TTigg's SHS review

[TTigg]

Firstly thanks go to Nathan (M Power This) for installing this for me with some help. Nathan's installed quite a few of these sets up and once you've seen it done it's really pretty easy to do. (just remember to triple check all the torque settings afterwards)

OK so I haven't really had chance to push it yet (or take out the rear foam pads) but here are the only 2 decent comparison pics I have.

Before SHS

Stock Ride Height / Handling
Handling
I believe that both the R32 and 3.2 TT handle very well in the twisties straight from the factory. There is some body roll but nothing too excessive until you begin to toss em around with speed. ie when you begin to cross the boundaries and push the cars hard the roll becomes more apparent. I had previously taken my 3.2 TT to Willow Springs (big track) but was very disappointed in the initial results. First few laps were major body roll and I honestly lost my balls.

I had gone on a very good canyon run with my WCTT crew prior to installing the SHS and although the car handled very well I did notice major body roll when throwing her around in the tighter corners.

Ride Height
Although I believe the R32 sits slightly lower than the 3.2 TT they both have increased ground clearance from their european counterparts. Just remember that in Europe the R32 sits on VW Racing Shocks and Springs and over in the US it sits on MONROE shocks (same for the TT). Why AoA or VWoA would put such shocks on a sports car is beyond my imagination!

Lowered Ride Height / Handling
Handling
WoW! much much better than stock. The body roll has gone and the car feels so much more responsive in the twisties and on the freeways etc. When I took the car for her 1st run in the canyons I had no problems with my confidence and had (in my mind) gotten back to the same type of confidence I had with my 01 TT Roadster. I was throwing the R around the turns almost effortlessly. Yes I had some understeer moments but these can be greatly helped with a nice 22mm swaybar (which I will be getting @ some point soon)

Whilst I was not trying to race anyone and I also had the upper hand of knowing the road I had lost sight of the main group of Rs in a very short time. The car was handling just like I wanted it to, fast, safe n solid. Turn is is much much better and just the overall feeling of the car has improved greatly. The rest of the group began to catch me up soon enough and I had some great comments from those were behind me saying how great the car looked, how great it seems to push in and out of the turns, no roll etc etc etc.

Ride Height
Well this is the sticky point. The SHS doesn't (I don't think) drop to the advertised levels by HPA (being 35mm) as I have the back all the way down and I think I'm at about 25mm. I have yet to try removing the foam pads to see if this settles it (as the pads are approx 10mm thick!) I am still playing with the front but I'm sure I'm just about there.

When I purchased this kit it was because I wanted the control over the height and because I'd heard so many great things about the KW shocks and how great the ride felt. My previous set up on my TT Roadster was Bilstein Shocks and Eibach Springs. This was a favorite with the TT crowd and while the handling was great the ride was very stiff (compared to stock)

It's also very hard to give an opinion on these setups because everyone is different. However, I hope the above helps in some ways for those sitting on the fence regarding this (or any other for that matter) suspension changes.

Summary
- love the SHS, makes the car feel so much better
- I have the ability (if I choose) to raise to stock ride height
- I was impressed with HPA and have been following the company closely for some time
- I was even more impressed (happy) with the intro price !
- I've lost the 4x4 look (even though I am not slammed)
- I would never recommend driving a sports car of any caliber on bloody Monroe shocks!

Here is a pic after SHS

[Nebby]

Quote, originally posted by TTigg »

Firstly thanks go to Nathan (M Power This) for installing this for me with some help. Nathan's installed quite a few of these sets up and once you've seen it done it's really pretty easy to do. (just remember to triple check all the torque settings afterwards)

So TTigg... does this mean you and Nathan can help me install mine? I did help Nate sell a few cars. I guess I should jump at the introductory price rather than order up the HIDs for now. Argh! I promised myself I wouldn't mod the car for 30K miles... oh well, I'm 2K in and here we go!!!

[TTigg]

Quote, originally posted by nebuchadnezzar »

So TTigg... does this mean you and Nathan can help me install mine?

I don't see any reason why not, drop Nathan a line I'm sure he'd like to make extra money

Quote, originally posted by nebuchadnezzar »

Argh! I promised myself I wouldn't mod the car for 30K miles... oh well, I'm 2K in and here we go!!!

LOL I'd be impressed if you resited mods for 30k miles - once you begin it's non-stop

[dads-R32]

How easy / hard is it to move from stock ride height to lowered ride height?

[vr6gtispeed]

Thoes wheels are hot. I want them for my R32.

[TTigg]

Quote, originally posted by dads-R32 »

How easy / hard is it to move from stock ride height to lowered ride height?

Fronts = easy
Jack up each side which gives you access to the lock screw so you can then turn the strut to adjust the height
Rears = slightly harder
Jack up the rear from the center frame mount (so you can do both wheels @ once) Then with wheels removed adjust the height of the rear springs

Modified by TTigg at 6:49 PM 5-25-2004

[TTigg]

Quote, originally posted by vr6gtispeed »

Thoes wheels are hot. I want them for my R32.

Thanks

[Steif]

Also how is the ride comfort with the SHS on the R32 compared to stock?


Modified by Steif at 8:27 PM 5-25-2004

[Daemon42]

Quote, originally posted by Steif »

Also how is the ride comfort with the SHS on the R32 compared to stock?

