Passat Handling

[guyg]

Hi All

Not sure if this post should be here or tuning - any chassis experts out there?

I have a 2001 130PD SE and have always found the handling to be a little too pitchy for my taste - the grip and steering are good, I think the main problem is too much body roll.

I bought the car with 60k and it is now at 100k. The shocks still seem pretty stiff, if I push a wing down, it just comes back to rest with no discernable bounce.

Would stiffer shocks/springs help or would I be better off with a stiffer anti-roll bar?

Cheers,

Guy

[iben]

Cant help that much, I have a 130 TDI Estate Sport with I believe has a lowered suspension, it seems to handle OK although will understeer if pushed too hard. The downside with the lowered suspension is ride quailty, it tends to feel every little bump on the road and and ride height, I sometimes flinch when I hear the car scrapping on the surface over some speed ramps and poorly designed driveways etc.
As a thought, Years ago I have a Fiat Estate, it was a great car believe it or not, but it handled like a pig, especially in the wet, very unstable at speed and the back end was a complete Bars**** when braking, always wanting to 'overtake the front'.
I put directional tread tyres on the thing and it was much better, I now use Toyo's on my Passat. I dont get any problems with handling and since I fitted them the Traction Control Light flashes much less than it use too. The last set lasted nearly 20,000 miles which I didnt think was too bad.

Regards

Ian

[carl s]

The SE seems to be renowned in the press for smooth if a little spongy handling. A lot of people on the Golf / Audi / Skoda forums seem to be using the new Koni FSD shocks. They're supposed to be adaptive and run smooth over the little bumps & ridges that traditionaly unsettle a sport suspension, but harden up in the corners. If you're prepared to spend the money then maybe a set of standard sport springs with the FSD shocks might be what you're looking for. They're designed to run at manufacturers ride hieght which is a definite bonus. I think they're about £400 -ish a set + fitting.

[r1ytm]

I got a B5 SET 20V I thought the handling was good but felt it could be better so i dropped it by 40mm, i only changed the springs not the shocks, enlarged the 15"s to 235/40/18 front and 245/40/18 rear and yes hell of a difference. looks nice aswell