Date:         Tue, 9 Apr 2002 12:28:27 -0700
Reply-To:     ctb1@PEOPLEPC.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Christopher Berchin <ctb1@PEOPLEPC.COM>
Subject:      Benefits of a rear sway bar?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

> 2. a rear anti-roll bar was a factory option. The
trailing arms (for that
             option) have mounting brackets attached.

Not in the US, from what I've seen.  No brackets in the
US, no option.

Other comments:
I've been running my '84 GL without a front bar for
some time now.  The end link broke, and I haven't fixed
it yet because on the tires that are on it (car tires
that don't work well for the van), it handles very well
as-is, but with some high lean angles up front.  When I
put on different tires last fall, suddenly the van
handled very differently.  Turns became made up of lots
of small turns - turn in, turn out, turn in, turn out,
etc.  The new tires definitely had oversteer compared
to the old ones, and more than I was comfortable with.
Keep in mind, I race shifter karts, so I'm pretty used
to oversteer.  So you *can* get to where you don't want
to be with a Vanagon, and I don't want to be there
trying to catch the tail with the slow steering and big
vehicle.  I'm waiting to mount my new tires (15"
Agilis) before I determine what front bar I'm going to
put on mine (19mm or 21mm factory - I have both), and
then if I want a rear bar.  When I got my van with the
21mm front bar on it, it understeered like a pig.  It
is much nicer without the front bar on these car tires
(I'm back on the car tires for reasons other than the
oversteer issue - I could have fixed that easily), but
who knows what will happen once I have the Agilis on
there.

Bottom line - be careful, and make sure you evaluate
the vehicle at the speeds you intend to travel.  A
neutral van around town can become an oversteering one
on the highway.

Chris
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