It’s been a while since I last shared an update on my Project GTI. Like many ongoing things in life, progress isn’t always linear, and sometimes it takes a step back to realize where improvements can be made. Over the past few months, I’ve learned a valuable lesson—more modifications don’t always equal better performance. This update is all about dialing things back and returning to basics, which has had a surprisingly positive impact on my car’s performance. Most importantly, I found myself not only driving the GTI more, but I am enjoying it more as well.

For those following my build, you’ll remember I had installed roll center correction control arms as part of my ongoing efforts to fine-tune handling. However, despite the theoretical advantages, I started experiencing a slew of steering and fitment issues. The car just never felt right—uneven feedback through the wheel, an odd sense of disconnect, and my times during autocross events weren’t improving. Not to mention the horrifying rubbing issues you may have seen in some of my autocross footage. It became clear that something needed to change. After much deliberation, I decided to swap out the modified control arms ball joints and revert to the stock units. It might not seem like the most exciting move, but sometimes simplicity is the key to getting things right.

With the stock control arms back in place, I immediately noticed a significant difference. The steering felt tighter, more responsive, and the car felt planted again. It was as if the GTI had regained its balance, something I hadn’t fully appreciated until the original components were reinstalled. Suddenly, the car felt like the well-engineered machine it used to be. While digging around I found that the rubbing issue wasn’t tire on fender. Its was actually ball joint rubber on brake shield. I’m still not understanding how that is possible. My best guess is one of two things; Either this is one of the worst products ever made, or I didnt have them tightened down enough. I’m not too big to say that its my fault and it wouldn’t surprise me if I didn’t install them properly, but at the end of the day, I wasn’t happy with them. They added a lot of width to the front track and I did have to make some adjustments to the fender anyway. I was never really comfortable with them and regardless of the reason they weren’t working, I wasn’t enjoying them. The bigger issue is that I wasn’t enjoying driving altogether. I have only put on something like 600 miles on the GTI since I put on those new ball joints. Not ideal for an enthusiast.

However, the real test came at the latest autocross event. After the control arm swap, I was eager to see how the car would perform under competitive conditions. The results were promising: I was noticeably closer to the top competitors than I had been in previous events, despite having fewer modifications. The car handled predictably and confidently, allowing me to push it further with each run. The difference wasn’t just about lap times, though—it was about confidence. The car and I felt more in sync than we had in a long time. This new “alignment” gave me that fire and all I want to do is go back. With the old parts, I was getting too much in my head. I was thinking maybe I’m not doing this or maybe I’m not doing that. Having that confidence feel back is so important. Now I just need some 200 treadwear tires and I will be competitive in the group. For now, I am settling for enjoying myself again and I’ll worry about trying to win later.

This experience reinforced an important lesson: sometimes, less is more. It’s easy to get caught up in the allure of modifying your car, thinking that more aftermarket parts will automatically lead to better performance. But, as I’ve learned with my GTI, it’s about choosing the right parts, not just the most parts. Returning to stock control arms simplified things, reduced the variables, and allowed the car to perform as intended. This small adjustment has made a world of difference, proving that a balanced, well-considered setup can often outperform a heavily modified one. Even more important, a comfortable, confident driver will be faster than one overthinking.

While there’s always temptation to chase the next big modification, this experience has shifted my perspective. Moving forward, I’ll be focusing on thoughtful changes that enhance the car’s inherent weaknesses, rather than throwing any aftermarket part at it. Sometimes, it’s about refining what you already have. Project GTI is feeling better than ever, and I’m excited to see how it continues to evolve as I refine its setup for future autocross events. Although, I have owned the GTI for over 8 years now. It may be time for a refresh of the garage. Like a true petrolhead, I have about 100 different options I’d consider for replacement of the GTI, but for now I will enjoy it. Some say function over form, but the GTI has taught me fun over form.