Having driven 1000 miles on my new setup (Helix matching SMF + organic clutch + uprated pressure plate, rated up to EDIT: 350 ft. lbs torque) and Peloquin LSD I wanted to post a few comments.

As far as the Helix setup - lovely!- smooth and extremely positive clutch action, barely stiffer than OEM. Organic, so extremely street-driveable. The chatter that everyone talks about as though it's a disaster is no bother to me tbh. It is only there at idle + neutral with the clutch out. Keep the clutch in and it doesn't exist! It is as loud as the aircon on position '3' - if you have your aircon on position '4' you can't hear it. The chatter is a continous sound exactly like a small diesel van at idle. Not civilised but with this performance change, who cares....

The Helix SMF has made the car feel as though it has yet another re-map - no RR available out here - but seat of the pants - the car absolutely leaps forward eagerly, and this at 45 degree C heat! (and NO heatsoak thanks to Forge's FMIC!). The car revs quickly and is even more of a joy to drive. For an explanation how a lighter flywheel does indeed give you better acceleration see this vw link: Lightening

As far as the Peloquin LSD - for all intents and purposes I feel that I have twice as much traction. Off the line takeoff feels far quicker (didn't manage to borrow the G-tech meter yet) and there is little wheelspin. No torque steer.

Taking long sweeping motorway on-ramps can be done at speeds that were not previously attainable (by me at least!). I suspect that the LSD puts out superglue through the front tires. When you drive normally, there is no difference to the car, but punch the loud pedal and the LSD makes it into a really well-handling car. On a warning note, when the LSD "comes on" you lose the "auto-correction" that the steering usually has (ie its usuall pulling back to center), and you have to point it to where you want to go. After it catches you unawares once, you get used to it.

Overall, I am really positive and enthusiastic about this upgrade - I did it to make the transmission "bullet-proof" for future mods but now realise that it has been in fact one of the best real upgrades so far.

Highly recommended.

PS thanks to me old mate Peter at Forge motorsport and to the truly Awesome Sarah for getting me the parts send halfway around the planet!

Cheers

Bas

Good review Basil ,

why are there no RRs out in Bahrain ?

Good review Basil ,

why are there no RRs out in Bahrain ?

Dunno mate - even a 2 wheel dyno would make money - anyone got a used one they want to sell off cheap? Sure that some of the tuners who have upgraded have a used one or two to get rid of?

A mechanic who builds up 'muscle cars' says he drives them to Kuwait (about 7 hours away!) to check them on a RR!!

Deffo a business opportunity for any investors out there.....

Cheers

Bas

Good to hear I have to admit, having been in Wiebo's car, just in the dry, you could sense the LSD just pulling the car round bends, removing understeer completely. Very worthy upgrade I'm still debating now I have the clutch fitted whether it's worth pulling the engine / gear box out again to have one of these puppies fitted.....

Dunno mate - even a 2 wheel dyno would make money - anyone got a used one they want to sell off cheap? Sure that some of the tuners who have upgraded have a used one or two to get rid of?

A mechanic who builds up 'muscle cars' says he drives them to Kuwait (about 7 hours away!) to check them on a RR!!

Deffo a business opportunity for any investors out there.....

Cheers

Bas

Hmm I supposed you finished building that trailer now. In which case, you have more than enough room to knock the front wall down and dig up that area to install a RR.

On second thoughts, not too sure what Nahood would think of that

Damn you Bas. I can't wait to get mine in now. It won't be in for GTI International though, but after all I only need to go in a straight line there, no cornering.

Unfortunately I haven't got any spare cash at all right now, so I'm sooooo glad I had all this fitted a long time ago. Didn't go for the SMF at the time but kinda wondering whether I should have done..

