Wow, what a difference a big sway bar and shocks makes!

Bleyseng

Just installed a 5/8ths sway bar and new Boge shocks on the front, ripping out the KYB's which I dislike (the were there from the PO).

Talk about smooth ride and I really noticed the difference in cornering. Just very steady and sure footed without much body roll. Love it!!!

Next time I will take the Westy autocrossing!

Geoff
_________________
70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles

germansupplyscott · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:33 am Post subject:

cool. it is always great to be able to feel the difference when you change parts.

i have a set of bilsteins and a big swaybar going on our westy next week. i can't wait to feel the improvement.
_________________
SL

Eaallred · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 6:22 am Post subject:

I couldn't believe how well my bus corners after installing a 24mm sway bar under the front end. I'm running stock oil shocks all the way around it and love it. Rides really smooth, and corners better than anything else i've got in the driveway.
_________________
Eric Allred

You have to remember something: Everybody pities the weak; Jealousy you have to earn.

Bleyseng · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 6:22 am Post subject:

I bought it on a lark because I read somewhere it didnt make too much difference. The website info was wrong.

Let us know how it feels when you install it.

I think installing a big sway bar should be on Ratwells must do list.

Geoff
_________________
70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles

ratwell · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:43 pm Post subject:

I still have the front sway bar on from my bus. I only removed the rear.

This upgrade is already in my list:

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/EssentialUpgrades.html
_________________
'78 Westfalia CDN
'76 Doublecab
Read the Baywindow FAQ

obieoberstar · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 6:47 pm Post subject:

whose sway bars did you go with?

i think i'm gonna do a new steering box and front sway bars.

shocks--i've got some KYB's in good condition on the bus from the PO. Koni's are nice, but not ready just yet. Boge cool?? not many buses around to compare with. this is all i know.

ratwell · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:42 pm Post subject:

I found a Sway-a-way bar. I don't know if they still makes them but all the front bars are the same. The Whiteline bar seems to be a little bigger than the other bars that are 7/8" and they also have an adjustable model.

The hard part was finding the urethane bushings because I bought the bar used. BugPack 6500-015 was what I found. I'm not sure if Bugpack/Prothane make them anymore.
_________________
'78 Westfalia CDN
'76 Doublecab
Read the Baywindow FAQ

GfunkBus76 · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 3:46 am Post subject:

for anyone interested... found Whiteline's website and subsequently the part numbers for some of the bus sway bars. Located on page 71 of there catalogue WL_02B.pdf.

They do have adjustable front and rear sway bars, $$240aud each. Shipping from OZ on them? Who knows. Regular sway bars run about $170.

Something I'll keep in mind Wink

_________________
Gavin
1976 Westy - Customzation in slow-progress.
-8V TD swap
It Runs! -- http://youtu.be/kT5hOtwiOgk
And drives! - https://youtu.be/rVkoAgeOop0

Eaallred · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:23 am Post subject:

AC.Net sells the Whiteline swaybars. That's what I put on mine. I didn't splurge for the adjustable, just went with the big ol' fat one and called it good.

Gas shocks might help it handle better, but my personal preference is the smoother ride of the stock oil shocks. The swaybar took care of any sway issues.
_________________
Eric Allred

You have to remember something: Everybody pities the weak; Jealousy you have to earn.

mbwkrause · Samba Member Joined: March 17, 2005 Posts: 29

Eric,
do you have a pic of your swaybar mounted? I bought the adjustable white line from aircooled.net and still haven't figured out how to mount it. It seem too short and non of the srews on either side line up... Maybe a look at the non-adjustbale one could give me an idea.
Thanks,
Matthias

Bleyseng · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:50 am Post subject:

I took off the KYB's the PO had put on there as the ride was so choppy and harsh. The Boge's really smoothed out the ride.

Geoff
_________________
70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles

GfunkBus76 · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:33 pm Post subject:

mbwkrause · Samba Member Joined: March 17, 2005 Posts: 29

thanks,
I've seen ratwells pics but the swaybar aircooled.net send me looks completely different and apperently mounts completely different. Unfortunalty they don't send any instructions with it and I'm still not sure whether it's the correct swaybar at all. So a pic of Erics setup would have been very helpfull...

ratwell · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:09 pm Post subject:

I only have a photo of the non-adjustable bar.
_________________
'78 Westfalia CDN
'76 Doublecab
Read the Baywindow FAQ

Ace · Samba Member Joined: July 07, 2003 Posts: 1903

I you think just doing the front swaybar is good, get the rear one on there too.

nemobuscaptain · Samba Member Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3874

I'm glad some of you like the Koni's. Personally I've always been happy with KYB's GAs. If anything, I'd want shocks that are more firm, not less. Too bad that Bilstein doesn't seem interested. To each his own, I suppose. I've never liked oil filled shocks. Won't matter much now anyway, since Koni is out of the bus shock business. It's Boge, KYB, or cheapos in the future.

Definitely wouldn't mind an antisway bar or two. AC.net looks nice.
_________________
Ohio Valley Tribe, Full Moon Bus Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/294422277314227/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FullMoonBusClub

RIP Bob Hoover https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=427791
Hoover Sermons: https://www.vwsage.com/images/vwsage/Bob%20Hoovers%20Sermons.pdf

ratwell · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:28 am Post subject:

Amskeptic · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:35 am Post subject:

vdubjim · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:39 am Post subject:

i got some sway bars from empi i thought i would try out.
ill let you guys know how it works.

ratwell · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:


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