Mk1 Golf swaybars......something to laugh at

[dubstar]

I recently bought a front GTI swaybar for the golf and I've been looking at rear swaybars to complete the set-up. I know that Selby's/Whiteline used to make a cool Mk1 rear set-up and so, now that Fulcrum own Selby's, I sent off some requests for quotes.

Whiteline don't do one anymore. Fine

Fulcrum, however came up with this.........

"Yes we can make the rear swaybar with at least the same good quality that we have long been associated with or even better. For a VW Golf Mk1, we do a 20mm rear heavy duty swaybar as well as a 24mm front heavy duty. Both comes as a complete kit.
They retail at $418.85 including GST per swaybar. Please allow approx. 8 weeks for production on these bars as we don’t have any in stock at the moment.

We also do a wide range of suspension bushes to suit these pocket rockets. Full range can be viewed at Find SuperPro Parts for My Vehicle
If you need someone to install the swaybar or/and the suspension bushes, Nathan from Advantage Suspension is the one we would recommend. They’re at 1 Winston Court, Moorabbin, 3189. Phone number is (03) 9555 2633."

My response.....

"Sweet baby Jesus, are they made from unobtainium or something? For that price I can get a full set (front and rear) of German made sway bars imported from overseas."

Thought it was a bit of a laugh.....$420 for a rear swaybar (oops, I mean anti-roll bar)

[gldgti]

not surprising - your probably the only person to ask them in 15 years - for precisely the reason you stated in your reply

[Water Boy]

Tell to get off the drugs!

[HuH]

Gooodness. At first I thought it wasn't so bad for both until I read "per swaybar".

Incidentally, what is the general consensus on Mk1 swaybars? I'd like to replace the front one on mine. Best bang for buck option?

[Dub Toffee]

Pretty sure that's also the same price for
The antigravity sway bar reducing the weight in your car
One bank note at a time.

[RedMk2Gti]

not surprising - your probably the only person to ask them in 15 years - for precisely the reason you stated in your reply

+1, you'd expect it won't be cheap if they only make one bar for your eye only it is mass production that make anything cheap.

[gldgti]

Gooodness. At first I thought it wasn't so bad for both until I read "per swaybar".

Incidentally, what is the general consensus on Mk1 swaybars? I'd like to replace the front one on mine. Best bang for buck option?

Depends a lot on the whole 'setup' of the car. For instance, if you take a standard mk1 with standard shocks and springs and fit some GTI swaybars, it makes a HUGE difference.

I just removed the standard front swaybar from the cabby (which has cheap coilovers in it) and it has made NO difference at all.

The more suspension travel your setup has, the more likely you will notice a difference to the handling when you add a swaybar.

Most people will agree that a rear bar is good fun on a road car, and front and rears are pretty necessary for good track setups.... but again, all depends on the rest of the suspension.

[HuH]

Mm, that all sounds quite reasonable. At the moment I have cheap coilovers in my Mk1, but the front swaybar on it has a huge bend in the middle. It looks deliberate, but it's rubbish in terms of ground clearance. The middle of the bend sits under where the exhaust runs, but it sits as low to the ground as the bottom of the sump does. It's not like the exhaust needs the room either.

Basically I want to get rid of it for that reason, so I'm wondering which replacement is worthwhile. I don't have a rear bar so that could be added as well, but I'm not too fussed.

[gldgti]

given you have the same stock swaybar as the cabbie did have, your front end is probably lighter and you have pretty much the same suspension, I'd recommend you take it off

[HuH]

Just take if off completely, hey? Seems counter-intuitive but if that's the way to go I'll take your word for it!

[gldgti]

Just take if off completely, hey? Seems counter-intuitive but if that's the way to go I'll take your word for it!

Well, its only a ten minute job

Then you can take it for a drive and try to tell the difference! I reckon you'll struggle.