2012 TDi suspension oddity...

[meboice]

I've put about 4,300 miles on my new TDi and although I like this car very much it seems to posses a fair amount of front and rear bumpsteer. Has anyone else noticed this? I know this car has the 'sport suspension' but beyond that I've no idea what else VW changed...or didn't. I am comparing this to my old 05 JCW Mini which had fairly impeccable toe control...despite the horrid ride.

[Durock]

I've put about 4,300 miles on my new TDi .... it seems to posses a fair amount of front and rear bumpsteer.

My 12 Golf TDi came equipped with an excess amount of bump steer, especially at the rear wheels. When ever I catch a steel lined pot hole with one rear tire the back end did this "wiggle" kind of dance. Very disconcerting to me as I knew it should not be there. Funny enough, no one else in the car seem to notice it.

I installed the Drive Gear springs this past Saturday and have been trying to remember if it still has the pothole wiggle. Well, I don't remember it happening, but that doesn't mean it hasn't. I'm going to have to test this today. Good excuse to get out and drive on this holiday, if there ever was one.

Let's see, full tank of fuel, no particular destination, north Fl. is a breading ground for steel lined potholes, this should be easy.

[meboice]

you are right, it is very prominent in the rear but it also shows up on the front wheels on occasion. I've been crossing a bridge a lot lately that has a patch work of filled potholes and the car simple jumps all over. And although I hate to keep comparing, the Mini was absolutely unfazed by it all. I may ask a friend to take his 2011 GTi out for a spin for a comparison.

[Durock]

Well, it looks like the Drive Gear springs cured the "wiggle". I went for a 130'sh mile drive and no wiggle. I've been looking for the wiggle, even hitting pot holes on purpose, and it's gone. I going to take some after pics to see how the control arm angles may have changed. I'll have to think about what else may have changed that could have cured this problem.

In the mean time, a set if these springs may cure your wiggle too.

I'll update you next week with what I find.

[meboice]

...yes, if the car is lower the toe curve may be better...I simply find this really odd though.

[Charlie84]

...yes, if the car is lower the toe curve may be better...I simply find this really odd though.

Doesn't lowering a car typically result in increased, not decreased, bump-steer?

Anyway, I've noticed a certain about of bump steer on my Golf 2.5. It's fairly subtle, not something the average person would ever notice, but it's definitely there.

FYI, Whiteline makes an anti-bump-steer kit. I don't have any experience with it whatsoever, but it looks interesting (and pricey):

http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_..._number=KCA314

[meboice]

It really depends...up front the tie rods have to point to the instant centers or we get bumpsteer. some cars are un-affected by minor ride height adjustments while other are not.

In the rear of this car...I've no idea...it's a multi-link setup and its toe curve may not be optimized for straight ahead driving.