I have KW Variant 3 - expensive but superb!!

This

Can aftermarket suspension make the car go around a corner faster? Yes

But at what compromise in day to day use.

Handling on public, bumpy roads is where these aftermarket kits fall down.

VAG spent thousands of hours developing the suspension to cover all conditions. Things like all out speed will have been compromised, but there is always compromise.

The Fabia is an old car, more importantly it’s a cheap old car based on old technology.

The chassis has massive flex, the rear suspension is not multilink and from the iron ages, the front is primitive and the whole geometry (rake etc) is all based around a cheap runabout.

These flaws make the pursuit of good handling somewhat futile.

You might go buy some fully adjustable, very expensive suspension setup and yeah it will corner flatter and faster. But at what cost?

The handling as in feel and balance is subjective, but what about things like ride quality or on the limit ability to deal with compression.

What do you actually want to achieve by buying aftermarket suspension?

I guess that’s the question.

If it’s to go faster around a track then fair enough, I’m behind you on that.

If it’s to handle better on the road then I’m having none of it and the sensible advice is don’t do it; save the money.

Yeah the Fabia VRS is flawed and the handling is poor. But when pelting down a country lane or whatever you just adjust your driving, there is still fun to be had.

I drive very enthusiastically and have even cracked Brembo disks on the road in the past. But at no point have I driven our Fabia and thought something needed changing. You just accept it for what it is and work with the car.

In a perfect world there are lots of things I would change on the Fabia to make it better – but it’s pointless and I would never try chase it.

Just like I would never try and make it sound better – it will always sound crap.

You are full of b.s fred

You can make them sound good, heard a gtb2260 hybrid on full chat with turbo back? Sounds pretty awesome!

And as you say your on standard suspension how do you know the difference!

With kw coils / read arb / polybushed front end corners can be taken at another 20/30mph!

And if you go for a sensible ride height day to day handling isnt compromised

You are full of b.s fred

You can make them sound good, heard a gtb2260 hybrid on full chat with turbo back? Sounds pretty awesome!

And as you say your on standard suspension how do you know the difference!

With kw coils / read arb / polybushed front end corners can be taken at another 20/30mph!

And if you go for a sensible ride height day to day handling isnt compromised

Ok, changing to bigger turbos etc can sound good. But thats again subjective and was just a small example, its not the same as suspension.

Saying you can take corners 20 or 30 MPH faster is such an exaggeration it loses what your sayng a lot of credability.

I've gone (not on a fabia) from normal road tyres to soft compound A048s and the difference is more than any suspension setup could get anywehre near in terms of cornering speed. Even then the difference is not "20 or 30" MPH.

And on that subject tyres alone make such a difference you would be better spending any money on tyres as you will also stop better.

Take any VRS on random Falkens or whatever and I bet you anything my standard car on PS3s will go around a corner faster and stop better.

I have experiance of cars on aftermarket suspension setups (admittedly only 2) and both were nowhere near as composed over a country lane as the standard car.

If you think a VRS on aftermarket suspension can not only corner faster but be better over bumps etc then prove me wrong..... show me!

Thats not me being an idiot, I am totally open to the idea and are big enough to eat my words if somebody takes me out and impresses me.

I live in Leeds and are willing to travel a bit.

Life is about learning and if somebody can show me that my experiance and the conclusions I have drawn are wrong, then I'm happy about that and encourage it.

Kw, gaz or bilstein I think gaz are made here.

Ohlins are top **** too!

But fundamentally tyres are the limit factors too so don't overlook those.

Saying the car can't be improved upon oem much is ridiculous however you obviously need the dough.

Ok, changing to bigger turbos etc can sound good. But thats again subjective and was just a small example, its not the same as suspension.

Saying you can take corners 20 or 30 MPH faster is such an exaggeration it loses what your sayng a lot of credability.

I've gone (not on a fabia) from normal road tyres to soft compound A048s and the difference is more than any suspension setup could get anywehre near in terms of cornering speed. Even then the difference is not "20 or 30" MPH.

And on that subject tyres alone make such a difference you would be better spending any money on tyres as you will also stop better.

Take any VRS on random Falkens or whatever and I bet you anything my standard car on PS3s will go around a corner faster and stop better.

I have experiance of cars on aftermarket suspension setups (admittedly only 2) and both were nowhere near as composed over a country lane as the standard car.

If you think a VRS on aftermarket suspension can not only corner faster but be better over bumps etc then prove me wrong..... show me!

