Which top mounts? - Saxperience

James93 · 3rd May 2017, 20:19

Hi all. I've got a track spec 106 GTi. Plastic windows, single seat, all polybushes Satchshift upper and lower braces cage a048s etc etc however my top mounts are standard/factory fitted. Would I benefit from solid topmounts? What do these offer over the standard ones? Worth the pennys?

Thanks

Bedford126 · 3rd May 2017, 21:17

Give kam racing a call, too many variables to start guessing at what would be best. You can't just look at top mounts without it effecting something else and starting a chain reaction.

MartinObviously · 4th May 2017, 00:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bedford126

Give kam racing a call, too many variables to start guessing at what would be best. You can't just look at top mounts without it effecting something else and starting a chain reaction.

a daisy chain perhaps?

Bedford126 · 4th May 2017, 08:01

The butterfly effect.

axsaxoman · 4th May 2017, 08:15

simple answer is probably no
you wont, notice any difference --If you fit rose jointed adjustable top mounts --then as they wear they will rattle --but usual reason for fitting them is to make castor +camber adjustable ,

James93 · 4th May 2017, 19:28

So in reality standard new top mounts will do a better job? It's used mainly as a track car so anything to help the handling around the track is a plus

James93 · 4th May 2017, 19:30

Fast forward about 70% of the way through so tires are warm etc

https://youtu.be/JdHWmje7c4Y

You can see in my video at lydden I'm having understeer even using a048 in getting serious understeer and wheelspin. I know I could probably benefit from a diff however I want to get everything handling wise ticked off the list!

axsaxoman · 5th May 2017, 10:03

the glanza was playing with you --

James93 · 5th May 2017, 19:08

The glanza had a diff for starters and brand new r888rs. Also was tuned down to a safer 240bhp and thousands thrown at it, he approached me afterwards he couldn't get away for love nor money.

sexy_gt · 7th May 2017, 20:31

Learn to be smoother with the wheel. A lot of grip lost from see sawing. Looks like steering is very light. What hot pressures are those tyres?

Kamracing sell some lovely adjustable top mounts.

Kamracing.co.uk

sexy_gt · 7th May 2017, 20:32

Also note use all the track and you can carry more speed for sure

James93 · 8th May 2017, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by sexy_gt

Learn to be smoother with the wheel. A lot of grip lost from see sawing. Looks like steering is very light. What hot pressures are those tyres?

Kamracing sell some lovely adjustable top mounts.

Kamracing.co.uk

Hot pressure was 30psi on all four corners, the track was damp so struggled to get any real heat into them. They was cooling down awfully quickly. Around brands and "better" tracks I am a lot smoother with the wheel. For some reason the car is very sketchy around lydden, doesn't help the tyres are old with irregular wear on them and do certainly need replacing - the car still has the PAS hence why it could seem so light, but I would probably benefit from removing the PAS

James93 · 8th May 2017, 10:10

If I'm honest the car would probably benefit from new boots and a setup from there. It has the Gaz Adjustable Coilovers and they haven't been setup as such! The front end is fully polybushed with the upper and lower strut braces however the rear is an iMAxle on standard bushes, could explain why the car seems sketchy and having to always correct the steering opposed to being smooth. Possibly would benefit from polybushing the rear beam also?

sexy_gt · 8th May 2017, 19:18

Standard rear bushes do have some rear steer... john/gmc may explain, being an ex citroen dealer and all...

James93 · 9th May 2017, 08:09

Could be the issue I'm having then, brands don't have much of an issue - my in car footage at brands is a lot smoother! Just at lydden constantly fighting the car to keep the arse end in check!

axsaxoman · 9th May 2017, 13:58

trying not to be too nasty -
your driving style is totally wrong for a race track and what you are doing will provoke all sorts of things in the handling of the car and is the bniggest problem to getting a faster lap --just from looking at the video i think i can see at least another 2-3 seconds a lap then add lsd +c/r g/box that will be another 4big drop in lap time
once the driving style is adjusted then someone can set the car up to get the best from it --but just chucking money at the car now is not the answer -you need to change how you drive it to start with
it don,t matter how much you spend on it --you need to adjust the "nut behind the steering wheel to get the best from it"
I did send you a private message offering to help you -.but you decided not to take me up on --so go spend some money with a race driver for tution

axsaxoman · 9th May 2017, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by James93

The glanza had a diff for starters and brand new r888rs. Also was tuned down to a safer 240bhp and thousands thrown at it, he approached me afterwards he couldn't get away for love nor money.

watch your vid again --he pulls in you pass him --then he just drives past you a bit later -so if he is saying he couldn,t loose you --then he also is seriously needs some tution -to drive by you like that is a BIG dif in bhp --so he should have been able to just drive away every straight

James93 · 10th May 2017, 17:36

At the end of the day we're out there to have some fun, not competing at any level. The starlet is 240bhp. As far as I know fully forged diff etc it's a big spec build tamed down as it was just too unreliable. He was running over 300bhp at previous times, I have read and replied to your PM the same day, been very busy with work so haven't had chance to call. As I said in previous posts the car is very lively at lydden, understeer oversteer constantly, always having to correct th car which the GoPro doesn't pick up but you can feel the car all over the place when behind the wheel. at brands etc i am a hell of a lot smoother through the session, if you have ever driven lydden the surface is awful possibly contributing to how the car is handling, granted I'm not a racing driver not by a country mile however I am out there to enjoy myself at a low budget, hence the car. If I had all the money I would spend it on tuition and alot more seat time, I only really get chance to go out on the track a couple of times per year unfortunately. I will take you up on the offer when I get chance to call, it's nothing personal why I haven't called, I start work at 5am, been finishing a lot later than I want to be and eating my dinner and off to bed, however when I get a quiet day (slight possibility Friday) I will give you a call fella

James93 · 10th May 2017, 17:45

If you pop onto my channel via the link I shared at lydden there a brands hatch video, you can see the car is a lot more comfortable so to say around brands and much smoother

KamRacing · 26th May 2017, 10:59

John and Stew are correct. Once you balance the car better with less steering action and better downshifts you will see how the car is truly reacting. You hit the limiter mid corner a lot and theres lots of weight transfer forward as you drop a cog and the car slows via the gearbox rather than the brakes. Next track day slow down a bit, concentrate on being smooth, find a line and hold the car steady through the corner, try a higher gear or practise heel/toe so you can shift better in the braking zone rather than before. You will then feel how the car is reacting to the corners rather than reacting to your input.
You can then start to look at tyre wear and temperatures across the tyre to see whether some extra camber is needed.