Body Roll... what to do?

MisterGT · 26-08-2004, 19:20

Ok Ive had my Octy vRS for a week now and the biggest differance between it and my old Primera GT(apart from acceleration

) is body roll. The old GT, for all its faults, had a firm setup which produced little 'bounce' or roll, basically it felt more 'planted' if you get my drift. So whats the best way to get a similar feel for the Octy.....springs, shocks, struts? Finances are a little squeezed due to the purchase so wheres the best place to start? Please bear in mind that my mechanical knowledge is virtually zero so simple answers please

KLB · 26-08-2004, 20:45

I think the answer to your question is "anti roll bars". Stiffer (i.e. thicker) ones will tend to even up suspension loading (hence travel, and therefore roll) from side to side.

Uprating the front one will reduce body roll drastcally, but will tend to increase understeer. Uprating the rear one will reduce understeer, so ideally you need to uprate both at once.

Stiffness is (apparently) proportional to the fourth power of the thickness, so doubling the thickness will increase stiffness by 16 times - so you don't need a much thicker ARB to make a noticeable difference.

When you find the ideal combination please let me know, as I have been contemplating this mod. for a while, but have chickened out of actually doing it

Quinten · 26-08-2004, 21:14

Struts will help a little, suspension a lot. Can't comment on ARB's as I haven't got a clue what they are

devonutopia · 26-08-2004, 21:18

What you need is a little test of a Fabia with uprated shocks/springs to see what difference it makes

Then for the Octavia there's a very wide variety of options available for upgrading that option. I have a front strut brace too which also helps.

**TaviaRS** · 26-08-2004, 22:00

Uprate the ARBs, and the bushes. That'll cure it

kenny · 27-08-2004, 09:44

who does good ARB for the octy vRS?

***ColinD*** · 27-08-2004, 10:06

Hello Mister GT, I too had a GT...fab cars if a little underpowered for these upstart performance deisels of late.

The GT was very composed but alas I took ownership of a 4x4 before the RS so to me the GT's feel was erased immediatly and now is a distant memory. ARB and braces as the others have said will give the RS a much tighter feel.

I have wished several times that I did not let the GT go, I was robbed really, but thats life.

Welcome to the site.

MisterGT · 27-08-2004, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinD

Hello Mister GT, I too had a GT...fab cars if a little underpowered for these upstart performance deisels of late.

Agreed, good handling, nice interior, 35 HP too little

and no reasonable way to improve it unless you wanted to spend £500 for an extra 8HP !

And believe it or not but the Skoda dealership I got my Octy from had my GT for the grand total of 5 hours ! One of the workshop mechanics bought it, apparently he'd been after one for ages ! I hope it contues to go well for him (never gave me any trouble).

Anyway I digress, it looks like ARB's may be the way to start, so far Ive found 2 manufacturers, H+R and Eibach, so its off to do some more searching for costs.

Edit
The Eibach ones are 25mm, anyone know the size of the OEM ones?

**TaviaRS** · 27-08-2004, 11:14

21 Iirc

**TaviaRS** · 27-08-2004, 11:14

21 (F) and 19 (R) IIRC

MisterGT · 27-08-2004, 12:06

that was quick, thanks

and after a quick calculation, that should double the stiffness of the front and triple the rear, now all I need to do is translate that into how it actually feels

rich1068 · 27-08-2004, 15:49

Try UKMKIVs. The Eibach Octavia kit is very similar if not the same as that for the Golf.

MisterGT · 27-08-2004, 20:35

According to the Eibach home page, although the Octy 1.8T is not specifically mentioned (but all the others are

), the part number is the same as that for the Golf mkIV 1.8T, Leon 1.8 and Audi A3 (although interestingly not the A3 1.8T) .

jason · 27-08-2004, 21:33

mine is very stable,yet to get it to understeer on the road in the dry (i am trying,honest)it does have a new OE rear anti roll bar which may have helped and the lower front strut brace too.
i find the biggest problem in the octavia is the bl00dy seats,ok leather is a nice touch,and looks neat but blimey they are slippy,and the sliver(pun intended) centres are as smooth also.think its time for some non slip rubber patches on the **** of me jeans

SkodiRS · 28-08-2004, 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich1068

Try UKMKIVs. The Eibach Octavia kit is very similar if not the same as that for the Golf.

Be absolutely sure of this Rich.....I thought there was some differences in the mounting of the front ARB between RS and "normal" Octy and this may be true inter brands (Skoda, VW, Audi, Seat) and intra-models (Golf, Leon A3, Octy).

Not saying your wrong though.

rich1068 · 29-08-2004, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkodiRS

Be absolutely sure of this Rich.....I thought there was some differences in the mounting of the front ARB between RS and "normal" Octy and this may be true inter brands (Skoda, VW, Audi, Seat) and intra-models (Golf, Leon A3, Octy).

Not saying your wrong though.

I stand corrected.

