Springs

[Lennard]

This is my first track day project and as 19 year old student, as you would expect, funds are kinda tight! I have a golf mk2 8v gti, the car currently has koni adjustable suspension with a -30mm drop.

But I have been told that I need stiffer springs in order to really corner well? Also what should I be looking for? I had the figure of 350 lb/s thrown at me... but I assume that front and back would be set up for different tolerances due to the engine weight for example? And are there any recommended brands?

Could anyone recommend a place where I can purchase these items as well?

Thanks!

[GreenV8S]

I don't know anything at all about that car but there must be tens of thousands of people who do. I would look for owners clubs as a starting point.

[Agent006]

Try the trackdays forum, Iguana runs a trackslag golf and should be able to help out.

[trackcar]

First port of call should be Koni as you're using their adjustable dampers.

[grahambell]

Are you doing this as a pure track car or as a road and track car?

If it's the latter then rock hard springs will give you a bloody awful ride on the road.

In that case, as you've already got Koni adjustable suspension the easy compromise solution is just to set the dampers rock hard when you get to the track and soften them off again when you're ready to drive home.

[Gentlefoot]

For track on my MkII I use 350lbs front and 250lbs rear which is pretty uncomfortable in road use but with adjustable dampers it OK. Not an everyday car though. More spring rate in the back would make the car more oversteery.

Be careful though with ride height. It changes suspension geometry significantly. As the angle of the lower wishbone changes so does the front rollcentre. The roll centre needs to be a similar height to the centre of gravity if the car is to stay flat. Else it will roll badly. When I originally fitted my coilovers I set them quite low. This caused savage roll and the rear wheel would lift. I raised it up slightly and handling improved drammatically. I plan to riase it up slightly further so the wishbones are almost horizontal to the ground.

[speedy_thrills]

Gentlefoot said:

For track on my MkII I use 350lbs front and 250lbs rear which is pretty uncomfortable in road use but with adjustable dampers it OK. Not an everyday car though. More spring rate in the back would make the car more oversteery. Be careful though with ride height. It changes suspension geometry significantly. As the angle of the lower wishbone changes so does the front rollcentre. The roll centre needs to be a similar height to the centre of gravity if the car is to stay flat. Else it will roll badly. When I originally fitted my coilovers I set them quite low. This caused savage roll and the rear wheel would lift. I raised it up slightly and handling improved drammatically. I plan to riase it up slightly further so the wishbones are almost horizontal to the ground.

Would it be safe to say that his funds would probably be better spent in other areas of modification like sports tires, breaks, changes to steering geometry etc?

[Gentlefoot]

Really you need to do all of that (except brakes in a low powered car like the Golf) if you want to be fast.

Having said that, proper tyres like the Yoko A048 are very soft and can overheat easier than a road tyre.