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T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro?
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livethevanlife
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 10:11 am    Post subject: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

Yesterday afternoon I stripped one of my endlinks and lost the bushings and nut. Not a huge deal, but got me thinking about upgrading to the HD Endlinks and Swaybar from T3 Technique. On my last 2wd Vanagon I had this combination and loved it, but heard that they stiffness can work against you off road and affect articulation. Is this true? How minor or major would the loss in articulation and off road performance be? Anyone running the HD endlinks and swaybar from T3 Technique on their Syncro and have feedback? Thank you.

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MarkWard
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 10:37 am    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

I would want end links that were easily disconnected for trail riding on a 4wd vehicle. You would only need to disconnect one on the syncro and secure out of the way. Reattach when you get back on the highway.
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syncroserge
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 10:54 am    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

X2 ^ I would LOVE the T3 HD Anti-roll bar with some disconnects for my syncro.

I talked to Burley maybe 10 years ago and he said he was thinking about it...

Please, please...pretty please Christopher !
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RGS Paul
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 11:15 am    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

Love mine. I wouldn’t look back after upgrading. It’s also far easier to install than stock.

Paul
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Sodo
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 11:27 am    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

MarkWard wrote:
I would want end links that were easily disconnected for trail riding on a 4wd vehicle. You would only need to disconnect one on the syncro and secure out of the way. Reattach when you get back on the highway.


Agreed.
The function of the sway bar is to limit articulation.
This is good when the van is driving "fast".
But the swaybar's entire reason for existence on the van, is to limit the suspension articulation when driving fast.
It uses suspension motion at the left wheel, (for example) to lift the right wheel and thus keep the wheels "level".
But because it's not a very smart device, it does the same when slow,
to the detriment of traction,
lifting a wheel when you need it to drop into a hole
and keep pushing forward on the dirt.

Whatever terrain there is,
that causes a front wheel to leave the ground,
That front wheel will depart the earth sooner,
and remain be higher above the ground with a stiffer sway bar,
than it would have been with the OEM swaybar.

If the bigger swaybar does not reduce traction off-road,
that means the bigger swaybar is not stiiffer than the OEM.
I don't think that would bear out.
It's bigger - it's stiffer.

And the traction is less, but difficult to compare.
Because you can't actually test back&forth between OEM and stiffer swaybars on the same off-road condition.

If you could just unbolt the drop link, wouldn't that be nice?
But securing the un-bolted drop-link out of the way is difficult.
As anyone who's broken an end-link has discovered.

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Seems feasible that someone with a van on a lift, with no springs, etc.... could figure this out.
If the drop link separates in the middle, the upper half of the link can swing around and be tied to the swaybar.
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MsTaboo
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 1:10 pm    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

I think it's gonna depend on how much hard core or rock crawling you do.
For the average rough forest service roads leaving the sway bar attached is fine. If you wanted to undo they are pretty simple.
Certainly compared to the stock setup, so no reason not to upgrade.

I put T3's HD sway bar and end link setup on my heavy Syncro Westy and love the added security they provide for curvy roads and windy conditions. Some wheels in the air on the rougher trails around here but I'm not trying to climb rock ledges or anything like that. I don't go out of my way to find gnarly stuff, just want to get off the beaten path.
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Sodo
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 1:31 pm    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

MsTaboo wrote:
I think it's gonna depend on how much hard core or rock crawling you do.


Yes.
As is, and always was the case.
The Highway Syncro won't notice a loss in articulation because they don't use articulation.

Rock crawling is not a Syncro stronghold.
The rock crawling that a Syncro can do....is child's play to a jeep.
Just like walking from the driver seat to the bench and making a cup of coffee is child's play to a Westy Wink Wink

You will definitely have to use the diff-lock in gentler situations.
But that's not a huge problem, sometimes you're thrilled to "pull the knob".
This thrill will occur more often on gentler terrain.
Dash lights illuminate....
Knowing glances from driver to passenger.
The unspoken part of the ritual. Wink Wink
Uh-oh better not spill all the beans....

Somebody could sell a Syncro shirt that says "Pull my Knob" Laughing

But a stiffer swaybar will hobble a non-locker Syncro.
But a non-locker highway Syncro may be more stable at speed.
Better add a gearbox temp gauge if ya wanna drive fast & far.
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vanagonjr
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 15, 2023 5:42 pm    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

From another thread
Christopher Schimke wrote:


Quote:
Of course, the off road articulation will be decreased...