The Octavia Eibach kits supplied to JBS are R32 fronts and Golf rears.

l jones · 30-08-2004, 00:29

Mister Gt,

Most Of The Body Roll Of Your Vrs Can Be Sorted By Fitting A Set Of Kw's. I Had Variant 2's, Which Cost About £550. This Is About The Same Price You'll Pay For A Pair Of Arb's Supplied And Fitted. Try And Avoid The Temptation To Lower The Car As This Will Increase The Roll Centre Of The Front Suspension And The Car Will Want To Roll More. You Need To Try And Keep The Front Lower Control Arms As Near To Parallel To The Ground As Possible For Optimum Geometry. Try This And If You Want To Fine Tune The Set Up Further, Get Yourself A Rear 28 Mm Arb. I Had A Neuspeed One, Which Has 3 Stiffness Settings. This Rear Bar Will Virtually Eliminate Any Understeer. Leave The Front Arb Alone. You Can Get A Matching 25mm Front Bar, But It Makes The Car A Bit Too Stiff In The Wet And Increases The Tendancy Of Inner Wheel Lift During Hard Cornering. This Results In Power Being Lost Through This Wheel Spinning.

Kw Variant 2's, Front Set 1 And A Half Turns, Rear 3 Quarters Of A Turn.

Neuspeed 28 Mm Rear Bar Off A Golf Mark Iv, Set On The Middle Setting. Full Stiff You Cat Get A Bit Of Lift Off Oversteer. I Liked This But Middle Setting Is Very Neutral. This Bar Is Very Easy To Fit.

£750 And Your Vrs Will Handle Spot On. Nuff Said.

MisterGT · 30-08-2004, 21:10

Thanks everyone

**TaviaRS** · 31-08-2004, 10:59

TT front & Golf rear is what you have on a RS. "Normal" ones are pure Golf.

rich1068 · 04-09-2004, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich1068

I stand corrected.

The Octavia Eibach kits supplied to JBS are R32 fronts and Golf rears.

OK, so I've finally got this right because they've been fitted today

The front is straight off an R32 (the same car which kindly donated the engine for the Golf MK2 in last months PVW if you're interested). The rear is one half of an Eibach kit.

I've only just had a run back from sunny Chesterfield and the car feels more planted, very stable but I can't really say too much as it's dual carriageway all the way back. But in about ten minutes were off to Manchester and from here that means going over the Snake

26-08-2004, 19:20	#1
MisterGT Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Okehampton Posts: 768 Thanks: 15 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Body Roll... what to do? Ok Ive had my Octy vRS for a week now and the biggest differance between it and my old Primera GT(apart from acceleration ) is body roll. The old GT, for all its faults, had a firm setup which produced little 'bounce' or roll, basically it felt more 'planted' if you get my drift. So whats the best way to get a similar feel for the Octy.....springs, shocks, struts? Finances are a little squeezed due to the purchase so wheres the best place to start? Please bear in mind that my mechanical knowledge is virtually zero so simple answers please

26-08-2004, 20:45	#2
KLB Discordian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Newport, Newport - so good the Post Office named it twice Posts: 1,962 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I think the answer to your question is "anti roll bars". Stiffer (i.e. thicker) ones will tend to even up suspension loading (hence travel, and therefore roll) from side to side. Uprating the front one will reduce body roll drastcally, but will tend to increase understeer. Uprating the rear one will reduce understeer, so ideally you need to uprate both at once. Stiffness is (apparently) proportional to the fourth power of the thickness, so doubling the thickness will increase stiffness by 16 times - so you don't need a much thicker ARB to make a noticeable difference. When you find the ideal combination please let me know, as I have been contemplating this mod. for a while, but have chickened out of actually doing it __________________ Mike

26-08-2004, 21:14	#3
Quinten playing dadsie Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: fast lane Posts: 10,021 Thanks: 19 Thanked 40 Times in 37 Posts	Struts will help a little, suspension a lot. Can't comment on ARB's as I haven't got a clue what they are __________________ Awooga!!!

26-08-2004, 21:18	#4
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,499 Thanks: 60 Thanked 308 Times in 253 Posts	What you need is a little test of a Fabia with uprated shocks/springs to see what difference it makes Then for the Octavia there's a very wide variety of options available for upgrading that option. I have a front strut brace too which also helps. __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

26-08-2004, 22:00	#5
TaviaRS Dinosaur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North of the Watford Gap Posts: 14,931 Thanks: 19 Thanked 42 Times in 38 Posts	Uprate the ARBs, and the bushes. That'll cure it __________________ A jolly sensible Mercedes E class saloon in a rather fetching bluey grey colour. No it isn't fast, no it isn't modded, and yes, it will still eat your Fabia for breakfast. Official mobile chicane for Briskoda trackdays

27-08-2004, 09:44	#6
kenny Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,795 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	who does good ARB for the octy vRS? __________________ Ive seen a lot of good things die and im in an over emotional way So please hand me the bottle I think im lonely now, and please give me direction I think the hurt has set in, and I don’t feel nothing

27-08-2004, 10:06	#7
*ColinD* Site owner Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hill & Mountains of North Wales Posts: 10,217 Thanks: 22 Thanked 138 Times in 70 Posts	Hello Mister GT, I too had a GT...fab cars if a little underpowered for these upstart performance deisels of late. The GT was very composed but alas I took ownership of a 4x4 before the RS so to me the GT's feel was erased immediatly and now is a distant memory. ARB and braces as the others have said will give the RS a much tighter feel. I have wished several times that I did not let the GT go, I was robbed really, but thats life. Welcome to the site. __________________ ColinD - 97/100 Limited Edition Octavia vRS < For Sale www.BRISKODA.net :: Site Owner. E-Mail : webmaster at briskoda dot net Got a comment to make about the site? Please feel free to use the feedback form here, we welcome your views.