Thats not me being an idiot, I am totally open to the idea and are big enough to eat my words if somebody takes me out and impresses me.

I live in Leeds and are willing to travel a bit.

Life is about learning and if somebody can show me that my experiance and the conclusions I have drawn are wrong, then I'm happy about that and encourage it.

Im not joking when saying a good 20/30mph

The rear arb helps the back end grip into the ground rather than letting go.

You know that feeling where the rear end goes light and starts to slip, with a rarb it doesnt it holds on and holds on allowing cornering speed to be vastly improved!

I drive the same back road daily and this feeling of lightness has gone and i can push on to crazy limits

The best way to describe this is like a massive hand pushing the back end into the road

Unless its into a corner under brakes or lifing off etc then I have never had the back cause an issue in terms of lightness or grip.

The front will go wide way way way before the grip at the back is a problem.

The only time I have seen that lightness you describe is when I bought the car. It has some special chinese tyres on and in the wet it felt like the back awlays wanted to let go. It was actually dangerous. Good tyres front and back and that was instantly gone.

What tyres do you have?

Also one key here is the condition of your old suspension!!!

If thats worn then replacing it with new OEM would feel like a mega improvement.

My car had a really inconsistent turn in and other feelings of soemthing being not quite right. I replaced the suspension for OEM and it was so much better.

Another point on this is loads of people buy the wrong dampers for the VRS. They go to ECP or GSF and the system says its the same as the normal 1.9 TDI. But its not and I had big problems sourcing the correct part. In the end I just went to the dealer. I honestly cannot imagine how many VRS' are going round on the wrong shocks.

Dunlop sp 01 sports

I do not belive in crappy tires

I have to whole heartedly disagree with you on the whole argument

You can spend £1500 on kw v3's all you want but if your running ying yang macca-dang-dangs your in the hedge

Eibach Pro Street Coilovers I have been told are very good!

Out of my price range, I am buying GAZ GHA's

I thought they only did them for the mk2 vrs?

I have eibach pro streets and they are top quality! Had them on for about 7 years and 70k miles and they are perfect. Good ride quality compared to cheap tat and great handling. No rust either as they use quality materials.

can you remember where you got them from?

oh im quite happy to spend whatever on tyres, suspension and to polybush everything

i love my kw v1s. hard to beat, especially in stainless. they have been fitted for 20k miles now and still look like new, i can adjust them by hand they are that free.

I thought they only did them for the mk2 vrs?

can you remember where you got them from?

I have no idea what cars they fit, I have been told they are very good. I am buying GAZ coil overs.

I have no idea what cars they fit, I have been told they are very good. I am buying GAZ coil overs.

What is GAZ coilovers?

I thought they only did them for the mk2 vrs?

can you remember where you got them from?

Ajk motors in Llandudno junction. They ordered them and fitted them.

What is GAZ coilovers?

GAZ coilovers LINK

now im torn between Weitec's or GAZ i dont want a really firm ride that you feel every bump but i want it to handle really good round corners

Some good posts from Fred44 . I have Eibach pro streets and various other mods on my car because I can. It's also kept it fun enough to still enjoy driving it after nearly 10 years so saves me money buying new cars.

I do see Freds point if people fit crap after market parts as they normally ruin the car. Just look at the lads at your local McDonald's on Saturday night!

I'm more than happy to have a race with Fred in his std car set up and see what happens. Oulton park ?

I have chosen GAZ as they are adjustable on car, you can also ask when they are being made for them to be set up for the weight of your car and if you want hard or softer ride and so on.

I have chosen GAZ as they are adjustable on car, you can also ask when they are being made for them to be set up for the weight of your car and if you want hard or softer ride and so on.

And whats the price of these??

£552 delivered from www.larkspeed.com

might do them for Fabia mk i

they seem a bit cheap, i was thinking like £1000 lol

You could always have a set-up like mine;

KW V3's, fully polybushed, front and rear anti-roll bars, and a Quaiffe LSD and a perfect set-up by Jabbasport - you said money was no option!!

yes i have just been looking at the KW V3's and i think thats what im going to purchase also been looking at powerflex bushes and and front and rear anti-roll bars, we must be cut from the same cloth daz lol

I also have a Quife LSD and combined with other mods is very good at giving you traction that some can only dream about! Under steer What is this ? Lol

Edited 28 March, 201313 yr by mr rooney