When asking on Pistonheads about roadholding mods, someone pointed me in the direction of the following page, which says that swaybars seem to be an alternative - maybe better, than uprated suspension. Since most people just seem to do what everyone else does, and goes with the suspension package, I wondered if anyone has any thoughts about this alternative approach?

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1108/shine.html

In theory swaybars are the last part of the equation when modifying suspension. However, if you want to keep the standard ride but reduce roll (but not pitch) then they are one of the best ways of doing it.

I've done both (coilovers and uprated ARBs) on mine

So it would not reduce the "dive under braking" phenomena?

Nope, that is down to the give of the springs at the front

Chris

Won't do owt for the squat under acceleration either.

What is being suggested to me at the moment by some people, is that changing the suspension to something like vRS springs and Koni dampers is that it will feel better, but can unsettle the car on rough surfaces and skid easier. Softer springs will grip and ride better?

I really dont wish to ruin the fundemental character of the car, so could anyone confirm this who has aftermarket suspension on their Fabia RS?

but can unsettle the car on rough surfaces and skid easier. Softer springs will grip and ride better?

Did you ever see the episode of (I think) Fifth Gear, where they were comparing suspension setups on a TVR?

Prepped for the road, on track the car wobbled and rolled (relatively), and race-prepping it by making the suspension harder shaved several seconds off a laptime.

On the road, however, the stiff track setup meant it was nigh-on impossible to keep the wheels in contact with the road, which is never a good thing for power delivery, braking or handling!

Ultimately the problem is the heavy heavy weight at the front, and adjusting the springs won't allow it to defy the laws of physics...

What sort of improvements are you hoping to achieve? Are you aiming for less roll through corners, or do you want to try and reduce understeer, etc?

Rob.

I don't know what its like with the vRS/Koni setup but the TDI springs/eibach dampers suspension is pretty good. Its not stiff and the car does not unsettle on rough surfaces. I would of thought vRS springs/konis would be the same. Unless you set the dampers to rock hard

Did you ever see the episode of (I think) Fifth Gear' date=' where they were comparing suspension setups on a TVR?

Prepped for the road, on track the car wobbled and rolled (relatively), and race-prepping it by making the suspension harder shaved several seconds off a laptime.

On the road, however, the stiff track setup meant it was nigh-on impossible to keep the wheels in contact with the road, which is never a good thing for power delivery, braking or handling!

Ultimately the problem is the heavy heavy weight at the front, and adjusting the springs won't allow it to defy the laws of physics...

What sort of improvements are you hoping to achieve? Are you aiming for less roll through corners, or do you want to try and reduce understeer, etc?

Rob.[/quote']

Top Gear.

I remember it well - set up for the road it was a total dog on the track and the same when set up the otherway.

Hey Rob,

The main issues I have with the standard setup are:-

1. Low speed understeer / traction (by far worse in the wet)

2. Diving under braking

3. Slight "floaty" feeling on some roads (usually bumpy ones)

Generally I am quite happy with the way it handles and accept that it will always be nose heavy, but a better balance would be good. I dont intend to take it on a track (well maybe occaisionally, but no plans ATM).

However, I dont want to introduce other problems to the car. I dont want the ride to be ruined, and I dont want the car to bite me on the **** if I push things too far - I want to know what the car is going to do. Some kind of predictability is always good, after all I am not Colin McRae

1. What tyres are you running? Hard-wearing compound tyres (such as Michelin) are pretty useless in the wet. Try knocking a couple of PSI out of the front tyres, it can make a huge difference to how the front of the car feels...

2. Stiffening the front suspension a bit would help reduce this, but the more you reduce this the worse it'll feel over bumps, and the more the forward force will be disspated through the tyres instead of the suspension when you brake. Suspect a happy compromise wouldn't be too hard to reach.

3. Like being on a cushion of air? That's what good suspension does!

Rob.

Regarding Rob's first point, what pressures do other people use in their Fabia RS? I am using 34 psi front and 32 psi back.

Oh and the tyres are the same ones it came with, Michelin Premacy Pilot or something like that.

Yeah, mine came with those Michelins and it was pretty slippery in the wet.

I found the Skoda recommended tyre pressures were too high and made the car feel skittish, but adjusting them is a fairly subjective thing...

Rob.

I'm running 32psi on the front and 30psi on the back of my PD100. Since replacing the suspension with Eibach dampers, TDI Eibach springs and a Seat strut brace, I have noticed a significant reduction in diving under braking and acceleration and the car is much more stable and the brakes feel much stronger. Ride is not as good as it was in terms of dialling out bumps in the road, but it is far from harsh and is much more stable through corners - even the other half noticed It's also got rid of the major undulation the Elegance dampers suffer from so it now settles down much faster.

You might also want to get your wheel alignment checked as I haven't been able to provoke low-speed understeer and I'm running with El Cheapo tyres

Chris

I keep running 18psi on driverside front due to a slow pucture.

Yeah' date=' mine came with those Michelins and it was pretty slippery in the wet.

I found the Skoda recommended tyre pressures were too high and made the car feel skittish, but adjusting them is a fairly subjective thing...

Rob.[/quote']

Whilst talking about tyre pressures I would recommend people get themselves a decent tyre pressure gauge... those on air lines at filling stations are abused so much they are often difficult to read and I doubt the accuracy of the readings.