between an R with only a front diff, or not at all, the car's front wheels pulls the car out of turns. Whereas, having a rear wavetrac the car is not only pulled but is also pushed out of the corner. Some might say this mod is too much, and I would almost agree. Though, as a track enthusiast or someone who enjoys canyons I think this mod is up there on the wish list.
Powerzone recommends using the stiffest rear sway bar I can get my hands on, and I'd have to agree. As the weight transfers to the outer rear wheels, you'd really want to tax that wheel to really push out of the turn. This is where the biggest difference between an R with only a front diff, or not at all, the car's front wheels pulls the car out of turns. Whereas, having a rear wavetrac the car is not only pulled but is also pushed out of the corner. Some might say this mod is too much, and I would almost agree. Though, as a track enthusiast or someone who enjoys canyons I think this mod is up there on the wish list.
RudyH
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Kitchener, ON
Not really, Haldex isn't on 100% of the time, nor is it giving 100% when it does. It is reactive vs proactive. The UM Haldex tune just makes it 'come alive' earlier.
If you don't have it already, grab a front Wavetrac and start there. The UM Haldex tune is the next step, and if you are still not happy see what you can do with the rear diff.
Right now with a stiffer rear sway bar, and front Wavetrac I get insane traction up front and oversteer. The single UM dealer near me is an hour away and literally I am lazy to go get it done lol
Did you DIY the wavetrac or do you mind sharing how many shop hours that took?
RudyH
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Kitchener, ON
It was $605, but I was doing clutch and thrust bearing at the same time. Not sure what the shop rate is, can't even find it on their website. Figure 4-5 hrs? I know they charge over $100/hr anyway. They charged me time while they were in there so you might want to add transmission replacement time
Raguvian
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Bay Area, CA
- Car(s)
- 2019 GSW 4MO 6MT
You had your thrust bearing replaced? How did the shop do that? I would figure the crank shaft would have to come out for that.