SWAY BAR DIMENSIONS and discussion

[the bruce]

One electrically decoupleable sway bar (for 4WD applications) and an active one (for SUVs).
Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5 and X6 come with optional active sway bars.

Remember many SUVs usually have huge sway bars of 40 mm and more due to their high center
of gravity. Normally this leds to increased "copying" of the road surface which passengers feel as
they sit high in these cars. An active sway bar is soft in straight direction while hard in corners.

You're right - the 991 Carrera comes with "Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC)", a similar
active sway bar system.
BTW, the new 991 GT3 even has an active rear steering giving some "toe out" in tight corners
and increased "toe in" at higher speeds.

 

[the bruce]

K-Sport Front endlink spec

Rod Diameter 16mm - Stock 10mm

Total length 305mm-355mm - Stock 335mm

about 20mm/0.8 inch up or down

Whiteline:


front: ~ 330 - 355 mm:

rear: ~ 107 - 143 mm:

 

[SirJW]

If I add a stock GTI sway bar to my stock Rabbit MKV, will I feel much of a difference or would I be much better off w/ a 24mm aftermarket model?

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

If I add a stock GTI sway bar to my stock Rabbit MKV, will I feel much of a difference or would I be much better off w/ a 24mm aftermarket model?

With the Whiteline solid adjustable bars selling for $215 shipped via amazon, why bother with anything less?

FWIW, if anyone in Utah (or las vegas, I guess, since I'm going to Wuste) for some reason wants my stock GTI sway bars, you can have 'em. The front ones will be missing the brackets and bushings - since the Whiteline front sway is installed using the factory brackets. Otherwise I'm just throwing them into my buddy's recycling pile. I know a guy who collects steel until he gets around a ton piled up and then loads it up and sells it.

 

[SirJW]

With the Whiteline solid adjustable bars selling for $215 shipped via amazon, why bother with anything less?

FWIW, if anyone in Utah (or las vegas, I guess, since I'm going to Wuste) for some reason wants my stock GTI sway bars, you can have 'em. The front ones will be missing the brackets and bushings - since the Whiteline front sway is installed using the factory brackets. Otherwise I'm just throwing them into my buddy's recycling pile. I know a guy who collects steel until he gets around a ton piled up and then loads it up and sells it.

I have a leed on a new one for $20. Is it worth changing it or just wait and buy the real thing like you said.

 

[the bruce]

Front or rear?
First find out what sway bars are fitted from factory.
Bear in mind the front sway bar is a pain to change.
Rear bar is quite easy (some did it just on jck stands).

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

So yesterday i moved the end links on my FSB (aforementioned 24mm solid whiteline 3-way adjustable) from "soft" to "hard".

And i think i prefer it, but I've only done about 130 miles on the combo so far.

I think worries about increased understeer are overblown. And i should have just bought the APR set of 2 bars that Summit Racing is selling for like $350, but i'm not disappointed with my Whitelines - I just realize now that i could have saved like $75.

 

[Perpetuus]

I am putting a chart together for the different swaybars and their stiffness. (This helps me as I look to improve my swaybar setup).

Does anyone have the stiffness spec for the H&R 22mm rear sway bar?

 

[the bruce]

Does anyone have the stiffness spec for the H&R 22mm rear sway bar?

Expect ~ 90 N/mm for the smaller H&R 22 rear bar, say 80 - 85 N/mm + 95 - 100 N/mm.

I got the below data from an H&R engineer:


stock Mk.V/VI GTI, dia 21,7 x 3 mm - tube: c = 59,5 N/mm

H&R 24 mm - solid: c = 122,7 N/mm center (~ 109 N/mm long and 139 N/mm short arm)

 

[gti2slow]

Anyone running H&R 28mm/24mm swaybars on the soft setting? How is the ride, is there any understeer?

 

[the bruce]

Anyone running H&R 28mm/24mm swaybars on the soft setting? How is the ride, is there any understeer?

Ride is only mildly affected. No issues at all. Understeer depends strongly on
tires and camber. With equal camber front and rear the car is very neutral.

 

[SirJW]

Revisiting this thread.

If I just add F & R sway bars will it help my 2.5 Rabbit or am I fooling myself and need to replace the shocks as well. How do I know if the shocks are shot? If I get new shocks will that be enough, or will the sway bar make it handle that much better?

Thanks, -JW

 

[the bruce]

With worn or even blown shocks, your car will feel sloppy. You'll notice
worn shocks esp. on bumps and at higher speeds. The faster, the more
you feel it.

Shocks/dampers slow down wheel and body movements, which other-
wise would occur. They act similar as "brakes". Stiffer/better dampers
make the car feel more safe at speed.
Sway bars aid the cars (main) springs in corners. They reduce body roll,
making the car feel more planted in corners. So stiffer sway bars com-
plement springs and proper dampers.

So, if you can afford it, get both (DG) springs + Bilsteins + sway bars,
and don't forget the tiny details, that make your suspension even better.
Meaning S3 bushes, TT mounts, proper tires (dedicated summers) and
a good alignment.

 

[the bruce]

Added this on page 1:


standard Golf/TDI/A3: 21.7x3.0 or 22.5x.3.5 / 18.5x2.5 or 19.6x2.6 or 20.7x2.8

Scirocco: 21.7x3.0 or 22.5x.3.5 / 20.7x2.8 or 21.7x3.0


Hope all data is picked up correctly.

 

[junker]

:thumbup:

With worn or even blown shocks, your car will feel sloppy. You'll notice
worn shocks esp. on bumps and at higher speeds. The faster, the more
you feel it.

Shocks/dampers slow down wheel and body movements, which other-
wise would occur. They act similar as "brakes". Stiffer/better dampers
make the car feel more safe at speed.
Sway bars aid the cars (main) springs in corners. They reduce body roll,
making the car feel more planted in corners. So stiffer sway bars com-
plement springs and proper dampers.

So, if you can afford it, get both (DG) springs + Bilsteins + sway bars,
and don't forget the tiny details, that make your suspension even better.
Meaning S3 bushes, TT mounts, proper tires (dedicated summers) and
a good alignment.