Whiteline adjustable rear swaybar - WOW!

[kaanage]

how much was it?

Buller_Scott and GTiDave have them in their cars, so check with them where/how much they got them for (and then tell me)

[Evaded Motorsport]

Diesel engine is significantly heavier, The reviews note they tend to push more. I am guessing that is even more prevelant compared to the GTI. Probably need a heavier rear bar for the polo, or a stiffer rear spring.

[Ralfi]

So would this thing make a difference to a completely stock GTI? Would it be a good first mod for the car, without the need for other mods to go with it?

[pologti18t]

So would this thing make a difference to a completely stock GTI? Would it be a good first mod for the car, without the need for other mods to go with it?

The problem with a "rear bar only" mod is that they can cause the rear end to step out in situtations that it wouldn't if you didn't have the rear bar fitted. This makes sense as the reason you fit a rear anti-roll bar is to decrease the grip from the rear end. Such conditions may be an emergency swerve or heavy braking (or coming completely off the throttle) mid corner.

It's probably ok in the GTI as you have ESP.

[Tarq57]

Just curious, pologt18t, why would you (or anyone) want to decrease grip at all, from either end?
What I'm asking is: why would someone provide a mod who's purpose is to decrease grip?
What are the pros to a sway bar?

[kaanage]

Handling balance
The 9N Polo is set up to have dogged understeer by default to make the handling totally failsafe (you can actually brake while cornering pretty much at the limit without oversteer).
Removing some of the rear grip makes it more neutral but could catch out unwary drivers with liftoff oversteer becoming a possiblity. Bust some of us actually want that capability.

[Tarq57]

I've noticed the understeer tendency. Comes right pretty quick with a bit of a button-off, if needed. (So far.)

So perhaps a better (early in the piece, anyway) mod might be to do something to improve front grip, rather than reducing rear grip?

[pologti18t]

Just curious, pologt18t, why would you (or anyone) want to decrease grip at all, from either end?
What I'm asking is: why would someone provide a mod who's purpose is to decrease grip?
What are the pros to a sway bar?

Reducing the grip at a particular end is what a anti-roll bar does.

If you want to increase the grip at the front you would most likely need to increase front camber a tad. That is not easy to do (cheaply) on the Polo.

Another way of changing the handling balance is to firm up the rear shocks (if available). It doesn't make the rear end firmer in the same way as a stiffer springs or an antiroll bar does. It just makes the initially turn in that bit crisper.

[Tarq57]

Are there any other benefits to the sway bar, such as improved ride?

[kaanage]

None at all - it will increase lurch from side to side with bumps/potholes if anything (happens if overly stiff roll bars are used as in the Ford Territory)