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> choosing/installing front sway bar
mikeyb33
post Mar 15 2006, 07:32 PM
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This topic has doubtless been discussed tons of times already but I'm no good at using this site's Search tool...

My 914-6 (conversion) needs a front sway bar. (See attached photo, from Marina AutoX last August, if you don't believe me.)

What are peoples' opinions on types/makes of sway bars, suppliers, etc? I've found different ones offered at Pelican, Automotion, etc.

Also, can anyone direct me to other postings here on doing that install.

would appreciate any info.!
mike
p.s. what about a rear sway bar? I remember seeing a posting on this a while back and it sounded like (1) a difficult install job, and (2) of questionable value without first undertaking the rather extensive job of stiffening the chassis - something I'm not ready to do to my car yet.
p.p.s. Like I said: I need a sway bar!


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Jeroen
post Mar 15 2006, 09:09 PM
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for the front swaybar install, you'll need to remove your gas tank
if your car currently has no swaybars, you'll need to cut holes into your fenderwells (for the swaybar to fit through) weld reinforcement plates on the inside (where the tank sits) and weld u-tabs to your a-arms

not a hard job really. If you have all the parts and tools, you should be able to tackle this within a days work

for the rears, you need to weld in a set of mounting plates on the underside of your trunkfloor, just behind the x-brace and some reinforcement plates on top of your trunk floor (right over the mounting plates)

IIRC, Engman makes these (check the resources/parts forum)

you also need to replace the bolts that hold the bottom of your rear shocks to the trailing arm
the bolts for a rear swaybar have a ball at the end instead of a regular hex head
the droplinks of the swaybar snap over these

as for choosing swaybars... for the fronts, there are quite a few options
personally, I like the Tarett bars (22mm adjustable)
they're only slightly more expensive than adjustable weltmeister bars and the quality is much higher
they are available through the common places (including the club store - see link at the top of the page) or directly from http://www.tarett.com

other options are stock (15mm non adjustable), weltmeister (19 or 22mm adjustable) or SmartRacing (different bar sizes to choose from, very nice, but pricey)

for the rears, you can choose between stock or weltmeister

there's lots of debate wether or not to run a rear bar
depending on your rear spring rates and wether you have an LSD tranny or not

I'm sure others will chime in...

also try the search function for swaybar install, you should find plenty of good info and pics
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East coaster
post Mar 15 2006, 09:48 PM
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Did mine a couple weeks ago.........pics here:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=...f=2&t=46945&hl=
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McMark
post Mar 15 2006, 10:56 PM
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IMHO, Tarett or Smart are the only way to fly. I just did a Tarett install and it only takes a couple hours.
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mikeyb33
post Mar 15 2006, 11:04 PM
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thanks guys, I appreciate the info!!

mike
p.s. I just looked: I do have u-brackets on my lower A-arms already, but no holes in the tub/body - time to start cuttin' & weldin'... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)
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Trekkor
post Mar 15 2006, 11:11 PM
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My Smart install...


(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)


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Andyrew
post Mar 15 2006, 11:54 PM
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Your fronts liftin good.. your rear looks flat... I think you need more rear spring!

Were you getting loads of oversteer, or understeer?
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Trekkor
post Mar 16 2006, 12:07 AM
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Me? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)
QUOTE
I think you need more rear spring!

Nope...I'm all set.

Good balance, very predictable.


KT
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Andyrew
post Mar 16 2006, 02:30 AM
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No not you trekkor... I know your setup is dialed... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

His pic shows the front tire almost in the air.. To me, that means more spring (unless thats how he likes to drive..)
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J P Stein
post Mar 16 2006, 09:04 AM
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This combo get's lost in the shuffle of bigger is better
or more cool, yada.

Stock front T bars.
19mm adjustable front AR bar
140/150 lb rear springs.
No rear AR bar.

I used to run the AR bar full soft. The car was neutral....maybe just a tad loose. I ran it wiith larger rear than front tires (205 & 225s), so it may be a bit tail happy with equal sized tires. If so, tighten the front AR bar.
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Joseph Mills
post Mar 16 2006, 09:17 AM
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QUOTE (J P Stein @ Mar 16 2006, 09:04 AM)
This combo get's lost in the shuffle of bigger is better
or more cool, yada.

Stock front T bars.
19mm adjustable front AR bar
140/150 lb rear springs.
No rear AR bar.



(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)



yada yada (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

..
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J P Stein
post Mar 16 2006, 10:09 AM
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Got an old pic of my car with this setup.
Some folks get all goosey about lifting the front wheel.....I ain't one of them (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)


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Trekkor
post Mar 16 2006, 10:18 AM
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(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif)

I get that way...


KT


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J P Stein
post Mar 16 2006, 10:28 AM
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I've not seen any pics of my car lifting the fronts lately....but if it doesn't, there can't be much weight on that inside wheel no how. The camera has to catch it at the right time.....OTG at or around an apex. This is about as close as I have.


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Jeroen
post Mar 16 2006, 10:41 AM
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QUOTE (Andyrew @ Mar 16 2006, 06:54 AM)
Your fronts liftin good.. your rear looks flat... I think you need more rear spring!

his inner front aint lifting... he just has lots of roll because he has no swaybars
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J P Stein
post Mar 16 2006, 10:56 AM
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hummm...


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mikeyb33
post Mar 16 2006, 01:55 PM
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QUOTE (Andyrew @ Mar 15 2006, 09:54 PM)
Your fronts liftin good.. your rear looks flat... I think you need more rear spring!

Were you getting loads of oversteer, or understeer?

"needs more cowbell"
(heh - just had to say it...)

maybe a bit of oversteer due to throttle and/or high steering input at lower speeds, but overall pretty neutral.

Next question: Given all the different comments/opinions on what the "best" setup is, has anyone posted a basic 'primer' on what each of the different mods. to a car's setup will do to its handling?

I"ll admit I'm pretty ignorant on car setup - I usually just climb in & (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/driving.gif)
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Jeroen
post Mar 16 2006, 04:58 PM
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basically, the end that you stiffen up looses grip first

so...
more front swaybar or springs (torsion bars) makes more understeer or less oversteer
more rear swaybar or springs makes more oversteer or less understeer

so if you upgrade the front, you'll need to take appropriate measures in the rear as well

JP's suggestion (19mm adj.front sway and 140 or 150# rearsprings) sounds like a good starting point
from there on it's a slippery slope (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)
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grantsfo
post Mar 16 2006, 07:34 PM
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I know I will have to do some suspension tuning to my six conversion as well. Currently it has the following:

Front Tbar 19 mm
Front sway 22 mm
Rear springs 200 lbs
Tires 265 and 225

I think ultimately I will go with a bigger front SmartRacing Bar and 225 or 250# springs in the rear. I will have to suffer until I recover from my conversion costs.
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