Ride quality is so subjective. I also think it depends a lot on the actual
nature of the roads you drive on. Someone in San Diego said stock
was a 6.5 on a scale of 1-10 and HPA SHS was 6. But then I know what
SD roads look like. They're generally pretty smooth compared to say
Colorado roads which often have a lot of ice heaves, ruts, cracks,
and rocks. Me, I put stock ride comfort at about 8 (compared to
other sports cars, not to Buick Regal), and SHS comfort at about a 6.
It's never harsh, it'll soak up sharp bumps with ease, but you will feel
road undulations (such as those created by ice heaves) quite a bit more.
It feels very connected to the road.

ian

[#466gti]

Quote, originally posted by Daemon42 »

It feels very connected to the road.

which is how a german bred sports car should feel from the factory
cant wait for mine to come in. got the swaybar lastnight, very nice peice of work.

[#466gti]

whats this foam pad you were talkin about? is it a peice that is supposed to be in there? or is it something that is not really needed?..

i just wanna know so when i go to install mine.

[Daemon42]

There's a foam pad at the top of the stock spring between it and the chassis.
I would have installed it with the SHS as otherwise the adjustable hat sits
directly on the metal of the chassis (and creaks a little), but I could see no
way to get that pad to fit. I recall someone suggesting that it be trimmed
somehow, but it seemed to me that it'd have to be trimmed to virtually nothing
to fit at all.

ian

[#466gti]

ah thanks for clarifying that.

[TTigg]

Yep I left mine off but when I discovered a nasty noise I put them back on. I couldn't really trim them well so they are kind of stuffed up in there. Turns out the noise was the passenger side swaybar bolt that had worked loose.

So this weekend perhaps I am going to get the pads removed and see how the rear settles then.

[M this 1!]

since it's similar to my car, you can add gasket sealant to insulate it from being a metal on metal contact. this stops any noise and is invisible to the eye. just wear latex gloves

[TTigg]

Quote, originally posted by M this 1! »

since it's similar to my car, you can add gasket sealant to insulate it from being a metal on metal contact. this stops any noise and is invisible to the eye. just wear latex gloves

Now there is an idea - thanks Nate. When I pop by Olly's shop we'll do this as it will be a much cleaner way. Then the rears will settle down by about another 5-10mm (estimate) and I'll then adjust then fronts to match.

[#466gti]

Quote, originally posted by TTigg »

Now there is an idea - thanks Nate. When I pop by Olly's shop we'll do this as it will be a much cleaner way. Then the rears will settle down by about another 5-10mm (estimate) and I'll then adjust then fronts to match.

im interested about how this works out. let me know!

[vwaudienthusiast]

HOLY TOLEDO BATMAN! That is GORGEOUS! I've been ANTI-MOD until today. Those wheels are awesome.

[TTigg]

Quote, originally posted by vwaudienthusiast »

HOLY TOLEDO BATMAN! That is GORGEOUS! I've been ANTI-MOD until today. Those wheels are awesome.

Thanks!

[HPA motorsports 1]

That car is the Hammer in Black! Damm, I just switched to the CH after I saw your ride. Thanks for the killer review of our products.

[demastr32]

As soon as I see TTigg, I can't wait to see and read the post! One bmp to another, you have impeccable taste! Now, let me go wipe the drool off the corners of my mouth!

[TTigg]

Quote, originally posted by HPA motorsports 1 »

That car is the Hammer in Black! Damm, I just switched to the CH after I saw your ride. Thanks for the killer review of our products.

Now that's a compliment thanks I had actually noticed the CHs on your new (US Spec) R. Wonder how many other noticed your now running a US R32 (no HIDs, no HID washers etc)

Keep up the great work

[TTigg]

Quote, originally posted by demastr32 »

As soon as I see TTigg, I can't wait to see and read the post! One bmp to another, you have impeccable taste! Now, let me go wipe the drool off the corners of my mouth!

Thanks demast32. I thought HPAs was a compliment (them getting CHs too) but it's nice to know both the posts and what I am doing is being appreciated.

I'm currently working on getting the OEM NAV (MFD) installed but the install is being delayed as I'm waiting to get all the details together. Why? because not only am I going to install the Nav+ in my R32 I'm going to make a document (inc pics) which will end up as a "how to" so others will be able to do the install much easier.

BTW 1000's of pictures in my Fotki

[George@DUBWARS]

Quote, originally posted by TTigg »

I'm currently working on getting the OEM NAV (MFD) installed but the install is being delayed as I'm waiting to get all the details together. Why? because not only am I going to install the Nav+ in my R32 I'm going to make a document (inc pics) which will end up as a "how to" so others will be able to do the install much easier.

You mean to tell me that puppy is not plug and play?

[TTigg]

Quote, originally posted by George@DUBWARS »

You mean to tell me that puppy is not plug and play?

Not for double din George. I think from what I see it's pretty easy but then I've messed around before with Stereos. Figure I'll take the time with some help from Nick (East Coast) who's done it also (double din - MFD)

[AlexiGTIVR6]

Quote, originally posted by TTigg »

Wonder how many other noticed your now running a US R32 (no HIDs, no HID washers etc) Keep up the great work

The car at the ND show actually is not our shop car, It belongs to a customer in sunny Florida

[.:1of1500:.]

excuse my ignorance, but what does SHS stand for?

[#466gti]

Sport Handling System

anyone out there bored today? know how to install this crap? wanna help me?

my friend who was going to help me (has all the right tools and equipment) decided to flake out.