Hi Guy's 

 

I am new here, although I have just bought my 2nd skoda. a very well looked after Mk1 Octavia VRS. 

 

I am looking for some advise. as my cars done few miles now and I plan on doing the odd track day and maybe the ring. 

 

Im thinking the best mods I can do to start with are as follows.

 

polybush the hole car. 

uprated rollbar's  (which ones are recommend, and do I need a full kit or just the rear?)

and decent fast road/track pads and disc's & braided hose.

remap + fmic, maybe stage 2. (do I need a KO4 for stage 2?)

Quafie LSD 

 

just wanted the guys who know these cars to offer there opinions. these are the best value mods I have done to previous cars. I have never messed with anything this new.

 

I also understand you can swap out some VAG suspension parts to improve the set up from stock. can anyone expand on that? or recommend anything I have missed. 

 

thanks In advance. sorry about the long post. 

 

Andy

 

 

I just got my car back from Jabbasport yesterday after having a Quaife ATB LSD fitted and the rear end polybushed (the front has already been done, as has one end of the dogbone....not both, on Jabba's advice.....too vibey apparently)

 

The polybushes make everything tight and exact when changing direction and going around corners. Everything just feels a lot sharper. Well worth getting them done, especially if your existing bushes are getting long in the tooth. They're comfortable as well and don't make for a harsh ride I find. 

 

The LSD really helps with traction but then I have a fair bit of power to put down and it might not make as much difference on your car. The diff just pulls the car round the corners and finds every available bit of grip. It's not that intrusive either. It's very progressive. Costly mod though, unless you do it yourself. I'm pretty handy with the spanners and have previously stripped and rebuilt my fair share of engines etc, but haven't had experience of taking gearboxes apart, so left it to the experts. The gearbox has to be totally dismantled before the diff can come out and in my case, the crown wheel had to go off to Quaife to be re-drilled and machined to make it the right size for the diff.

 

I'd say the single most cost effective upgrade I've done is to add a 28mm ARB to the rear. This massively decreased understeer and weight transfer to the outside wheel during heavy cornering. It made the car handle a lot more neutrally.

 

Finally I've put Ferodo DS2500 pads in, using standard size 312mm Mintex discs on the front. This has also worked wonders for the braking and scrubbing off speed from high MPH is a lot more controlled and rapid and can be repeated time after time after time. They're also very good from cold. So no running into the back of things, first thing in the morning.

 

As to the other mods you're looking at, I originally just had my car remapped which took it up to around 215bhp and about 210 lbft of torque, which is a fair increase on 175 lbft. I was getting tired of being left for dead by 2.0 litre diesel Mondeos at anything over 30mph. It was a very cost effective mod.  

 

If I was you, I'd get a generic remap, polybush the front wishbones and rear beam and dogbone, get a beefy ARB fitted and throw some DS2500's on there and you'd have a lot of fun with the car, for reasonable money.  

 

Just my opinion, based on my own experiences......and expenditure.....though.....so everyone please feel free to disagree

 

Oh, almost forgot......tyres.....personally I've found the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2's to be really good, especially in the wet.

 

Hope that's of some use and welcome to the fold......I predict your wallet rapidly emptying in the near future....it happens to us all.....it's an addiction

great write up. 

 

its always good too get some insider info, with new car. had a couple of seriously modified toy before the buying a house, now I am looking for a nice balance. the Quife makes a hell of a difference. I fitted one to my old MK2 VR6 Turbo golf.

 

I think I read somewhere that you can use Audi TT lower arms to get more camber, is that true? and is there any benefit?

 

Andy 

 

 

Andy,

 

Thanks. The diff truly is making a lot of difference and well worth the outlay. I've been grinning from ear to ear for the last few days :sun:

 

As for the front suspension set up, you're best off having a word with Clive of CNTuning. He regularly posts on Briskoda. If you have a look at the Citigo 4x4 450bhp thread on here, he's a regular contributor to that thread. He'll know about the front suspension for the Octy VRS MK1. I think the preferred mod is the R32 front wishbones. I'm led to believe that they stay more horizontal when the car is lowered and make for better and faster steering. Clive will put you straight on that one, for sure.