Anyone got a Sway-Bar installed? Care to voice opinions???

[noone]

Looks exactly like the Whiteline sway on my 9n3, probably is very similar.
You don't need to tighten it more, all you do is bow the bracket. Make sure the bushes are well lubed, mine was drying out quickly. I have found that copper grease works well, does not dry out as much.

As for the sway not changing the feel of driving, I can't see how you would not feel the difference unless the adjustment points are all much the same for force. Changing my sways makes the car feel and act quite differently.

One thing I noticed is that the side links work best when hanging vertically. If they are on an angle, the movement from the suspension can be inhibited by the bushes binding rather than moving freely.

[gavs]

I'll dig out the photo in a bit, the reason it won get any tighter is because the U bolt is deforming and as you keep tightening it, you are deforming it further. If you keep going until its tight, you will either snap the U bolt or worse...

Sorry mate, I got confused with the one on my Mk4 Golf, that had the 6mm plate in it, not this one.

[Bassik]

Ahh ok cool. If that's the case then i'm fine. Awesome. I was thinking that I'm just bending the U Bar. ok well in comparision to the amount of thread popping out the nut side I think I'm fair to say it enough.

On another note noone I'm going to need more grease as well. Only need a tablespoon amount might just pop to a servo and ask. I'm seriously thinking about getting a front sway bar now as I can feel the difference with the rear one heaps.

Can you get strut braces for these cars?

[kaanage]

I have found that copper grease works well, does not dry out as much.

Would anti-seize work for this?

[gavs]

Maybe, the best grease to use though is polyurethane specific grease, most others on the market can eat into the urethane.

Regarding strut braces, I'm sure you are referring to the ones that bolt to the towers at the front? The ones that are pretty much pointless on these cars due to the proximity of the towers to the front bulkhead/firewall?

[Bassik]

Yeah I was referring to the tower bars that sit across the front. I'd opt for a front sway-bar first. Just gotta find a good brand... and a good price. I take it these need professional installation?

[gavs]

You really need a hoist to do it properly and safely so yes, pro job would be best.

[06eleven]

Am considering installing these into my car as I find the amount of body roll in the Polo really disconcerting after my Pug 206 GTi 180. A couple of quick questions:

I'm hesitant to mod the car because I want to resell it sooner rather than later, so can these be removed without showing too much evidence afterwards?

And, I've got a sunroof. I'm finding that there is creaking as the chassis twists when pulling into driveways, etc. I'm assuming this will have a positive effect on the overall stiffness of the car, but could it possibly be a bad thing?

[Tigga1]

getting my swaybar installed next week...can't wait!

thanks gavs and others for all the comments / advice

[gavs]

Wow, I would have loved to have driven your 206 because the ones I drove with my girlfriend prior to her purchase were terrible for body roll. That being said, the polo isn't the flattest cornering vehicle out there.

No, anti roll bars are not going to increase your torsional rigidity.

[06eleven]

Wow, I would have loved to have driven your 206 because the ones I drove with my girlfriend prior to her purchase were terrible for body roll. That being said, the polo isn't the flattest cornering vehicle out there.

No, anti roll bars are not going to increase your torsional rigidity.

The 180 was pretty good. Much stiffer & less roll than the regular GTi. Peugeot wouldn't even sell them with a sunroof due to the rigidity. The body role in the Polo is far, far more noticeable than my old car. Then again, the ride is far, far superior.

So, the anti-sway bars won't have any negative consequences re the sunroof?

If I put in both front & back, will it reduce the risk of lift off oversteer compared to just having the rear done? I mean, I actually enjoy a little bit of oversteer so would like a little bit of play, but I don't like to be surprised by it.

[Bassik]

getting my swaybar installed next week...can't wait!

thanks gavs and others for all the comments / advice

Did you get rear and front or just one? I really want to get a front bar as well. I keep comparing it to my DC2 and it's just nothing in comparison...although my DC2 is a hell bumpy ride at times.'

Do you have a front installed as well gavs?

[kaanage]

The 180 was pretty good. Much stiffer & less roll than the regular GTi. Peugeot wouldn't even sell them with a sunroof due to the rigidity.

They do handle very well. I was very surprised to find out that one that is being tracked by its owner down here still had the stock suspension, even though the owner had a TBD fitted.

If I put in both front & back, will it reduce the risk of lift off oversteer compared to just having the rear done? I mean, I actually enjoy a little bit of oversteer so would like a little bit of play, but I don't like to be surprised by it.

This is why Guy recommends fitting them as a pair - just the rear bar gives the possibiility of uncontrollable liftoff oversteer in the wrong conditions. If you are going to drive in controlled situations, then you can afford to stiffen the rear to a firm setting for more adjustability but for general driving, you should have the rear bar in the softer position

[gavs]

Exactly as kaanage has said. the rear alone will tend the vehicle to be succesptible to lift-off over steer. If you add the front alos, it will tend the car back to understeer but with an adjustable rear you can help dial that out to some extent. And no, I cannot see how anti roll bars could affect your sunroof. You are increasing the spring rates, not torsional rigidity.

Peugeot wouldn't even sell them with a sunroof due to the rigidity.

Honestly, I find this a little hard to believe. the amount of booming that comes from the rear end especially on uneven roads due to the the whole body shaking is really disconcerting, to the point that it has annoyed my girlfriend so much, I either have to fabricate an brace for her car or she sells it.

[noone]

Talk of dangerous lift off oversteer came up in the old Polo section. From memory a number of us chimed in saying we had not experienced it and didn't see the concern

This is not to say it can't happen, just seems to be a possibility, not an every day reality. As the design of the Mk4 and Mk3 is similar, you could look on other forums for experience in this area. I ended up going front and back, but the rear on its own was a good improvement with the stock suspension, you already have a front bar, just soft.