Just thought I'd post this as a watch-out for those of you with H&R springs and FSD shocks on a Mk1 vRS.

First of all this isn't a gripe about the suspension. It's been great. So if you're considering this combo don't worry.

Basically, my warning is about parking in spaces that have those fold down bollards in them. DON'T!. Parked in such a space last night. bollard looked no where near high enough off the ground to consider an issue. However, MASSIVE crunch!! Thought I'd ripped a front wheel off or something, but can't of. Must have been something down the centre line of the car (subframe? exhaust?) Haven't looked under the car yet. Seems to dirive fine though so hopefully nothing serious. Hoping it was just the plastic undertray.

I guess the worst thing was that as I'd got into the space, I had to reverse back out again with similar results. Ouch!

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

sump?

prob the lip on the front of the bumper mate,

:'(

Just thought I'd post this as a watch-out for those of you with H&R springs and FSD shocks on a Mk1 vRS.

First of all this isn't a gripe about the suspension. It's been great. So if you're considering this combo don't worry.

Basically, my warning is about parking in spaces that have those fold down bollards in them. DON'T!. Parked in such a space last night. bollard looked no where near high enough off the ground to consider an issue. However, MASSIVE crunch!! Thought I'd ripped a front wheel off or something, but can't of. Must have been something down the centre line of the car (subframe? exhaust?) Haven't looked under the car yet. Seems to dirive fine though so hopefully nothing serious. Hoping it was just the plastic undertray.

I guess the worst thing was that as I'd got into the space, I had to reverse back out again with similar results. Ouch!

Does not sound good....

You probably took out the plastic under tray. (that hangs low under subframe). I would be keen to check it out to see if you have not done any further damage that may not be known initially.

I would also be surprised that even without the H&R's and FSD's and on standard set up you may of still probably hit something and could of just over judged the height.

H&R's will only really lower car by 15mm on FSD's. I used to scrape the front bumper on high curbs many a time.

I have the same combo on my WRC and i catch things all the time. I have sat it next to my mates standard silver vRS and my car sits quite a bit lower than it, it seems to be a lot more than 15mm. I have also noticed that the vRS front bumper is lower underneath the car than at the front and it has a 1 - 2 cm lip so thats the bit thet gets caught if you go to far over a curb or fold down bolards

Ross

WRC_068

I'd agree with all this. Octys have a rep for "sitting high", but they really don't.: What they do have is a very wide/high wheel arch for the size of the tyres, which makes them look high from the side.

Yep! had my fsd's and h&r springs on now for over a year and it seems to me like it's dropped lower recently, the splitter is taking a bit of a battering! I find myself having to be rather careful alot of the time plus the roads are crap and full of pot holes!!

I'd check that out as if you've put a hairline crack in the aluminium sump that's going to get very expensive if you suddenly drop all your oil.

I have another problem after fitting Koni FSDs and want to check with you. I used the standard springs and now find that the xenons which used to light up the road brilliantly are not very effective. They are self-levelling and I am wondering if there is a way to set them higher so that more of the road ahead is visible. Thanks. Bomi.

I have another problem after fitting Koni FSDs and want to check with you. I used the standard springs and now find that the xenons which used to light up the road brilliantly are not very effective. They are self-levelling and I am wondering if there is a way to set them higher so that more of the road ahead is visible. Thanks. Bomi.

Hi mate. I'm not sure quite what you're asking, so I may not answeer the right question, but hopefully I'll explain how self-levelling works and you'll at least can work out the answer to the question you meant.

Self-levelling with steel springs works using strain guages and a computer to drive the headlight leveling servomotors and maintain a consistant beam aim. This is fine as long as the car maintains a constant resting rake at standard kerbweight. If you change the static rake, the basic beam angle could change, and fitting FSDs could do this. So I'd say you need to get a dealer to check and probably adjust your beam aim.

Also, just aiming the beams up won't necessarily improve the range.

Thanks Ken.

Is this adjustment done via VAGCOM or mechanically? I am trying to guage what are the chances of the self-levelling mechanism getting completely fouled up by the dealer.

It might need more than VAGCOM as if the car is noticebley lower the sensors will think the car is laden,and adjust the xenons down to stop dazzling oncoming vehicles. You may have to fit spacers to the sensor mountings so they are at their normal position that they would be on a standard car. And yes it could easily be fouled up by a dealer that didnt know what they are doing. I belive that VW dealers have a better chance of getting in right. I suppose that there isnt that many skodas with xenons,you could end up at a dealer who hasnt done it before.

Edited 4 March, 201016 yr by kenny rsell

I've this nasty feeling it needs the paid-for VCDS, not freeware or shareware versions, or a VAG dealer computer.