Fitting front swaybar to MKIV

[sukebe]

The rear swaybar was a sinch to fit, but I am a little unsure whether I can do the front. I am a "home garage mechanic with jack stands and a Sidchrome set", and dropping the subframe and steering rack to get to the swaybar looks a little outa my league (the most adventurous thing I have done is change the suspension in my old VR6, 3 times). I also have a lower front tie bar and R32 control arm bushes that I want to fit.

To anyone who has fitted these parts, is it worth having a go myself or should I just chuck it in and pay someone to do it?

[h100vw]

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=48593

Have a read through my mates thread, on page 2 he mentions fitting a front bar.

Gavin

[MIS.18T]

my bf dub 20v fitted his one in his old red gti, while i watched lol, guess if you fitted the rear one you should be fine it looked hard tho need to drop the sub frame,

[sukebe]

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=48593

Have a read through my mates thread, on page 2 he mentions fitting a front bar.

Gavin

Thanks Gavin, have looked at that thread before. I may try having a crack at it this weekend.....

[h100vw]

I don't think ability should be your concern, just having the right gear available. Start early Saturday so you can get stuff if you need it.

Gavin

[No457 Snowy]

Whoever you get to do it make sure when it's done you take it to an alignment shop that knows Euro cars, because the subframe will need to be loosened off and moved around slightly to get the alignment spot-on. A normal alignment shop will just adjust the Toe using the tie rods and leave it at that.

Because the sub-frame has probably moved a bit during the sway-bar fitment, your Caster will need resetting and that requires sub-frame adjustment. When I had mine done I took the car to a wheel alignment shop and they told me the car had been in an accident, the fact is they didn't have a clue. Once I found the right shop to take it to they set it up perfectly.

Snowy.

[chris.]

Whoever you get to do it make sure when it's done you take it to an alignment shop that knows Euro cars, because the subframe will need to be loosened off and moved around slightly to get the alignment spot-on. A normal alignment shop will just adjust the Toe using the tie rods and leave it at that.

Because the sub-frame has probably moved a bit during the sway-bar fitment, your Caster will need resetting and that requires sub-frame adjustment. When I had mine done I took the car to a wheel alignment shop and they told me the car had been in an accident, the fact is they didn't have a clue. Once I found the right shop to take it to they set it up perfectly.

Snowy.

x2 make sure u take it to people who know what there doing!

[qsilverza]

I would be interested to the affect that all those items will have though I think it wuld be better to do them one at a time so you can see the difference each one makes

[sukebe]

Whoever you get to do it make sure when it's done you take it to an alignment shop that knows Euro cars, because the subframe will need to be loosened off and moved around slightly to get the alignment spot-on. A normal alignment shop will just adjust the Toe using the tie rods and leave it at that.

Because the sub-frame has probably moved a bit during the sway-bar fitment, your Caster will need resetting and that requires sub-frame adjustment. When I had mine done I took the car to a wheel alignment shop and they told me the car had been in an accident, the fact is they didn't have a clue. Once I found the right shop to take it to they set it up perfectly.

Snowy.

This is not something I was aware of. Maybe I will just do it myself.....

KNow anyone reliable to do a proper alignment in Melbourne?

[sukebe]

I would be interested to the affect that all those items will have though I think it wuld be better to do them one at a time so you can see the difference each one makes

Yeah me too, but it will almost triple the labour to do that which will be costly (either to my pocket if I get someone to do it, or to my sanity if I do it myself)

[qsilverza]

Haha at least you will know your car well !

[qsilverza]

Well how did you go ? And did you notice a difference ?

[lesannees]

Hey Snowy where did take yours

Hey Snowy- Did you take your IV to an alignment shop in Sydney- VW Village in Kenso perhaps. Cheers

[No457 Snowy]

Hey Snowy- Did you take your IV to an alignment shop in Sydney- VW Village in Kenso perhaps. Cheers

I ended up getting mine done at "Inline Steering and Suspension" in QBN, they did a top job.

I probably shouldn't mention the first two places.


Snowy.

[sukebe]

Finally got around to fitting the front sway bar thismorning. Much easier than I was expecting - don't know what I was worried about! Although, getting the new bar in was a bit tricky because Neuspeed do not provide new clamps, but the larger bar means that the old clamps dont fit too well. I had to go and buy longer bolts which fixed the problem. Also, to anyone looking to fit a front Neuspeed bar: take the wheels off to do it. The instructions don't say to, but its makes it MUCH easier to get to the clamps to tighten them up.

On the road the car is far more balanced and the steering is slightly heavier (which I like). I remember when I put the rear bar in I thought that the car seemed unsettled in high speed cornering, but was surprised at how much I had gotten used to it already. The car is MUCH more balanced in hard cornering now, with progressive oversteer when pushed. Can't wait to get my Eibach pro-kit and Koni FSDs!!

To anyone looking to put in a rear sway bar only, don't. Do both front and rear, it really needs both.

I didnt put in the control arm bushes or the lower tie bar. The bushes are a separate job, and the tie bar is very easy and can be done any time. I would rather do the mods progressively to see what effect each has