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Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:06 pm

I don’t know if such an animal exists and I cant find any old threads on the subject. I know it wouldn’t be as clean as on the ones for wranglers, scouts, etc. I just don’t like driving w/out a sway bar on the road and I hate the idea of removing/installing it every time I go off road.

thanks

Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:22 pm

I have not seen one yet either.

I am planning and making one based on the Jeep design. It will be mounted above the beam with links that extend down to the top trailing arms and use the Wrangler disconnect kits.

I will post pics when I get that far.

Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:55 pm

forget the sway bar.
with simple off road upgrades to the front end, you don't need the sway bar. i never even noticed the lack of one with my first baja that had a completley stock front end with just new shocks.

if your front end is acting funny and is unstable without the sway bar i would lean towards thinking it was something else that was causing the problem.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:07 am

I have driven many VW's both with and without front sway bars. The sway bar ones out performed in the twisties even if the front was well worn.

I will not be going long front arms or widened front beam, just adjusters, tall tires and disc brakes. Except for the beam and trailing arms, all is new. My idea is an easy mount and hook up. Why not try?

Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:16 am

Why not use some sort of band clamp? I don't know if you could find one that would be both strong/sturdy enough and easily/quickly removable, but it's one idea.

Personally, I drive my Baja (with 215/75r15's on the front and no sway bar) down the highway all the time and don't notice any negative effects. Maybe I've just gotten used to it, though. I know it sure doesn't compare to my Z28, but then again it never did even when it was a stock Beetle.

Kyle

Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:47 am

I agree with runslikeapenguin, I don't experience any undo handling problems without the sway bar on my Baja. I think it would only come into play if you have worn shocks, your torsion leafs are fatigued. or you are making drastic drifter type moves while driving.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:58 am

Am I assuming correctly that you want the front sway bar. Having a quick disconnect rear would be easy.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:14 am

Sounds to me like a waste of energy trying to fab one. Just get comfortable driving it without one and it will be just as safe as driving with it. IMO it's like driving with or without anti-lock brakes, as long as you know how to handle your vehicle you're just fine.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:36 am

Quote: Sounds to me like a waste of energy trying to fab one

I wonder if the first guy who wanted to fab up some longer and wider rear trailing arms was told the same thing. Just get used to how it rides and everything will be fine.

What happened to innovation? Where would the Baja race be without Bruce Myers trying something? What about the first guy that thought up widening the front beam to make his car more stable? What about the guy who was told it would not work when he took two IDA's off-of a Cobra and crammed them in his VW?

Since it is MY labor and MY money doing it, I would think people would want to see it done, it just may help more people enjoy driving a Baja on the street AND off road.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:23 am

Check out this link... may help

http://store.jksmfg.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scr...isconnects

Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:55 am

Joescoolcustoms, That's exactly the right attitude to have! Yeah, my opinion is that it's a waste of time, but who gives a rats ass what I think? Do what you want, that's the spirit of invention.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:25 pm

shred625 Thanks for that link. The top one is exactly what I am looking for with that "C" mounting bracket. And yes, I am talking about the front sway bar.

I will use the old "flop stops" for the rear while traveling on-road (95% as a daily driver will be on road in a swing axle) and then remove those also for off-roading.

OicnaiC, spirit of invention,. Thats right! With the tranny and engine I am putting in it, I want to power slide it on asphalt, and creap up the West Virginia Mountians.

My wife totaled her '06 Miata on 2-6-09 and she is now driving my '01 Jetta, for good. That leaves me a '01 Dodge 6X6 dualie diesel to drive. Fun yes, practical no. So this '67 - '73 hybrid Baja will then become my 600 mile per week Daily Driver. Handeling on curvy asphalt WV roads is a requirement, and I want to do some medium off-roading in the mountians. Therefore, the sway bar will stay, when needed.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:32 pm

I was thinking something in that neighborhood. I am not planning on anything more drastic than a thing front suspension with Ghia brakes.

My bug rides like an unloaded 2 ton truck up front (yes I have driven them). I think it at has to do with too much lift (rotation on the beam) and binding ball joints. (I have had the car less than a week so there is a lot I don't know about its quirks yet.) My problem is even with that stiffness I can't do a double lane change at 15 mph without the front diving 5 or 6 inches on the outside corner that means at 30 I would probably roll on the 2nd turn.