27-08-2004, 11:14	#9
TaviaRS Dinosaur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North of the Watford Gap Posts: 14,931 Thanks: 19 Thanked 42 Times in 38 Posts	21 Iirc __________________ A jolly sensible Mercedes E class saloon in a rather fetching bluey grey colour. No it isn't fast, no it isn't modded, and yes, it will still eat your Fabia for breakfast. Official mobile chicane for Briskoda trackdays

27-08-2004, 11:14	#10
TaviaRS Dinosaur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North of the Watford Gap Posts: 14,931 Thanks: 19 Thanked 42 Times in 38 Posts	21 (F) and 19 (R) IIRC __________________ A jolly sensible Mercedes E class saloon in a rather fetching bluey grey colour. No it isn't fast, no it isn't modded, and yes, it will still eat your Fabia for breakfast. Official mobile chicane for Briskoda trackdays

27-08-2004, 12:06	#11
MisterGT Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Okehampton Posts: 768 Thanks: 15 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	that was quick, thanks and after a quick calculation, that should double the stiffness of the front and triple the rear, now all I need to do is translate that into how it actually feels Last edited by MisterGT; 27-08-2004 at 12:11.

27-08-2004, 15:49	#12
rich1068 Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: North Posts: 2,709 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Try UKMKIVs. The Eibach Octavia kit is very similar if not the same as that for the Golf. __________________ Rich. Skoda Octavia RS

27-08-2004, 20:35	#13
MisterGT Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Okehampton Posts: 768 Thanks: 15 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	According to the Eibach home page, although the Octy 1.8T is not specifically mentioned (but all the others are ), the part number is the same as that for the Golf mkIV 1.8T, Leon 1.8 and Audi A3 (although interestingly not the A3 1.8T) .

27-08-2004, 21:33	#14
jason Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: shropshire Posts: 1,936 Thanks: 10 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	mine is very stable,yet to get it to understeer on the road in the dry (i am trying,honest)it does have a new OE rear anti roll bar which may have helped and the lower front strut brace too. i find the biggest problem in the octavia is the bl00dy seats,ok leather is a nice touch,and looks neat but blimey they are slippy,and the sliver(pun intended) centres are as smooth also.think its time for some non slip rubber patches on the **** of me jeans

30-08-2004, 00:29	#17
l jones Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: bury, manchester Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mister Gt, Most Of The Body Roll Of Your Vrs Can Be Sorted By Fitting A Set Of Kw's. I Had Variant 2's, Which Cost About £550. This Is About The Same Price You'll Pay For A Pair Of Arb's Supplied And Fitted. Try And Avoid The Temptation To Lower The Car As This Will Increase The Roll Centre Of The Front Suspension And The Car Will Want To Roll More. You Need To Try And Keep The Front Lower Control Arms As Near To Parallel To The Ground As Possible For Optimum Geometry. Try This And If You Want To Fine Tune The Set Up Further, Get Yourself A Rear 28 Mm Arb. I Had A Neuspeed One, Which Has 3 Stiffness Settings. This Rear Bar Will Virtually Eliminate Any Understeer. Leave The Front Arb Alone. You Can Get A Matching 25mm Front Bar, But It Makes The Car A Bit Too Stiff In The Wet And Increases The Tendancy Of Inner Wheel Lift During Hard Cornering. This Results In Power Being Lost Through This Wheel Spinning. Kw Variant 2's, Front Set 1 And A Half Turns, Rear 3 Quarters Of A Turn. Neuspeed 28 Mm Rear Bar Off A Golf Mark Iv, Set On The Middle Setting. Full Stiff You Cat Get A Bit Of Lift Off Oversteer. I Liked This But Middle Setting Is Very Neutral. This Bar Is Very Easy To Fit. £750 And Your Vrs Will Handle Spot On. Nuff Said.

30-08-2004, 21:10	#18
MisterGT Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Okehampton Posts: 768 Thanks: 15 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Thanks everyone

31-08-2004, 10:59	#19
TaviaRS Dinosaur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North of the Watford Gap Posts: 14,931 Thanks: 19 Thanked 42 Times in 38 Posts	TT front & Golf rear is what you have on a RS. "Normal" ones are pure Golf. __________________ A jolly sensible Mercedes E class saloon in a rather fetching bluey grey colour. No it isn't fast, no it isn't modded, and yes, it will still eat your Fabia for breakfast. Official mobile chicane for Briskoda trackdays

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode