Date:         Fri, 17 May 2002 11:10:23 -0700
Reply-To:     Eric Spletzer <eric@SENIORNET.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Spletzer <eric@SENIORNET.ORG>
Subject:      Re: anti-sway bar
Comments: To: warmerwagen@HOTMAIL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <OE50Ia510MTA4MvsIvh0001147d@hotmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

What do sway bars typically run?  Are they hard to install?


On 5/17/02 10:55 AM, "Robert Keezer" <warmerwagen@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

> To answer this question about rough road wheel travel- I drove down to the
> river a few weeks ago where I launched my kayak and first walked out the dirt
> road to plot a course down it, before I attempted to drive it in the 82
> Westfalia with rear sway bar.
>
> The road slopes with a three foot height difference from the high to low side
> .There are ruts a foot deep and mud and it is slick in spots. I straddled the
> ruts -to slip sideways was to get stuck, but I went right through to my
> destination by the river .
> My impression:It seems that it is easier to negotiate rough roads with the
> bar.
>
> When the body leans over to one side, the bar is lifted up. This pulls down
> the high side and the weight is more evenly distributed on all four wheels.
> When the vehicle leans over left or right, the center of gravity changes also.
>
> I had positive results when driving  dirt roads at slow speeds that are sloped
> left or right. Whether or not the rear wheels have the same amount of upward
> travel I have'nt looked at yet. The rear wheels have full downward travel. I
> notice I have gained a small amount of rear height with the bar.
>
> I don't drive over boulders anymore , so if I can get down the river road and
> others like it that cars have to avoid, that's good enough for me.
>
> Robert K
>
> 1982 Westfalia
> 1987 Wolfsburg
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> Wrom: GDGVCJVTLBX
> Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 1:49 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: anti-sway bar
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> Wrom: FGGMEPYOQKEDOTWFAOBUZXUWLSZLKBRNVWWCUFPEG
>
>> I think that you can only gain by adding a anti-sway bar.
>
> Except if wheel articulation is important to you.  Probably more of an issue
> in a Syncro, but if you are trying to drive a 2WD on rough tracks this just
> puts you further behind the (all wheel drive) eight ball.
>
> As usual, it's a compromise.  I would rather put up with the rock'n'roll
> (and drive accordingly) on road, and know that I have full wheel travel when
> in semi off-road conditions.
>
> Andrew Jack
> Australia
>
> '92 T3 SyncroGet more from the Web.  FREE MSN Explorer download :
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