Many Syncro owners have expressed the same concern, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that any change in articulation is not noticed. I have been running these bars and endlinks on two of my own Syncros for quite some time. I have many, many miles of relatively hard-core off-roading with them and I have never once felt like the bigger diameter bar held me back in any way. In fact, I have been off-roading along with a couple of really hard-core Syncro off-roaders and I could go all of the places they went with no extra effort due to the HD bar being installed and no additional harshness to the ride quality. You just don't know the bar is there until you are back out on the tarmac.
.

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Sodo
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 15, 2023 11:35 pm    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

I will hazard a guess that if the effect to the articulation is "subtle" then the effect to body roll at speed could be equally subtle.
Perhaps just a little improvement at speed is much appreciated.

It would be interesting to see a bigger swaybar that has a disconnect at the center.
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Love My Westy
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:05 am    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

Sodo wrote:


It would be interesting to see a bigger swaybar that has a disconnect at the center.


Why not add another knob for "Swaybar Disconnect"? Laughing Laughing Laughing
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:17 am    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

I have the T3 HD anti roll bar on my syncro westy and while I don't attempt difficult trails I've done a few beat up roads with decent "cross axle" bumps both with OEM and then on the same roads later with the T3 rollbar, and I can't say I notice much of a difference; I wasn't lifting wheels with the T3 that were staying on the ground before (which is the worry).

I think what's going on here is that the chassis stiffness and not-great susspension available travel of the syncro far exceed the stiffness of the OEM rollbar for wheel lift situations. IOW, if the chassis is going to start lifting a wheel the T3 HD rollbar is still so much softer than that lateral chassis torque(?) value that you'll still get full droop on the lifting wheel in most practical situations.

The situation I could envision where the T3 sway bar being observably worse is high-speed runs through potholes or other cross-axle bumps. So don't install it on a Baja desert racer Very Happy
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2023 3:03 pm    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

I have them on my heavy tin top syncro. I drive mostly desert/ high mountain roads of Arizona. I have always gotten to where I needed to go, and do not feel hindered by this set up. Sometimes my wheels come off the ground Shocked.
Super easy to install.
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2023 6:59 am    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

I've done wheeling/off roading where I would do exactly as Sodo said, disconnect one end link and zip tie it to the sway bar. That off roading is 3-4 foot deep mud/water puts, mud splashing over the roof, water coming through the doors, 4 wheels in the air, needing to be winched over rocks due to spotters poor line choice... Laughing I would NEVER put my Vanagon through that level of wheeling.

IF there were sway bars with quick disconnects, I'm only slightly ashamed to admit that yes I would absolutely buy them. But I will be the first to admit that they are bling only. I would use them on forest roads just to make myself happy though, but I know they are completely unnecessary.
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 2:49 pm    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

Just installed the T3 HD Endlinks and Swaybar on the 90 SyncroWesty. The instructions and parts were well put together and was pretty straight forward on the install. More time thinking about the install than it was crawling underneath and taking action. About 1.5 hours total.

Went on a quick ride around the neighborhood and it definitively felt different around the turns. Hope to take it out this weekend for a test drive up to Tahoe and back through the windy prone Washoe Valley.

How often should I pump grease into the HD endlink?


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PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:12 pm    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

Any ideas on how the T3 HD Sway Bar and HD Endlinks will change the washboard experience??? Worse? A lot worse? (I note the HD Endlinks don't have that rubber bushing/pad at the bottom end.) I have a 90 Westy Syncro...
Thanks...
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 5:04 am    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

Bill D wrote:
Any ideas on how the T3 HD Sway Bar and HD Endlinks will change the washboard experience??? Worse? A lot worse? (I note the HD Endlinks don't have that rubber bushing/pad at the bottom end.) I have a 90 Westy Syncro...
Thanks...


No substantial difference.
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:29 pm    Post subject: Re: T3 Technique HD Endlinks and Swaybar on a Syncro? Reply with quote

RGS Paul wrote:


No substantial difference.


Yeah, that's been my experience too and I drive tons of washboard. Tire pressure probably makes a bigger difference.
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