Hi to everybody,
just a few quick updates.
I replaced the front swaybar bushings, but it didn't fix the problem.
Then, my focus switched to the ABS coding.
I really have to thank iichel who is giving me a huge support in this.
Our intention has been to make my ABS long-coding the same of a Polo GTI, because it's the only Polo version with Bosch 8.2i ABS unit and 1N4 steering rack.
After having tried many coding combinations (the most of them weren't accepted by my ABS unit), I decided to swap my old ABS unit (HW: AF, SW:
AF) with a newer one which has the latest 8.2i firmware version available (HW: AF, SW:
BE).

The job was pretty straight forward and less difficult than I expected.
This allowed me to further modify the ABS long-coding, by inserting the value for GTI engine (Byte 15: "
41"), which my old ABS unit didn't accept.
So, now my ABS unit is coded for GTI engine, brakes and suspensions. Unfortunately this didn't fix the ESP problem.
To really make the ABS coding 100% like a Polo GTI I should also modify
Byte 6 and Byte 14 with Polo GTI values ("02 - 40"), but unexpectedly this unit doesn't accept those values.
Maybe it needs TCU to be installed... maybe BE firmware is not for Polo GTI (AK or BC could be the correct ones?)... or maybe I am missing something else. Who knows...
Cars with Bosch 8.2i ABS unit and 1N4 steering rack exist, so there must be a way to make ESP work correctly.
I could always upgrade to Bosch 9.0i ABS unit, which also supports ESC deactivation, but I want to keep this option for later, only if all the other tries to maintain the 8.2i Unit won't bring me to a definitive fix.
Anyway, does anybody know if these ABS units have parametrization?
I mean: is it possible to write specific parametrizations file with ODIS?
My suspect is that, regardless of the ABS unit firmware version (which plays an important role as well), of the long-coding and of the Adaptations channels, there might be also parameters which differ from car to car depending on what parametrizations file has been flashed from factory.
Do you think it might be possible with ABS units from this era?
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Corious fact: the new 'BE' ABS unit firmware version accepts the coding for 288/232 brake discs even with byte 15 coded for CBZB engine and Byte 4/Byte 12 coded for Manual transmission

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In the while, I am also investigating about possible defects of mechanical components.
I ordered all these new parts:
- inner and outer tie rods, specific for PR-1N4 steering rack;
- ball joints;
- sway bar links;
- front wheel bearings (rear ones have just been replaced together with the GTI rear axle beam).
These same parts currently installed on my car have more than 100.000km, so I want to think I'll replace them for preventive maintenance as well.
Last week I brought my car again to the workshop to check the wheels alignment.

Toe-in has been properly aligned, but I noticed two things:
- camber on front left wheel is -0,75°, while on the right front wheel it is -1,10°. This is a difference of 0,35°. In the past the value was about -1,2° on both sides. Considering the struts and top mounts are new and the height has been adjusted the same on both front wheels, the difference in camber values makes me think the front subframe might not be properly transversally centered to the chassis of the car, despite I installed front subframe rigid collars, which in theory should perfectly center it.
- front wheels caster value is 5,2° and it's the same on both sides. This makes me think the front subframe is properly longitudinally centered to the chassis of the car.
By looking inside the wheel arch, I notice the distance between the rear side of the front subframe and the cassis of the car is a bit larger than it used to be before replacing the steering rack. So, to me it looks like the subframe is positioned further forward than it was before.

Do you think this could cause my ESP problem?
Any suggestion on what else to do/check, is really much appreciated.