handling question

[chris285]

ok i have a 99 plate 1.4 mk2, which i fitted some mk3 cupra wheels to

anyway the handling has always been a bit off imo, and i think its a lot to do with tired suspension and my driving as corners well when done smoothly. so my plan is to get some spacers soon, and then later replace the suspension with a 40mm drop kit

but i have noticed something recently, which i am unsure if i should be concerned about or not.

one junction after work it raises and goes to the righ to join the main road, but i turn left at this. so i follow the road by steering right and then go to the left to turn left, now at the point i am turning left the steering goes very light and the wheels feel like they go further to the right than i was steering before going left

now i am not sure if this is the road or the car, but it happens on a straight road as well where i will hit a uneven stretch of road and the steering will go light suddenly which is unerving

now is this something to worry about, or is this relate to tried suspension on low profile wheels?

 

[andyj]

understeer

Which will be corrected a little when youfit the rear spacers (hence why they're a good 1st mod for handling!)

The only other way to combat it would be to fit a 'better' suspension set-up than standard, FK Highsport for example, and then to look at fitting a front ARB (standard Mk3 Ibiza ones do the job nicely, and they're cheap! Just ask someone who's fitted a Neuspeed one if they want to sell you their standard one! )

Andy

 

[chris285]

is that what that is then? as my old never had this problem, but i am not sure if it had spacers fitted but i doubt it. it was a 97 plate 3dr 1.4 and i now have a 3dr 99plate

i was going to get some spacers soon anyway to help reduce bodyroll, so hopefully that will improve it a bit

 

[andyj]

if your front suspension is sh@gged it will make the problem alot worse

 

[hopkinsgm]

Have you had wheel alignment checked? Could be that camber angles are a bit out, possibly running less negative camber at front on the '99 than the '97?

Also... less sidewall to flex means lower profile tyres let you feel what's going on more than a taller tyre. It's possible that this has always happened, but you're only noticing it with the lower profile tyres.

 

[chris285]

Have you had wheel alignment checked? Could be that camber angles are a bit out, possibly running less negative camber at front on the '99 than the '97?

Also... less sidewall to flex means lower profile tyres let you feel what's going on more than a taller tyre. It's possible that this has always happened, but you're only noticing it with the lower profile tyres.

well the stupid thing is my old mk2 had 175/70 tyres and i now have 195/45's and i felt more on the old ones

tracking could do to be checked but was doing this after i had it done last time

and the suspension is probably shagged, has done 70k no idea if on the original set, but i would probably think so