New car with a few problems

[MkII16v]

Hi all
Just bought a 1988 16v as a competition/track car. I think it's the unofficial Campaign special edition as it's Monza blue which I've never seen before has red/smoked rear lights and striped seats/door cards.
Anyway to the problems:
1. The rear axle has been replaced with a standard one as I can't see any sign of an inbuilt anti roll bar. So the question is how much difference will this make to the handling and is the 16v axle the same as the GTi 8v?
2. It has a Magnex manifold and system but the join between them leaks as the clamp has coroded. What is the best permanent fix for this, cut a length out and fit a flexible ss section?
3. The suspension is a full Gmax kit with extra lowering at the front. Does anyone have experience of this set up for track/competition use? It seems a bit firm with 16" wheels for the crap roads here but if it's great on the track I'll put up with it.
4. The brake pedal is close to the floor before it works. It has 280mm Corrado discs and calipers up front and MK111 calipers at the back. The master cylinder is from a late MK11 19mm? Pumping the brakes makes no difference so I don't think it's air in the system. Any suggestions?
Cheers
Alec

[Gambit]

1. you cant see the in the rear anti roll bar by jacking the car and looking from the rear

you need to jack the car then look at the rear beam from looking just in front of the rear wheel (if you get my jist)

if it has rear disks ill guarantee it has the rear ARB.

2. you mean where the manifold/downpipe joins the centre section?

how badly rusted? worst comes to the worst you could cut the join out then make a sheath to join it again i have this on mine and have no probs

3. GMAX is a budget suspension kit (i.e. crap), is it just springs or shox also?

i run Eibach springs (25mm) raceland shox & Eibach Anti Roll Bars's, the handling is firm but comfort is not comprised, and there is naff all body roll in the car

personally i wouldnt run 16" wheels, id stick to 15's both for track & road

4. does it use braided hoses? this will give a better pedal feel, also i think the late 16v master cylinder is 21mm


at least you bought a 16v

Craig

[MkII16v]

Thanks for the reply Craig.
1.The back axle is definitely empty of arb. The stub axles are bolted on so I guess you could put drums or discs on any axle. Is the 8v GTi axle the same though, I can get one of those easy enough but tracking down a 16v could be harder.
2. Yes at that join. Any repair would have to be flexible wouldn't it? The engine movement has to be allowed for somewhere.
3. That's pretty much what I thought myself. I'll save up for a Bilstein kit, not the cheapo one, as I had this on my MK1 and it was fantastic. I'm trying to find some cheap 15" alloys or find some 14" which will fit over 280mm discs.
4. Braided hoses throughout. Pedal feel is fine it's just that the pedal doesn't do anything until it's near the floor. Crap for heel and toeing.
Thanks again
Alec

[VeeDubGTI16v]

i think even with 15"s you still have to file the calliper a bit to fit 280mm discs, and they definately dont fit behind 14"s

[bishthefish]

Could be a dodgy master cylinder if the brakes are poo ?

[Gambit]

just on point 2.

you can get away with just a sheath if there is a flex joint in the downpipe just below the manifold, std downpipes have these but im not sure about the magnex item

also, if its magnex then surely its stainless steel and shouldnt have corroded