Help - Car handles like a boat

[sports racer]

I bought a 1998 1.8 Passat for my wife and she loves it but wants the handling improved.

Will VR6 front springs cut down the body roll without raising the front end?

Is there a rear sway bar available?

Cheers

Paul

[brad]

Your dampers are probably shagged by now - that would be a start. Plus refresh all the bushes front & rear.

Try Camden GTI - they are just down the road from you. Or Canberra VW centre. Bush refresh kits & dampers are probably best bought from the UK

[sports racer]

Shocks and bushes are still in good condition and won't improve body roll to the level I want. This is a family car and was built to be relatively soft (compared to my MK2 GTI). What I need is to step up a level by adding a rear sway bar or stiffer springs which is why I queried fitting the springs off the V6.

Does anyone make a rear bar or do I need to adapt one from another car? Getting another one to fit is pretty easy but time consuming so if I can get an aftermarket one I'll do that.

[brad]

When I had the cabrio I changed out all the bushes to polyeurathene. Some were a complete bush change, others were a void insert. Change of dampers also helped.

Lets face it, you are dealing with a 16yo vehicle. While the items in question may appear to be OK (esp the bushes) they are a good first step as upgrading springs & sway bars will start to test their mettle.

Can't help with the uprated OEM / aftermarket stuff. I'd try & get some V6 or diesel springs off a wagon. If they make it a bit 4WDish then break out the angle grinder (depends on how the mount section is wound).

Ebay UK or Germany might be a good place to look for bits & one of the UK forums would know the budget upgrades

[The Last Streetfighter]

Whiteline Suspension for PASSAT B5 & B5.5 (TYP 3B & 3BG) (1996-2005)

Whiteline don't seem to do a rear sway bar for it.
Are you still running 60 series tyres?

[sports racer]

Yeah, those tyres have to go. I'll probably fit 16's or 17's with low profile tyres.

The rear springs taper at both ends so I can't cut them down. Might be time to take some measurements and visit the local Jap wreckers to see what front sway bar I can find to fit the back of the Passat. Front bars off other cars are better because they are thicker and you need a thick bar on the back of a front wheel drive car.

It amazes me that manufacturers of front wheel drive cars still fit front sway bars but no bar on the rear even though it's the rear one that works the best. Rear wheel drive cars benefit from a front bar and this thinking still prevails even though the drive is now at the front.

Cheers

Paul