Wheel spin

[mikeness]

I've got a Unitronic chipped GLI 6 speed manual with a CAI. The wheel spin i get, not only in the takeoff, but even in second gear is killing me. And before you say I can't shift, what I mean is that ill be at 2500 rpm then decide to gun it and I'm constantly dealing with my tires spinning. Any one with the best advice to cut it down?

[Kevins19]

Heh, I was gonna reply with a whitty comment about learning to shift until I read further. :P

Well, I take it you checked tire wear and tire pressure. What size wheels do you have if they aren't stock. I'm still on 15" steelies on my Rabbit so my front wheels break loose pretty easily if I'm not paying attention. Go to some out of the way location (empty parking lot, race track, etc) and test it. launching at different RPM's just to make sure things are ok. On public roads there is always gravel, dust, other stuff all over the roads at intersections. Maybe going to a more controlled environment will help you tell if its the car or just the roads your driving on.

I'm not sure what else off hand.

There is only so much you can do having 200+ HP on a front wheel drive car.

[Straz85]

The only thing that will really help is stickier tires. It's not abnormal to have a lot of wheel spin in a FWD car with ~260hp (crank). Just don't give it WOT in 1st and 2nd and your tires won't spin. I had the same thing in my GTI when I first got GIAC, but I quickly adapted and realized how much throttle I can give it.

[ARRRRRRRR32]

#1. throttle modulation
#2. ???
#3. PROFIT

seriously though, if you find yourself losing traction in 1st and sometimes 2nd (not surprising, relatively high horsepower, fwd car) just dont floor it so much. its pretty simple.

thats probably the best thing to learn unless you want to get some real gummy tires and just replace them way too often...

[Straz85]

I'm not sure if there's anything out right now to let you control boost per gear, that's an option though. I know if I could do that I'd probably do:

1st: 12 PSI
2nd: 15 PSI
3rd-6th: Full boost (21 PSI)

[ms]

take it easy man

[mikeness]

Well I found a relatively simple solution... I just installed the Vogtland 50mm springs with Koni shocks. Wheel spin off the line is still there, but very controllable. The spin in second gear though, is nearly inexistent. Understeer has been reduced dramatically, and accelerating out of the turn is no longer an issue.

In other words, its a completely different car with a simple mod and I would recommend it as much as i would a chip. These results might have been obvious, but since no one here suggest it as a solution to reduce wheel spin, I thought I'd post my results...

[GTIboarder]

Originally Posted by mikeness

Well I found a relatively simple solution... I just installed the Vogtland 50mm springs with Koni shocks. Wheel spin off the line is still there, but very controllable. The spin in second gear though, is nearly inexistent. Understeer has been reduced dramatically, and accelerating out of the turn is no longer an issue.

In other words, its a completely different car with a simple mod and I would recommend it as much as i would a chip. These results might have been obvious, but since no one here suggest it as a solution to reduce wheel spin, I thought I'd post my results...

that definitely makes sense; stiffen up the back, the front doesnt raise up and you got more traction. how stiff do you have the Koni's adjusted in the back?

I also have Vogtland springs and Koni's are still on my list of things to do