Anyone got a Sway-Bar installed? Care to voice opinions???

[GTI JOE]

I got mine through 'Auto One", at the time they were the cheapest. I would imagine they are easy to install with a little know-how. I had mine installed at the same time I had the springs installed....2 birds wif one stone thing

[gavs]

So I took my car to K-Mac and there was there guy there that helped me out with some advice in getting better handling done. He quoted me upgrade the front anti roll bar to a 22mm (stock is 20mm) apparently ever millimeter adds 80% more stiffness around corning. He also quoted me to get a camber kit for both front and rear. $1100 all up or just $500 for front bar

He reckons coilovers and spring as a waste of money...hehe

What's you guys thoughts.

According to that logic then adding big power to an engine means that better brakes are a waste of time. So are tyres for that matter.

[Bassik]

According to that logic then adding big power to an engine means that better brakes are a waste of time. So are tyres for that matter.

Yeah well all I thought when he said that was you specialize in camber kits so of course your going to say that coil over and strut bars are a waste. He still fits them and sells them but the guy seemed like he knew he's stuff.

I'm tempted to get the upgraded stiffer front bar. All this research and talk scares me from increasing understeer. I'm going to scrap the adjustable camber kit because that means increase in tire wear which means more $$. He did say they would go good together.

[VEEEUU]

Not sure if I am on the wrong thinking track here?

I assume the Polo suspension is tuned with just a front sway bar to control the whole car lean. Hence, if a rear sway bar is installed reducing lean on the back of the car, would that not create different torsional forces between front and rear? Like the car body is wanting to twist?

Doesn't a sway bar induce one wheel to lift as the car leans? (inside corner wheel) And in the case of adding or upgrading a rear bar, will that not transfer weight onto the front of the car inducing more understeer? And what about "lift off oversteer" would it not want to be more prominent? (snapping back more sharply)

Would a stiffer front sway bar need to be installed to match the new rear?

Can someone enlighten me on the above please.

VEEEUU

[Tigga1]

I am certainly no expert on sway bars, but have installed stiffer, adjustable rear sway bars to my last 4 cars (although did also do the front bar on one of them).

I consider it to be a worthwhile and relatively cheap mod, and it has certainly made a big difference on my daily drive to work, up and down a 12 km mountain range. I did, at first, only tighten it up a little, but soon went for the stiffest setting, and never looked back...!

It has never felt unsafe...but maybe I've not pushed it hard enough

[Jerry77]

Hey guys, last week I installed VWR front sway-bar. I can feel the difference in cornering and also with the grip of front wheels. But! I left the car in original VW service in Prague (CZ) they had to change 18!!!! bolts and do suspension alignment. It cost me 140 Euro.
I am very happy with this upgrade. Not stiffen the car.

[Guy_H]

If you want the fastest, quickest cornering FWD, work on front end roll control (sway bar & spring weight), and to 'tune" the total suspension package after that - you can start modifying the rear.

So front bar first (yes - the expensive one) is the correct way to do it.

[VEEEUU]

Not sure if the priority of a front bar works the same for rear wheel drives?

Years ago, I had a Mitsubishi Gallant which with a front bar upgrade only, understeered something shocking. After installing a rear bar to match, hey presto! all good.