The MacPherson strut front suspension layout on the VWG ‘A5’ platform cars (such as Golf 5, 6, Scirocco, A3, S3, Leon, Octavia) is a common design. Although it is a popular choice for manufacturers, due to its simplicity and low manufacturing cost, the standard design has a few disadvantages when it comes to high-performance applications.
Firstly, there is almost zero freedom to adjust static camber, caster or roll-center geometry which as Racingline learned from their race programme is absolutely critical for handling on the VWG A5-platform cars.
The other drawback for high-performance use is that as this layout tends to transmit noise and vibration from the road directly into the body shell, manufacturers have to add extra noise reduction and isolation mechanisms. In other words, plenty of movement in the original factory soft rubber bushing controlling the lower control arm.
