Date:         Sat, 6 Jan 2001 10:33:13 -0800
Reply-To:     Craig Spaeth <spaeth@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Craig Spaeth <spaeth@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      Re: swaybars
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It is my understanding that it is the relationship between the front and rear sway bar stiffness that can contribute to the oversteer or understeer of the vehicle. A stiffer
rear will help that end come around and a stiffer front will help that end push. At the limit I would much rather have some oversteer (tail coming out) as that is easy to
control by steering with the throttle. Understeer (the nose pushing straight ahead) is the worst, especially in rear wheel drive. I had a 71 panel van that had a 2110cc
motor dual carbs and low profile tires. As long as you kept your foot in it, it would corner like you would not believe. As soon as you lifted your foot the tail would start
creaping around. If you got scared and really lifted in a corner it would switch ends rapidly. A really balanced suspension can eliminate some of this tendancy but the
extreme rear weight bias of our vehicles is hard to completely overcome. Unfortuneately there aren't a lot of shops that specialize in Vanagon handling at the limit. Most
cars setup today are made to understeer as most peoples tendancy is to lift off the throttle when the car begins to lose control.
hope this helps,
Craig
the Gorge VW club