1.8T Engine, Suspension and Brake Tuning Questions

[Cornish Pixie]

Hi

I've got a 2002 1.8T with 34,000 miles on it, standard in every respect. I was considering selling it but TBH I actually like the old girl and as much as I would like a MK5 GTi or R32 the thought of stumping up the cash to change just seems a bit mad when my MK4 has such a low mileage and full history etc.

So going to modify it instead

My questions are.......................

A) If I want to achieve a real 190-200 bhp and use only one tuning firm (I don't have time to go to different locations and would prefer to drop the car off and pick it up when finished) what and who would you recommend in the south of the country?

B) I want to retain the standard look of the car apart from a small suspension drop, what suspension set up would you recommend? (don't need coilies or anything)

c)Brake set ups - What is the best pad and disc combo?

Cheers in advance

[Chris 'N' Jen]

A) If I want to achieve a real 190-200 bhp and use only one tuning firm (I don't have time to go to different locations and would prefer to drop the car off and pick it up when finished) what and who would you recommend in the south of the country?

Custom Code at www.custom-code.co.uk (ask about mobile unit)

B) I want to retain the standard look of the car apart from a small suspension drop, what suspension set up would you recommend? (don't need coilies or anything)

Coilovers are the best for a desent ride. you could just go for springs but word has it it may shake your teeth out, not to mention wearing out your shocks in under a year

c)Brake set ups - What is the best pad and disc combo?

dont know but im sure some have done a break upgrade. think one was maybe rhyso - memory fails as usual

EDIT: it was rhyso, here;
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=39185.0


 

[richw911]

A) If I want to achieve a real 190-200 bhp and use only one tuning firm (I don't have time to go to different locations and would prefer to drop the car off and pick it up when finished) what and who would you recommend in the south of the country?

Custom Code at www.custom-code.co.uk (ask about mobile unit)

B) I want to retain the standard look of the car apart from a small suspension drop, what suspension set up would you recommend? (don't need coilies or anything)

Coilovers are the best for a desent ride. you could just go for springs but word has it it may shake your teeth out, not to mention wearing out your shocks in under a year

c)Brake set ups - What is the best pad and disc combo?

dont know but im sure some have done a break upgrade. think one was maybe rhyso - memory fails as usual

EDIT: it was rhyso, here;
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=39185.0


 

Coilovers for best ride??  - Handling yes.   For a small drop you should get springs and shocks (go say -30mm) and keep some ride quality- eibach pro's

[l4v15]

wow your cornish! where abouts are you? im in truro. Id strongly recommend Celtic Tuning in newquay mate for your remap. £300quid all inclusive. they also do suspension kits, brakes etc, specialize in VAG. And you can ring them up and they'll meet u at morrisons or somewhere and take you down there the same day and it'll be done within an hour. really helpful people and offer you 14day money back. can have it just how you want it and they check the car and sort any other small problems out at the same time. ideal seeing as you live in cornwall. http://www.celtictuning.co.uk/vehicles/volkswagen/volkswagen-golf-MKIV-ecu-remap-chip-engine-tuning.html

Loadsa options for springs and brakes. I found some cheap ones online by a german company called TA Techniks, quite hard but well worth the money, sorted the body roll out. And on my last car (vauxhall astra coupe) i had some delphi lockhead drilled and grooved discs, again they were very cheap but easily as good quality as ebc etc, was very impressed and had them the whole time i had the car. totally sorted the brake fade etc. its these ones http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BORA-mk4-5-GOLF-TDi-BEETLE-Drilled-Grooved-Brake-Discs_W0QQitemZ120209258417QQihZ002QQcategoryZ23013QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem  maybe with come ebc red stuff pads, should do the job

[l4v15]

ah or is it wilts? maybe not cornwall, just thought because of the cornish pixie thing. well celtic tuning also do a mobile service, or theres BC tuning who sound really good, free mobile service, custom map, also £300 http://bctuning.co.uk/

[Cornish Pixie]

ah or is it wilts? maybe not cornwall, just thought because of the cornish pixie thing. well celtic tuning also do a mobile service, or theres BC tuning who sound really good, free mobile service, custom map, also £300 http://bctuning.co.uk/

Wilts now, lived in Cornwall for about 45 years and moved the detailing business up here last year because I was doing more work in the South of England than Devon and Cornwall.

