And a lot of people like the combination of a rear bar and stiffer front springs instead of a larger bar in front because it provides more roll stiffness without causing the inside front tire to spin coming out of turns. The front bar will increase the likelihood of wheelspin because it unweights the inside front wheel on turns. D
Full Answer
How do I know if my sway bar bushings are bad?
If you are starting to hear a knock sound when you go around a corner there is a good chance your sway or stabilizer bar bushings are starting to go bad. These bushing get a lot of wear and tear and are in a very warm area by the engine. They do wear out and should be checked every 30,000 miles.
Can you use Vaseline on sway bar bushings?
Wear safety glasses. Install the new bushing. The factory bushings are rubber and you should not use any lubricant on them what so ever. Lubricants, including Vaseline will cause the rubber to break down prematurely. Figure 1 This photo illustrates the drop link that attaches the sway bar to the control arm.
How do I remove the drop link from the sway bar?
You will need to disconnect the drop link from the sway bar using an'mm socket. Depending on who installed the link last you may need a breaker bar. If the joint starts turning with the wrench, you can use a 6mm triple square to hold the bolt and turn the nut with a wrench.
What does a bigger front sway bar do?
They complement the suspension but do not overpower them. However, bigger is not always better - you can go too big! If you go too big, the suspension won't be able to twist the sway bar properly, which would result in a stiff ride.
Why are sway bars thicker?
As the rear sway gets thicker and thicker, body roll is reduced and the tire contact patch stays flatter & flatter until, until, snap! the rear end swings around w/o warning. A thinner rear sway allows more body roll, and makes it easier for the driver to sense it when the limit is being approached.
Do upgraded sway bars make a difference?
The primary differences between stock sway bars and aftermarket sway bars are stiffness, weight, and adjustability. Aftermarket sway bars are often lighter, stiffer, and feature a wider range of adjustment.
What does a sway bar length do?
0:027:40How do you determine sway bar length on a Jeep Wrangler?YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf. We put a lift kit in it. And we put bigger springs in the sway bar link is going to be theMoreIf. We put a lift kit in it. And we put bigger springs in the sway bar link is going to be the length that is determined by your ride height.
How do I know what size sway bar to get?
You want to measure just next to the sway bar bushing in order to get the most accurate diameter for your bar. DO NOT measure on the bend of the bar, as the diameter can be skewed giving you a measurement larger or smaller than the actual bar size.
Is a front or rear sway bar more important?
Typically, a rear wheel drive car will handle better with a front sway bar that is stiffer than the OEM piece. Some rear wheel drive cars, however, also understeer. If your vehicle understeers, front or rear wheel drive, a stiffer rear sway bar will make the car handle more neutrally.
Do sway bars affect ride quality?
Yes, standard design Ant-Sway bars negatively effect ride comfort because they limit the independent suspension's very design purpose.
What type of sway bar do I need?
The number of friction bars you need depends on your trailer size and weight. If your trailer has a GTW of 6,000 lbs or less, a single friction-style sway control can be used. If your trailer's GTW is between 6,000 lbs and 10,000 lbs, you will need 2 sway-control units (one on either side of the trailer).
Do sway bars increase grip?
This is a decrease in total front grip. When you add stiffer sway bars, you increase the weight transfer to the outside which further decreases the cf for that outer tire and, therefore, for that end of the car." Reading that I would actually loose grip and therefore my max. cornering speed would go DOWN instead of UP.
Does sway bar link length matter?
The length only matters to the extent that it not cause the sway bar to hit anything when the suspension cycles.
Why do you need extended sway bar links?
Registered. The sway bar relocate Baz has mentioned also lowers the sway bar, in doing so acts close to longer links. That said if you can find a little longer link it may help soften the ride a little and may help with off road articulation from the reduced sway bar torsion.
How do you stop body rolls in a car?
One fairly obvious method to achieve this is through the use of stiffer springs. After all, a stiffer spring will compress less than a softer spring when subjected to an equal amount of force. And less compression of the suspension on the outside edge will result in less body roll.
What does it mean when your sway bar squeaks?
Clunking sounds or squeaking from the front end when going over bumps can mean it's time for new sway bar bushings.
How to tell if a GTI stabilizer bar bushing is bad?
If you are starting to hear a knock sound when you go around a corner there is a good chance your sway or stabilizer bar bushings are starting to go bad. These bushing get a lot of wear and tear and are in a very warm area by the engine. They do wear out and should be checked every 30,000 miles. If you are going to be replacing the bushings it is a good idea to completely drop the bar and clean and paint it while you are performing the work; unfortunately on the GTI MkV that means lowering the sub frame. If you want a little sportier handling performance from your GTI you may want to consider upgrading your stock bars to a thicker or sportier bar and bushing combination.
How to support a sub frame plate?
Safely support the sub frame plate with your floor jack and a piece of plywood while giving you access to the three'mm bolts on each side . You can just loosen these but since they are single use bolts sometimes it is easier to remove the three'mm bolts that attach the sub frame to the frame (red arrows, both sides).
Can you replace hardware on a suspension?
Note; All hardware used on the suspension components is single use only. You must replace any hardware you remove with new fasteners.
Can you remove bushings without dropping the subframe?
There is not a lot of room to work but if you just need new bushings, the bushings and brackets (red arrow) can be removed without dropping the sub frame. The brackets have a tendency to get stuck together and may need some persuasion to separate. Make sure when reinstalling that the bracket that the side with the small tabs faces the outside of the vehicle. If equipped with self leveling headlights the level sensor will need to be detached from the lower control arm when lowering the subframe.
Did Dan GSR run autocross?
Dan GSR did it for autocross, he's known as a handling guru. He eventually ran with one again. I can't say that it's going to be the best thing. The best and proper thing to do is indeed to keep it and go with a bigger RSB - we do agree there. I think disconnecting it might be a fun experiment though. The back would transition left and right quickly, whereas the front may not.
Is it bad to have suspension travel in front?
Suspension travel in the front in a FWD car isn't so bad though. If everything is too stiff, you'll get understeer like crazy and you can even lift the unloaded wheel. Allowing both to always contact the ground will improve handling.
Does a stiffer bar cause understeer?
oh and for the stiffness part causing understeer... a stiffer bar in the back of a fwd will cause oversteer... a stiffer bar in the front will cause understeer...but snap oversteer in a fwd is effing scary if youre not expecting it...