Our MQB roll center kits INCREASE FRONT GRIP. The final result is less roll, superior weight transfer, sharpened steering, and improved contact patch. This = SPEED.
Chassis engineers will originally set the roll center just above ground level. However, an aggressively lowered vehicle may reposition it several inches underground. This = boring SLOW understeer. The magazine-look is compelling while track stats expose WEAKNESS.
Roll center is a virtual point at which the chassis interacts with the center of gravity to create weight transfer and roll motion. MacPherson strut suspensions are especially sensitive due to lack of an upper control arm. The strut top mount itself serves this function and the angles involved makes the front end geometricallly sensitive to lowering.
"The Problem Occurs When You Lower The MacPherson Strut Suspension Too Far."
With the roll center below ground height more weight is transferred via the springs (likewise raising the roll center reduces weight transfer through the springs and increases weight transfer through sprung mass). This makes body roll more pronounced and in turn increases the leverage against the lower roll center, making the instantaneous center move well outside the vehicle causing even more weight transfer and roll.
Eventually the car will “fall over” onto the outside front wheel. The tires limits of grip will now have been breached, no more weight transfer can occur. To the driver this is a very frustrating feeling, quite often on a front wheel drive car the rear inside wheel will now be airborne, and the car just understeers relentlessly.
Fixes:
- Keep the lowering to an optimal level to ensure the ball joint pivot point is not above the centerline from the inboard mounting point.
- Fabricate a custom subframe that moves the inboard mounting points upwards or fabricate a ball joint extender.
- Add this extended ball joint system and be DONE.
In summary, if you want your extremely lowered MQB to handle, then you must fix the subsequent geometry problems head on. It's either that or understeer off the racing line (or road and into a curb).
