Re: front sway-bar problems

[J Buck <vwpride@mixi.net>]

Wow!  Why didn't I think of that!  Seriously though, there is no "best"
solution, and every setup involves a give and take.  If you stiffen spring rates
to decrease body roll, and thus reduce camber loss, you give up ride and
suspension sensitivity.  If you try to reduce roll with simply a big bar, you
also decrease suspension sensitivity to a degree.  But in some instances, the
bar can increase spring rates and reduce body roll to advantage.   For example,
I drove my 16v Scirocco to an ES and overall points autocross championship in
1997 in my SCCA region with only a 22mm front bar and all the negative wheel
camber I could legally get.  Believe me, if the car would have gone faster
without the bar, I would have taken it off between runs.  Now for a lowered car,
they seem to respond best to a standard to large bar on the front, and an even
bigger bar on the back.  And although I've heard of occasional stories of very
stiffly sprung A1 cars with no front bar working well (Shine Racing), they seem
to be the only race/tuner entity out there promoting it.   As always, YMMV.

jim

H Jones wrote:

> The best solution would be to remove the bar completely.
> The Scirocco will understeer / push even without a front bar.
> Dump the front bar and install a "beefy" rear bar. If the front
> bar was being used to control body-roll, get stiffer springs.
>
> Your Rocco will handle much better without the front bar!
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: J Buck <vwpride@mixi.net>
> To: Michael Leach <scirocco16v_1@yahoo.com>
> Cc: <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 6:30 PM
> Subject: Re: front sway-bar problems
>
> > I have that bar, and autocrossed it for 2 seasons without any brackets
> > breaking, but during last winter, I went into a steady-state curve, and
> got
> > a "whump-whump, bhump-whump" sound from down there, where the bracket that
> > goes on the a-arm had severed, allowing the bar to come in contact with
> the
> > cv boot on heavy corner loads.  Unbelievably, it didn't damage the cv
> boot.
> > Just make sure it's installed properly, i.e. bar is centered, and is not
> > coming in contact on the ends with the cv boots.  There may be another
> > problem afoot as well.
> >
> > jim
> >
> > Michael Leach wrote:
> >
> > > I recently purchased a used ABD 22mm front sway bar and ever since I
> > > get all kinds of rumbling and bumping noises whenever I hit any kind of
> > > bump I must have done something wrong because it sounds terrible.  I am
> > > sure it is on right and Brett V did check it briefly and said it looked
> > > right....does anyone else have this bar?..Jim Jarrett said something
> > > about being sure it is installed unloaded but I am not really clear
> > > what that means...it sounds soooo bad I have to fix this soon!!!!
> > > TIA
> > >
> > > ===
> > > Michael Leach--Rochester,NY
> > > 87 16v Red semi-show
> > > 87 16v Black winter(thanks Neal Tovsen)
> > > 85 Jetta getting rid of!!!!
> > > 91 Ford Explorer XLT(thanks Jim Jarrett)
> > >    any input on maintenance would
> > >    be greatly appreciated
> > > _________________________________________________________
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> > >
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>
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