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Date:         Thu, 11 Apr 2002 08:48:47 -0400
Reply-To:     Gary Stearns <gstearns@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gary Stearns <gstearns@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Benefits of a rear sway bar?
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

To those that reminded me of the Vanagon's nearly 50/50 f/r weight distribution, I don't disagree. The issue with the Vanagon is the polar moment of inertia (I think I have that term right) not strictly engine weight in the rear. Though 50/50 it may be, each "50" is at the extreme front or rear of the vehicle. Think of holding a barbell with 25 lbs. on each end. Try to spin it from the center; hard to get it moving, hard to stop it from moving. Now hold the same two 25lb weights together in front of your waist. Try to spin; much easier to initiate and to stop. It's the barbell's "hard to stop" behavior that can make Vanagons tail happy.

Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Stann" <ChrisS@informs.com> To: "Gary Stearns" <gstearns@OPTONLINE.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 10:35 AM Subject: RE: Benefits of a rear sway bar?

> > >One caution though; from the factory VW set up the Vanagon with a lot of > >understeer for safety reasons. With the engine in the rear, a shift of the > >roll-couple to the rear can create a situation where the van tries to > >spin-out at the worst possible time (in a fast corner, realize you're going > >too fast, take your foot off the gas...there she goes, your in the trees > >butt first) > > Sorry, I had to butt in. > > The Vanagon has its weight more or less equally distributed on front and > rear axles, with the passenger Vanagon actually carrying more weight over > the front axles. It's not a Porsche 911 with sudden and scary throttle-off > oversteer. Granted, adding a rear anti-sway bar will reduce understeer, but > not to the extreme you have indicated. > > > Chris, > > '85 Westy >


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