WhiteJames
Fun Nazi
DCC / Rear Sway Bar / Lighweight Wheels
DCC + Lower Springs
DCC + Lower Springs is generally not recommended; although guys are putting in springs that offer a slight drop in height about 10-15mm - namely H&R OE Sport and Eibach ProKit springs. Both these springs are progressive rate & may exhibit spring bind & be noisey. You could check is KW have anything. 19" wheel with 235mm & lower height could induce some top inner screw fender rubbing. Alternatively: you could try Bilstein or Sachs electronically adjustable coilovers - not sure if they are a direct plug'n'play kit comsummate with the DCC software in the Mark Golf & they may not be cheap in price. I prefer the feel of linear type springs as KW & OE VW springs offer; they do not ride as well as the H&R/Eibach Progressive rate springs, but offer better control for everyday driving.
Geometry of about negative front camber of 1-2 degrees shouldn't be too much drama. Some pros run up to 3.0 degree of negative camber. Best to score a set of camber plates - Kmac, H&R, Eibach or KW - camber plates allow you to adjust the camber back to zero degrees as OE Golfs tend to be from factory. Negative camber will result in having to add some toe-in to preserve tyre life on straight freeways - toe in does detract from turn in reponse.
Large Rear Sway Bar:
Improves turn in understeer, but causes power out understeer and positive camber roll of the front tyres. Most Golf owners wouldn't double the rear coil spring rate - the sway bar adds spring rate to the rear of the vehicle, in addition to reducing the independence of left & right wheels. If you're going for a firm rear bar, add stiffer front springs as Volkswagen did with the Mark 6 GTI over the Mark 5 GTI.
Lightweight Wheels:
Lighter wheels will have an advantage on the track; not so noticeable on public roadways. Better results could be had for track work with a set of well matched aftermarket adjustable anti-roll bars - H&R small size solid adjustable bars with teflon lined bushes would be my first choice. Eibach matched bars would also be good, but noisey with polyurethene bushes (Whiteline sway bars from Australia are also good value with AUD/USD dropping in value). The sway bars (soft front/rear hard) will reduce understeer, hopefully improving times for the track and making for a direct connection between car and driver. Anti-roll bars will reduce ride comfort on public roadways, esp one wheel bumps - doesn't make much difference to ride on smooth roadways. Go the H&R bars (26mm/22mm or 26mm/24mm) for best results.
Cheers.
WJ
DCC + Lower Springs
DCC + Lower Springs is generally not recommended; although guys are putting in springs that offer a slight drop in height about 10-15mm - namely H&R OE Sport and Eibach ProKit springs. Both these springs are progressive rate & may exhibit spring bind & be noisey. You could check is KW have anything. 19" wheel with 235mm & lower height could induce some top inner screw fender rubbing. Alternatively: you could try Bilstein or Sachs electronically adjustable coilovers - not sure if they are a direct plug'n'play kit comsummate with the DCC software in the Mark Golf & they may not be cheap in price. I prefer the feel of linear type springs as KW & OE VW springs offer; they do not ride as well as the H&R/Eibach Progressive rate springs, but offer better control for everyday driving.
Geometry of about negative front camber of 1-2 degrees shouldn't be too much drama. Some pros run up to 3.0 degree of negative camber. Best to score a set of camber plates - Kmac, H&R, Eibach or KW - camber plates allow you to adjust the camber back to zero degrees as OE Golfs tend to be from factory. Negative camber will result in having to add some toe-in to preserve tyre life on straight freeways - toe in does detract from turn in reponse.
Large Rear Sway Bar:
Improves turn in understeer, but causes power out understeer and positive camber roll of the front tyres. Most Golf owners wouldn't double the rear coil spring rate - the sway bar adds spring rate to the rear of the vehicle, in addition to reducing the independence of left & right wheels. If you're going for a firm rear bar, add stiffer front springs as Volkswagen did with the Mark 6 GTI over the Mark 5 GTI.
Lightweight Wheels:
Lighter wheels will have an advantage on the track; not so noticeable on public roadways. Better results could be had for track work with a set of well matched aftermarket adjustable anti-roll bars - H&R small size solid adjustable bars with teflon lined bushes would be my first choice. Eibach matched bars would also be good, but noisey with polyurethene bushes (Whiteline sway bars from Australia are also good value with AUD/USD dropping in value). The sway bars (soft front/rear hard) will reduce understeer, hopefully improving times for the track and making for a direct connection between car and driver. Anti-roll bars will reduce ride comfort on public roadways, esp one wheel bumps - doesn't make much difference to ride on smooth roadways. Go the H&R bars (26mm/22mm or 26mm/24mm) for best results.
Cheers.
WJ
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