Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 22:47:37 -0700
Reply-To: Rubatoguy <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rubatoguy <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: anti-sway bar
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
It s commonplace for off-roaders to dissconnect their anti-swaybars to
give them more articulation between the wheels on the same axle.
Remember the anti-sway bar acts by placing an opposite force to the
wheel at the other end of the axle. So if you were off road and one
wheel traveled over a huge hole - the anti-sway bar would tend to hold
the wheel up, rather than let it drop into the hole. This can lead to
undesireable traction consequences.
However, your experience depends on the type of terrain you are
traveling over.
Many companies make anti-sway bars for 4x4 vehicles with
quick-dissconnect link ends, so off-roaders can enjoy the best of both
worlds.
See the ADDCO article here: http://www.4x4review.com/events/sema99/
Todd
'88 Westy
Robert Keezer 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 : http://explorer.msn.com
>
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