Have the subframes from the various cars been measured between the front wishbone mountings? Or is this assumed? I know the subframes vary with age, changes in mountings for engine etc but do the distances stay the same? A small change would alter track and wheelbase. Just thinking aloud as the track in the mk3 alters by 21mm but the driveshafts are 19mm making a small difference.
Yep just read the thread, many thanks. Well all this w ork puts slot of questions to bed. Well done all involved
What's the benefit in widetracking , as felt from the driver's seat? Is it something you'd notice only when hammering along on a track , or is it something that would make the car nicer on back roads? And , unless I'm as thick as I suspect , is it the case that GTIs are Narrower at the rear than boggo models? The CL listed at 1376mm? Why so?
Reasons to do it: 1) Aesthetics (aka 'stance' ) 2) Centre of gravity versus weight transfer And I suppose because you can, percevied upgrade from later models and all that. Quite where it started in VW circles, I don't know. Wheel spacers are nothing new, but all I remember was rally cars in the mid '90s being wide tracked, and if you look back in time, they all were made wider for tarmac. But by the time you got to 1997, the Megane kit cars were getting too wide for the lanes in Ireland. Anyway, I digress. Really our applications are B-road and track day / race.
Im wide tracking at the moment but i dont like the mk3 anti roll bar with the little links on the end wich bolt onto a rather flimsey bent tab on the wishbone. so my question is can you use mk3 (Think 4 stud wishbones) and the anti roll bar wich is the same as mk2 these are bolted further into the wishbone with a more substancial link hope this comes accross right, the picture below is the type i want to use.
From your description of the anti-rollbar and little drop links it sounds like you are using 5 stud parts from a mk3 GTI. If this is the case then swapping only the wishbone and anti-rollbar for a mk3 4 stud setup will not work with the 5 stud uprights / hubs. This is because the balljoints are further forward on the 5 stud arrangement. The 3 bottom balljoint mounting holes are slightly different bolt spacings too. You could get a male and female rose joint and make your own drop links for the 5 stud type arb.
use passat B4 5 stud wishbones, they have 5 stud fixing on the end so work on 5stud bearing carriers, and use MK2/3 Golf 4 stud wishbone fixings
Contemplating a change to 5 stud as I will have all the bits shortly. I currently run Passat 4 stud wide track. I will be getting Golf Mk3 5 stud wide track parts. If I've read the chart correctly, I need to do the following: Swap hubs for 5 stud versions. Change outer CV on drive shaft. Keep the actual drive shaft. I'm using tubular wishbones, so I don't need to change them, or the ball joint. That's it?
I've just checked ETKA, 2 listed on the passat 1H0 407 365 for the VR6, AAA/ABF/AFN engines on a '95 , same part being listed on golf VR6's & other engine codes that would tally with wide track setup (PR 2E1 - Plus suspension)
I thought they were straight up, but looks like they're the same according to Chris. I'll check next time I can see. So apart from the hubs, outer CVs and maybe ball joints, that's it?
Do your wishbones have provision to adjust castor? The 5 stud wishbones sit further forward compared to 4 straight up ball joint wishbones (this also depends on your ball joint and may not be a problem).
if your bones are for 4 stud setup then you need to change them, or deal with the change in castor. the other option is press out the hub from the 5 stud bearing carriers and fit them to yourt old bearing carriers. then either redrill discs or fit early passat vr6 discs if you have 280s the passat 5 stud wishbones are different on the later models, they have the offset balljoint as per mk3 but use 4 stud roll bar fitting. on the early passat vr6 they use 4 stud wishbones and bearing carriers but with a 5 stud hub, hence the early passat vr6 specific 280mm disc that works 1H0 407 365 ball joint is only fitted to the later passat 5 stud with the mk3 5 stud bearing carriers
As above, I'm using tubular wishbones, so they can be ignored. So it looks like hubs, outer CVs and possibly ball joints. I'll see what happens when it's together and the caster is set. Just to confirm the driveshafts are OK with the new outer CV length wise?
The ball joint hole spacing differs from 4 stud to 5 stud you may need to mod your wishbones to accommodate the 5 stud ball joints. Also check how much castor adjustment you ave in those wishbones, you don't want to over stretch them leaving only minimal threads in Rose joints - as I say may not be an issue but something to check. Think the 5 stud ball joint sits over 10mm further to the front of the car.
Edit to my above, the 5 stud ball joint sits around 18/19mm forward of the hub centreline, think the 4 stud ball joint is near central. Therefore your wishbones will need to be able to move the ball joint 18/19 forward otherwise, A you want gain he caster benefit and B the wheel will sit further back in the arch.
That I didn't know. Bu99er. There is loads of caster ajustment available, I'm currently running 5*. There is more adjustment available on the arms, but the wheel won't go any further forward in the arch. Hopefully there'll be enough with the 4 stud ball joint, but we'll have to see.