I can control what I do but not the other cars on the road, and not the 5 year old chasing the puppy. Either I keep it under 15 or I put a sway bar on it.

thanks

Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:54 pm

It would seem like a stiffer bar in the beam suspension would accomplish a similiar effect, but it would not be removable. The 'U' shape of a normal sway bar probably has alot more effect with the arms adding a torque onto the beam and being tied directly onto the frame. It should be pretty easy to use a standard U-shape, but instead of a nut tied onto the suspension arm, make a standoff that uses a pin at the top. Then have a way to rotate the bar out of the way so it doesn't smash into it when offroading.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:48 pm

im actually a huge fan of balls to the wall sway bars in most cases, but for an off road car not really.

if you were set on doing this and wanted it to be largely effective you would defiantly need to go with a larger than stock sway bar. if you wanted it to provide any added performance. the stock ones are probably so worn out by now its not funny.

check out the aftermarket performance ones John@ aircooled.net has, they look like they would be pretty easy to get off if you ask me. if you get one though, it would be advised to get one for the rear, and with front and rear sway bars you would want to make sure your shocks are up to the task of holding the car down like you will want to drive. and when the load is transferred with huge sway bars its going to make your old rubber bushings in the rear flex a lot and . . . . . . if we are going to go the route of street handling a whole new world opens here. just bare that in mind.

http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewproductdetail.php?keyword2=SSS0002&cartid=

Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:03 pm

runslikeapenguin wrote: im actually a huge fan of balls to the wall sway bars in most cases, but for an off road car not really.

if you were set on doing this and wanted it to be largely effective you would defiantly need to go with a larger than stock sway bar. if you wanted it to provide any added performance. the stock ones are probably so worn out by now its not funny.

check out the aftermarket performance ones John@ aircooled.net has, they look like they would be pretty easy to get off if you ask me. if you get one though, it would be advised to get one for the rear, and with front and rear sway bars you would want to make sure your shocks are up to the task of holding the car down like you will want to drive. and when the load is transferred with huge sway bars its going to make your old rubber bushings in the rear flex a lot and . . . . . . if we are going to go the route of street handling a whole new world opens here. just bare that in mind.

http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewproductdetail.php?keyword2=SSS0002&cartid=

That made me laugh

Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:17 pm

damquick1 wrote: runslikeapenguin wrote: im actually a huge fan of balls to the wall sway bars in most cases, but for an off road car not really.

if you were set on doing this and wanted it to be largely effective you would defiantly need to go with a larger than stock sway bar. if you wanted it to provide any added performance. the stock ones are probably so worn out by now its not funny.

check out the aftermarket performance ones John@ aircooled.net has, they look like they would be pretty easy to get off if you ask me. if you get one though, it would be advised to get one for the rear, and with front and rear sway bars you would want to make sure your shocks are up to the task of holding the car down like you will want to drive. and when the load is transferred with huge sway bars its going to make your old rubber bushings in the rear flex a lot and . . . . . . if we are going to go the route of street handling a whole new world opens here. just bare that in mind.

http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewproductdetail.php?keyword2=SSS0002&cartid=

That made me laugh

out of context anyone? :lol:

Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:25 pm

Thanks RLP! That one pictured on the link is a lot easier than what I had in mind, and I could mount it to the upper beam tube to get it out of the way, (fab a longer removable link of corse).

Everything on my Baja is new, (except torsions, spring plates so forth) body off restoration (or de-rustification).

Quote: if we are going to go the route of street handling a whole new world opens here. just bare that in mind.

Very fresh in my mind. In 2000 I sold my '66 GTO that I set up for SCCA. 1 1/2 inch tubular sway bars, 64 spindles modified for large negative camber, boxed everything to reduce flex, bare brakes F&R, so forth...

The Baja will not be that serious of a streeter, but now my wife and I owe nothing and going with a street baja saves any car payment. Linked sway bars will make it a little more safe on the street.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:58 pm

joescoolcustoms wrote: Thanks RLP! That one pictured on the link is a lot easier than what I had in mind, and I could mount it to the upper beam tube to get it out of the way, (fab a longer removable link of corse).

Everything on my Baja is new, (except torsions, spring plates so forth) body off restoration (or de-rustification).

Quote: if we are going to go the route of street handling a whole new world opens here. just bare that in mind.

Very fresh in my mind. In 2000 I sold my '66 GTO that I set up for SCCA. 1 1/2 inch tubular sway bars, 64 spindles modified for large negative camber, boxed everything to reduce flex, bare brakes F&R, so forth...

The Baja will not be that serious of a streeter, but now my wife and I owe nothing and going with a street baja saves any car payment. Linked sway bars will make it a little more safe on the street.

you got a 66 GTO to handle? who are you Jesus? :lol:

before you go through all the sway bar stuff try a set of caster shims on the beam. i find that they make a bug feel like it has power steering at speed and ive taken a pretty much stock suspension bug over 100 with a set on and it stayed right on course.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:46 pm

The top one is for a TJ. You may be able to make it fit. Contact a Jeep club. Someone may have a used set that is too short for their new lift. I fabricated a set for my YJ. I used the ends of the sway bar connector that connect to the axle and the other end that connected to the bar. Weld a small piece of pipe to that and make a rod that is the connector. The connector rod goes into the pipe and is drilled and a pin goes in that.

Like this

http://www.xtremeterrain.com/swaybardisconnectsfro...4door.aspx

Here are instructions on how to make some. This uses the original sway bar connectors. All you do is replace the bolt with a clevis pin. Simple, but it works.

http://www.4x4xplor.com/homediscos.html

Why buy what you can build?