Lowering springs for racing advice

[cozmcrae - MK4 Golf]

Hello chaps and chapettes

I have a bit of a financial dilemma with getting the cheapest suspension setup for a budget 6 hour endurance race. Basically, my team and I are building the cheapest race car (sort of) for as little money as possible. I'm confident it will be some sort of VAG 1.9tdi but my problem is I need a stiff suspension setup. I did a similar 4 hour race in March and used some Maxpeedingrods Chinese coilovers and they were utter ste. I know a set of used coilovers from a decent company would be the best shout but I kind of doubt I can find some. What I am thinking is a set of stiff lowering springs and shocks that are compatible with the spring rate. The budget is realistically £200, so think 24 hours of Lemons but without the "safety" components loophole.

Does anyone have any experience doing track days/racing with seriously cheap setups like this?

[slater]

The coilovers but with stiffer springs? That's kind of the point of coilovers

[cozmcrae - MK4 Golf]

No, stiffer springs and some sort of uprated standard shocks. Either used lowering springs or springs from another car and new, nicer shocks were what I was thinking. Coilovers are to expensive for this.

[fulvia1436]

On those budget constraints, I'd cut the coils down, and get some adjustable AVOs @ about £90 a corner

[welshpug]

honestly, forget the coilovers etc, stick a set of whiteline or eibach anti roll bars on it, spend the rest on the tyres, unless the existing stuff is shagged.

[cozmcrae - MK4 Golf]

Jun 10, 2023 14:52:28 GMT welshpug said:

honestly, forget the coilovers etc, stick a set of whiteline or eibach anti roll bars on it, spend the rest on the tyres, unless the existing stuff is shagged.

Tyres have been factored in already. I've been looking into the idea of doubling up the anti roll bar.

[welshpug]

Any upgrade ive seen on the rear is an extra bolt on as the original one is welded in the middle of the beam.

[v8ian]

Antiroll bar is a bit of a Nono for me without doing the testing, because not only will the ARB cause understeer or oversteer, it could make it extremely spiteful on liftoff in a corner

[welshpug]

they're well proven, rear roll bar as standard is almost negligible.


anyway, who the hell lifts off mid corner?!

[andyborris]

Jun 11, 2023 13:12:33 GMT welshpug said:

they're well proven, rear roll bar as standard is almost negligible.


anyway, who the hell lifts off mid corner?!

Some-one who enters one way too fast!

[bmw2101]

try to find a boy racer car for sale with coil overs on it already?

Also, what about axel straps? that will limit the body roll and not make it as snappy?

[steveg]

Depends what the car is to some extent. If it's a base model then parts from a more sporty version may help. Cut coils can work provided they are located in the spring platforms Ok, if you are stripping the interior out standard cut springs and some decent standard shocks will be better than standard worn out ones.