Anybody running an aftermarket swaybar?

[1958ghia]

Just in case anyone is looking to add this Addco 952 sway bar to the back of their bus - Summit Racing has them on Clearance for $79.50 for the kit! Pretty dang good deal if you ask me! Just ordered mine!

[Major Woody]

That clearance price is a sweet deal--ordered one! Thanks for the tip. I'll save the old camber compensator for the '56 bug.

[1958ghia]

No problem! I couldn’t believe the clearance price myself!!

[silkvw]

Apparently the clearance price didn't last long. I called this morning and the price is back up to $141.50. Only two in stock at the vendor, when they are sold, they won't be available.
_________________
'64 single cab Big Bend Bus Bash 2015 '16
'59 camper BBBB 2017 '18 '19 '20 '22 New Mexico
'70 Ghia........Bonneville,........TX Mile,........142 mph......(sold)

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=641871&highlight=

[1958ghia]

AH Damn! Sorry! I figured that they may have been getting some dust on them and Summit decided to clear house, but only 2?! Crazy.

[Major Woody]

$10 shipping too! Am I rubbing it in? I guess I am.

[silkvw]

[seshbus]

I know I am a bit late to the party...Lol. Anybody got leads on rear sway bar? Not available any more from summit.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aco-952

Front is still available though,

https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/sway...sway%20bar

On another note, what exactly do these do for handling for your buses? I want to make any performance upgrades that will benefit me. My bus is built for camping, dirt roads, long drives ect. Any tips/info appreciated! 67 bus btw.

Think these would be a nice upgrade.

[BarryL]

The sway bar acts like a connection from what ever side is diving into a swoop, be it a bump or a curve, and strengthens the diving side while transferring some of the force to the other side. The other side feeds back some of its torsional action to the diving side and conversely they become interconnected with feeling. It makes it feel more stable and it actually makes the bread box top-heavy bus more stable.

But in off-road lumbering around dips and gulleys it makes the bus feel like an old arthritic aunt bending over to pet your cat while moaning. Without the sway bar(s) off-road the bus is more nimble footed. These are my opinions only. I have a '67 with factory sway bar and a '65 without. I've had both buses in both driving situations.

What are your driving conditions?

[joe cool]

You definitely want a sway bar for off-road performance.




(You want the beetle once cut into straight lengths and installed inside your tie rods to reinforce them against bending.)

[rag63]

Is there a downside to adding another sway bar/ant-roll bar to a front end with a stock sway bar installed?I see some have.
We frequently drive up the Columbia River Gorge in our ‘65 Bus and it is not a place known for calm winds. It can be squirrelly at times. The front end/steering on our Bus is pretty good overall. Not like my old ‘68 SC that I had to add a crab angle to the steering wheel in windy conditions.
Not trying to pick a fight or throw rocks, just curious if adding one would improve the handling.
Thanks,
Dave

[BarryL]

[seshbus]

[Alan Brase]

I will repeat, a normal ANTI SWAY bar is the exact WRONG application for any swing axle car. You want a bar that does just the OPPOSITE: A Z-bar. Exactly what VW did with the 1967 and 1968 (4speed) type 1's.
Any normal anti away bar will just make the rear wheels tuck under more while cornering.
Oh, Porsche with Super 90 and C models, Corvairs in 1964 also were swing axle rear suspension with leaf spring camber compensators applied. (same function as Z-bar.)
If you want more stability, use D-rated tire with 45psi in the rear, especially.
_________________
Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home

[Clara]

[tisius]

[rag63]

[seshbus]

[BarryL]

Do you have the '67 factory sway bar on yours now?

[seshbus]