Mollox Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Hello, Has anyone had this mod done to their 'classic' S3? If so, what do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Got R32 roll bars front and rear, Ed/Andy from APS suggested the defcon mod would be something to consider when the wishbone bushes needed replacement. Must be viable for them to suggest it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted October 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Have they made much difference? Ill find out next week as it's having a rather long list of maintenance issues sorted first Looking forward to seeing exactly what difference it will all make Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Have they made much difference? Ill find out next week as it's having a rather long list of maintenance issues sorted first Looking forward to seeing exactly what difference it will all make Already been there with maintenance lists! The R32 Bars definitely tightened up the handling and are a good match to the optional quattro GmbH suspension fitted to my S3. They have been on the car for well over a year now. I have also since had the top mounts replaced to pass the MOT, so its pretty much become the norm. Waks Wide Web Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingermouse Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 also have the R32 ARBs on mine had then with std suspension and uprated billys and h&r`s now feels really good. Advantage with R32 ones is the ARB isn`t sleved as with the std one and the sleves split. Don`t know about bushes as I stick with the std ones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted November 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Well, had the kit fitted and bit of a mixed report so far... The car definitely feels better for them - turn in is much more incisive, cornering is flatter and it feels good. However, since the changes, my front end grip seems to run out much sooner. So its all good up until I break traction at the front - this seems to happen a) sooner and b) much more dramatically. Turn in hard into a slow speed corner and the front will wash out relatively quickly and under acceleration, I'm getting ESP lights where I've never seen them before - e.g. part-throttle in 1st and, yesterday, incredibly 2nd! That's never happened before. I also got wheelspin in 4th yesterday but that was ice-related So, I need to have another look at the setup - will get the parts checked over, do a visual on tyres and pressures etc but need to find out what's wrong. One thing I am wondering is whether changing the rear shocks has done anything...the fronts were apparently OK (but also original) so that could be one thing that's upset the balance. The R32 ARBs and the Defcon bushes appear to have the potential to be a very positive mod but at the moment something just isn't right and I need to work out what that is before I crash it - fishtailing in the snow on the M25 yesterday was NOT fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Have you changed the front shocks as well? Also, did you change the front ARB for a thicker one. If you've fitted front and rear R32 ARBs, all you'll be doing is inheriting the horrendous understeer the Mk4 R32 has in standard form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted November 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Erm, front shocks are original - as apparently they were fine but its got me thinking. Horrendous understeer? Apparently its an upgrade for the S3!! Plus, they're 4mm thicker (I think) than the standard S3 so they should be reducing understeer, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 I would replace the fronts as a matter of course if it were me. If you upgrade the front and rear ARBs at the same time, all you'll do is reduce roll a bit, you won't reduce understeer. If you want to get rid of as much as you can, then only upgrade the rear - but removing the front ARB you've just put on is a PITA because you've got to drop the sub-frame! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingermouse Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 i did rear r32 arb first and this made the rear end a little light at speed so then did the front one and it felt std again but with less roll. I have since fitted H&R springs and billys and now the car handles great. If I went back to 17`s im sure it would feel just as smooth as a std S3 but handle right. did you have the geometry checked after fitting the front arb??? I think they will have but its worth a question as they have to remove the front sub frame to fit the front arb. So if you wheel alignment is out this may be why the car feels strange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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