I've got a Quaife rather than Peloquin, but same kinda thing, and yes it transforms the handling when powering out of bends. I am concerned about my brakes though, those Brembos are better again for sure

It is a great upgrade for cars that have a fair bit of power/torque to drop through the frontwheels, especially those like the Fabia with a heavy lump up front

a lightened single mass flywheel making it rev more freely :eek:

an LSD giving you around twice the traction :eek:

who woulda thunked it?!?!

those are exactly the reasons for doign the mods Bas

Damn you Bas. I can't wait to get mine in now. It won't be in for GTI International though, but after all I only need to go in a straight line there, no cornering.

Wow! I actually managed to do one single mod better than Jason. That made my day!!

Hmm I supposed you finished building that trailer now. In which case, you have more than enough room to knock the front wall down and dig up that area to install a RR.

On second thoughts, not too sure what Nahood would think of that

Trailer was finished some time ago mate - what an idea - a RR at home - can see me getting my afternoon kip to the tune of revving engines, and the five-year-old running the dyno...

Without putting too fine a point on it- as you well know, Nahood would probably try to whip off my goolies, and we're kinda attached to each other....

great review but now i really don't know what to spend my limited budget on.

You can get a great deal of pleasure out of handling modifications to the Fabia, sure the power increases are nice too, but if you're able to use the power the standard car offers, all is great too

Great review Bas.

Hopefully, I will be reaping the benefits of the Helix clutch & SMF, if I can find someone around here that will fit it for me!

Just had my Helix clutch & SMF fitted today.

The car feels more eager to pull when shifting up the gears. Haven't really given it full torque to see if it will handle it (I'm sure it will, no sweat).

The increased clatter at idle isn't that bad & hardly noticeable from inside the car. One thing I have noticed is a slight judder when initially taking off in first gear. It happens when you slip the clutch when setting off. Was a bit disturbing to start with.

Is this normal?

I'd have thought so

I didnt go for SMF but if ever I get a payrise that is bigger than the increase in living cost

One thing I have noticed is a slight judder when initially taking off in first gear. It happens when you slip the clutch when setting off. Was a bit disturbing to start with.

Is this normal?

I believe it is - you're getting the full peak torque pulses without any dampening effect of the old DMF. You get used to it, and it goes with higher revs.

Once you clear the 500 mile mark - give it some stick and let us know what you think of it!

Cheers

Bas

Only experienced the judder when setting off in first gear, doesn't happen any other time.

Had a play around this morning on the way to work. It gets better if I dial in a bit more revs, get the biting point & let the clutch out straight away rather than slipping it.

I let things bed in & give it some pasty!!

Sorry - just thought about what you were on about - THAT judder!. It's the clutch bedding in. ? Series of "mini slips" kinda, right?

You'll be glad to hear that it goes away pretty much 100% after your 500 miles of self-control is over.

HTH mate

Bas

Thanks Basil. I thought that would be the case.

good to know basil.

anychance of a sound bite of the clatter before i fork out my hard earned?

Scott

HOw much did the bits set you back? I've tried to draw the line but something keeps telling me to keep on modding!

HOw much did the bits set you back? I've tried to draw the line but something keeps telling me to keep on modding!

A new Helix clutch & single mass flywheel will cost around

The Peloquin ATB diff is available from the States for about

And sorry to be pedandic, but both the Quafe and Peloquins are not LSDs. An LSD uses clutch style plates whereas an automatic torque biasing diff uses helical pinions.

My gearbox (with diff installed) is being put back together very soon. There was a little issue with shims not being narrow enough to take up the required preload, but with a 0.07mm difference, a gearbox refurber I spoke to said it should be fine Apparently when it's back together, you should be able to turn the diff by hand, and it should be fairly smooth, but not too light or heavy - should be "just right" apparently. We shall see.

Then it's just a matter of swapping over the gearboxes. Nice and easy job.

Good to hear Jason! Look forward to hearing your comments on this addition to the Mongrel.....

Cheers

Bas

I reckon he'll love it You seem to have taken a shining to it yourself so I recall