Still get down to Cornwall about every three months or so though.

[Cornish Pixie]

A) If I want to achieve a real 190-200 bhp and use only one tuning firm (I don't have time to go to different locations and would prefer to drop the car off and pick it up when finished) what and who would you recommend in the south of the country?

Custom Code at www.custom-code.co.uk (ask about mobile unit)

B) I want to retain the standard look of the car apart from a small suspension drop, what suspension set up would you recommend? (don't need coilies or anything)

Coilovers are the best for a desent ride. you could just go for springs but word has it it may shake your teeth out, not to mention wearing out your shocks in under a year

c)Brake set ups - What is the best pad and disc combo?

dont know but im sure some have done a break upgrade. think one was maybe rhyso - memory fails as usual

EDIT: it was rhyso, here;
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=39185.0


 

Coilovers for best ride??  - Handling yes.   For a small drop you should get springs and shocks (go say -30mm) and keep some ride quality- eibach pro's

Cheers
Yeah don't want to go down the coilover route - The car is used as a daily driver and if possible I want to achieve a sensible handling/comfort compromise. 

[Cornish Pixie]

A) If I want to achieve a real 190-200 bhp and use only one tuning firm (I don't have time to go to different locations and would prefer to drop the car off and pick it up when finished) what and who would you recommend in the south of the country?

Custom Code at www.custom-code.co.uk (ask about mobile unit)

B) I want to retain the standard look of the car apart from a small suspension drop, what suspension set up would you recommend? (don't need coilies or anything)

Coilovers are the best for a desent ride. you could just go for springs but word has it it may shake your teeth out, not to mention wearing out your shocks in under a year

c)Brake set ups - What is the best pad and disc combo?

dont know but im sure some have done a break upgrade. think one was maybe rhyso - memory fails as usual

EDIT: it was rhyso, here;
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=39185.0


 

Cheers, they have an agent quite close to me.

Anybody else got any ideas?   

[topher]

Don't know any tuners in the south im afraid (family moved from St. Ives to Birmingham when i was still in nappies ) but a mobile custom-code does seem like the sensible option. More expensive than some but they have some of the best experience and technical backup around. I'd recommend a decent panel filter at the same time as the remap though.

With such low miles i'd imagine your shocks are still like new, so for a comfy ride a drop of 35-40mm on eibach springs will be fine.

As for brakes.. well I ran mine on OEM discs with uprated tarox pads, and i felt it was more than enough to handle the 200+ bhp the car was kicking out. If you don't want it to be a track toy, but rather just a quick daily driver, you should find a similar setup adequate.

[Chris 'N' Jen]

A) If I want to achieve a real 190-200 bhp and use only one tuning firm (I don't have time to go to different locations and would prefer to drop the car off and pick it up when finished) what and who would you recommend in the south of the country?

Custom Code at www.custom-code.co.uk (ask about mobile unit)

B) I want to retain the standard look of the car apart from a small suspension drop, what suspension set up would you recommend? (don't need coilies or anything)

Coilovers are the best for a desent ride. you could just go for springs but word has it it may shake your teeth out, not to mention wearing out your shocks in under a year

c)Brake set ups - What is the best pad and disc combo?

dont know but im sure some have done a break upgrade. think one was maybe rhyso - memory fails as usual

EDIT: it was rhyso, here;
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=39185.0


 

Coilovers for best ride??  - Handling yes.   For a small drop you should get springs and shocks (go say -30mm) and keep some ride quality- eibach pro's

I have witech coilovers on about a 40mm drop. the ride is pretty good, handling is awesome, obvioustly its bumpier than normal but its not like you lift out of the seat unless your silly about it.

but hey - personal choice in the end.